iTunes U - Course Manager vs Collections, iTunes vs. iTunes U App?

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iTunes U - Course Manager vs Collections, iTunes vs. iTunes U App?

I am trying to get a clear understanding of a few key functionalities of these environments and I would like to know if I am on the right track with my thinking.

Are the Courses, created in the iTunes Course Manager only available on the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad?

I created a Course in the Course Manager and when I 'share' the link to this course (not submitted to the iTunes U Catalog) it is only available in specific environments.

Is what is published under Collections in the iTunes U Public Site Manager not considered a Course, but just individual tracks of content? If a Course has been developed that works with the new iTunes U App, is that Course only available on devices that have the iTunes U app? Can I create another version that is NOT a Course that would be available within the iTunes environment for Mac and Windows? It seems like this is a clear dividing point when viewing pre-published content but I don't see this documented anywhere.

Vicky

Posted on Sep 24, 2012 12:40 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 26, 2012 5:47 AM in response to VickyHe

iTunes U "Courses" are created with Apple's Course Manager. Once created people can then "enroll" using the iTunes U App on an iOS device. The courses can be kept private , but once affiliated with a university's public iTunes U site, the enrollment part goes away, and the site can be listed on the university's iTUnes U site.

You can read through the Course Manager documentation here. If you have an Apple ID, you can sign up for access and check it out, and create a course.

https://itunesu.itunes.apple.com/help/#itu91B80816-D864-48FA-B228-CC4BB356B52B

iTunes U "Collections" are the traditional collections of media, usually audio and video. Both Courses and Collections can populate a university's iTUnes U site. COUrses are meant to be viewed primarilly on an IOS device, but if they are made public, laptops can view part of the course, usually just the media files and a course outline, but not much else. On an IOS device you can see assignments, posts, etc.

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Answer 2

Oct 1, 2012 9:36 AM in response to VickyHe

I think we have a similar question.

I created the Course and uploaded media using Course Manager and can see it on ios devices. Now I need the workflow to publish them to the iTunes U site.

Documentation suggests to just take the Course Manager url and submit to iTunes U public site manager Feed Editor. However Feed Editor only give me an option to upload a file, not post a url.

Does something need changed in iTunes U admin console?

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Answer 3

Oct 1, 2012 9:46 AM in response to timfromjacksonville

Tim, the iTunes U Site Administrator needs to add the course to the iTunes U site before it can be published to the site. If you are affiliated with an instituion, there should be a button within Course manger to request that your course be added to the institution's site. It sends the site admin an email with your "Course Link" URL, which can then be added to the "Courses" area within an institution's Public Site Manager site. Once the site is published, the course should appear in the "Courses" area.

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