Apple Inc. announced Monday that it is updating the iTunes U education app to give teachers new tools for educating students.
The update is set to be available on July 8th and will provide full course capabilities that allow teachers, to create, edit, and manage courses on their Apple tablet for the first time, according to PC Magazine.
Teachers will now have access to content from iBooks, iWork and other educational apps on the iPad. Users will also be able to take and add their own photos and videos to any course and instantly give students access to the content.
The iTunes U app provides a variety of educational information for teachers to use when creating both public and private courses using lectures, books, assignments and quizzes, according to CNET.
Apple said the app is used by thousands of educational institutions and provides users with more than 75,000 free individual learning materials.
Additional features are available for students enrolled in private iTunes U classes, such as the ability to start class discussions and ask questions from the iPad. The Discussions feature lets students automatically follow classrooms conversations, join talks on new topics, and set up push notifications that will help them avoid missing messages. Teachers can also get involved in the moderation discussions and forums.
"Education is at the core of Apple's DNA and iTunes U is an incredibly valuable resource for teachers and students," said Eddy Cue, senior vice president of Internet Software and Services at Apple. "iTunes U features an amazing selection of academic materials for everyone around the world. Now, with the ability to better manage and discuss educational content, learning becomes even more personalized on iPad."
Over 7,500 public courses that include arts, sciences, medicine, business, health, and education are available on the iTunes U app.
