iTunes may be best known as a place to download music and videos, but the Apple software offers more than the latest pop hit.
At iTunes U, users can access more than 30,000 audio and video files from colleges and universities around the country, encompassing everything from tutorials on physics to video lectures on global affairs. The Beyond Campus section includes material from museums, public radio and television stations, and other educational organizations. Users can search, download, and play all content for free.
In early March, NSDL (National Science Digital Library) jumped into the fray, placing UCAR/NCAR content on iTunes U that includes material produced by EO and Communications, as well as resources from other NSDL partners. For instance, users can listen to a podcast about EO’s Project BudBurst, download a teacher’s guide on the Sun-Earth connection, or watch Kevin Trenberth (ESSL/CGD) explain the IPCC process.
“We’re very excited,” says NSDL’s Susan Van Gundy, who led the initiative along with colleagues in NSDL and Communications. “Our content had more than 24,000 hits in the first two weeks it was up.”
She hopes to add new material to iTunes as frequently as possible, including a series of video podcasts related to International Polar Year.
To access NSDL’s content on iTunes, follow the link provided here. Or launch iTunes software (for PC or Mac), enter the iTunes Store, and locate iTunes U, where you’ll find National Science Digital Library listed under Beyond Campus. Alternatively, enter “NSDL” or “NCAR” in the search box to go directly to those content areas.