Ohio State iTunes U

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Help & Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access Ohio State iTunes U?

First, make sure you have iTunes installed on your computer. Download iTunes

If you have iTunes, you can launch Ohio State iTunes U from your web browser. http://itunes.com/osu

Your web browser will prompt you to "Launch an application." Selecting the checkbox on this popup window will allow your browser to launch iTunes eachtime you visit Ohio State iTunes U.

To access Ohio State iTunes U directly from iTunes, open the iTunes Store and click "iTunes U" in the iTunes STORE menu. Then, click "Universities & Colleges" in the FIND EDUCATION PROVIDERS menu and select "Ohio State University" from the alphabetized listing of content providers.

What do I do if iTunes doesn't launch from a web browser?

First, double check that you have installed iTunes.

If you are using Firefox, type "about:config" in the location field and press the return key. The resulting screen will be a long list of items. In the "filter" box, type "itms" and press the return key. Select the items returned and right-click. Select "Reset" from the popup menu.

Can I link directly to content within iTunes U?

All content in iTunes U has its own URL. Right-click the item you would like to link.  The resulting popup window will prompt you to "Copy iTunes Store URL." Once the URL is copied to your computer's clipboard you may use it to create a web link.

How can I contribute content to Ohio State iTunes U?

Courses:

To place your course on the iTunes U site, you will need to set up an iTunes account with Apple connected to your name-dot-number email address.  When you have an account with Apple, email MediaServices@osu.edu  and you will be granted access to create your course.  The web based Course Manager can be accessed via Safari browser at this address: http://go.osu.edu/coursemanager   

Previewing and publishing a course:

Course materials can be shared or previewed privately with iOS players via web links, the course will only become available on PC or Mac after being published to the iTunes U site. File types that can be played on either the iOS iTunes U app or from the PC/Mac iTunes software include .pdf or epub documents, video files, audio files, and image files.  Powerpoint or Keynote files can be uploaded to a course, however these file types are only accessible from iOS, and will unavailable to computer dependent students.

iTunes U course content is public, therefore the ‘fair use’ protection invoked for short class readings do not apply to iTunes U and there is no way to place iTunes U course material behind authentication.  When setting up a course, you will be asked what sort of license you wish to use for your content. Your options are:

  • All Rights Reserved - Others must ask your permission before they distribute, copy, remix, and build on your work.
  • Attribution - Others may distribute, remix, change, and build on your work, even for commercial purposes, as long as they give you credit. This is the most open form of permission.  Additional modifiers:
    • NoDerivs - others may not make changes to your work
    • Non-Commercial - others may use your work only for non-commercial purposes
    • Share Alike - others may use your work only if they license their work under the same terms

i.e. Attribution/Non-Commercial/NoDerivs/ShareAlike is an attribution right that can only be used for non-commercial purposes, cannot be changed in any way, and can only be used if licensed under these same terms.

Collections:

To request a collection, such as a lecture series or other regularly updated content, contact mediaservices@osu.edu and we will work with you to either host and manage your RSS feed, or link to an RSS feed you manage.   Detailed Information about iTunes U categories and RSS tags is located at the following link: http://ocio.osu.edu/services/service-details/media-services-help/tutorials/how-to-write-rss-xml/

Can meta-data be changed once a file has been uploaded into iTunes U?

After a file has been uploaded into iTunes U, its meta-data cannot be edited.