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Apple’s iTunes U gets 1-to-1 discussions, importing from other apps, PDF annotations, grade book, more

Apple’s iTunes U service, a resource for teachers to create and manage educational content for students on iPad, is today receiving a big update that brings a long list of highly requested features. Starting today, teachers and students using the platform will get access to new additions including 1-to-1 discussions, homework hand-in & grade book features, PDF annotations, and more.

One of the most notable features rolling out today is an improved way for teachers and students to communicate via new one-to-one discussion functionality. A new homework hand-in feature is also arriving today with PDF annotations, and an integrated grade book will notify teachers when an assignment is ready for grading or communication with the student.

Lastly, iTunes U will now allow teachers to import content from other apps including Apple’s own Keynote, Pages, and iMovie and a number of third-party apps including Book Creator, Stop Motion, Explain Everything, and others. That will allow both teachers and students to work on teaching materials or assignments in the other apps and easily upload to iTunes U for handing in assignments, distributing content to students, or further collaboration.

The new features should be available today for teachers and students using the iTunes U iPad app.

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Comments

  1. msmithj567 - 9 years ago

    Reblogged this on Mohit – The caretaker.

  2. mikhailt - 9 years ago

    With this, iPad Pro actually starts to make sense. Imagine annotating the PDF with an awesome stylus.

  3. danielmgarcia - 9 years ago

    Reblogged this on mr. dan and commented:
    So, this is nice. PDF Annotations means iTunes U can really be a one stop shop for offline resources (students can submit work when back on Wifi). 1:1 conversations with students also opens up a great new discussion platform. For me, I am looking forward to seeing how this can be used as a way to deliver specialised courses (such as a wellbeing program) that normally have a lot of the dreaded ‘hand-out sheet’ The 1:1 conversations could then allow some private feedback and conclusion in an easy way to both teacher and student.
    Timely, as I am working on this right now… Will keep you posted.
    D.

  4. MR (@microrentals) - 9 years ago

    Among these, PDF annotations in the homework hand-in will be much helpful. An integrated grade book to inform the teachers when the assignment is ready. Cool stuff for studying.

  5. iplantes - 9 years ago

    Will be interesting to see comparisons to Google Classroom start to arise

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.