iTunes U at WMU Frequently Asked Questions

What is podcasting?
Podcasting is a way of publishing podcasts to the Web. Podcasts, a concatenation of iPod and broadcast, is a media file that is distributed over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.

Is podcasting popular?
Podcasting is very popular, especially with people over the age of 18, because it is easy and because it allows people to publish material that prior to podcasting wouldn't have been possible for them to publish. Research shows that 98% of students already have the software on their computers that enables them to listen to podcasts.

What product has WMU chosen to support podcasting?
WMU was selected by Apple to be part of their iTunes U. Apple makes it very easy, via iTunes for people to download podcasts, or to play them within iTunes on their computer.

What is iTunes U?
iTunes U is a free, hosted service for colleges and universities that provides easy access to their educational content, including lectures and interviews, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If a faculty member uploads to iTunes, who owns the podcast?
Copyright of recordings or courses, course presentations, computer-assisted instructional content, course content developed, or other digital materials created by the faculty member(s) shall be owned by the faculty member(s). Further, the faculty member who creates the course content materials ... shall determine whether the material should be revised or withdrawn from use. See 30.§5 and 30.§5.1 of the AAUP contract for the entire text regarding Intellectual Property.

Who controls access to the podcasts?
Faculty members request a type of iTunes course to meet their desired access requirements, thus controlling the access to their own content.

Is it easy for a student to access the podcasts?
Yes, as noted above, research shows that 98% of students already have the software installed to allow them to listen to podcasts.

Are iPods required to use iTunes U?
No. The content provided by iTunes U is delivered through the iTunes application that is freely available. Once installed, users can play content within iTunes.

Is it easy for a faculty member to upload a podcast?
Yes, automated tools have been created for them to easily upload a podcast using iTunes U.

What other tools and resources are required for a faculty member to use this technology?
A computer, a microphone, and access to the Internet are all that is needed to upload a podcast.

What resources are available to a faculty member for assistance with developing podcasting content?
OIT staff resources and a lab with appropriate software and hardware. Please contact Brad Morgan at (269) 387-5363 if you need more information.

Are there any workshops available to learn more about podcasting?
Yes, OIT Faculty Support offers workshops each semester. For more information, please visit the IT Center Workshop site.

Are faculty members required to go through OIT to use this technology?
Once the courses have been set up, OIT has made the automated tools available to utilize this technology without OIT intervention. However, OIT staff are available for faculty members who require assistance. Please contact Brad Morgan at (269) 387-5363 if you need more information.

Will faculty members be required to do podcasting?
No, there is no such mandate that faculty members must do podcasting. In keeping with the times, the technology is simply being made available for those who wish to use it.

Can my department create an account as a user on the "public side" of iTunes U at WMU to present information to the WMU campus community?
Yes. Go to http://itunes.wmich.edu and login to WMU on iTunes U. Enter your Bronco NetID and password. Choose Request Public Course and follow instructions. If you have any further questions, please contact David Evans at (269) 387-5063.

Do I have to pay to access WMU on iTunes?
No. iTunes U at WMU is a free service.

Can I access WMU on iTunes U directly without first opening a browser?
No. WMU on iTunes U is in a special section so there are no links to it from the iTunes Music Store. You must access it via a browser.

How do I access WMU on iTunes U?
WMU on iTunes U may be accessed at http://itunes.wmich.edu.

For Windows iTunes support, visit http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/windows/

For Macintosh iTunes support, visit http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/

Have a question not answered here? Please e-mail itunes@wmich.edu.