World-Shaker

5 Reasons to Choose the iPad Mini for One-to-One Programs →

I actually didn’t care for this article, because the arguments are all superficial and could apply to any smaller tablet. The best argument in the whole thing wasn’t actually part of the five reasons, but a snippet from the second paragraph:

At present, the lack an iTunes U competitor from Google or Microsoft means that the iPad is the only real choice if you are thinking about either providing or requiring tablets for your institution, school, or program.

I’d also say the fact that there are currently over 4,000 different Android devices out there, all running different versions of the Android OS is one of the best arguments to go with something like the iPad Mini. The only choice you have to make there is what size you want and if it comes with a cellular antenna. And the OS is historically guaranteed to be supported for at least the next three years. 

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The Teacher’s Apple: Why Apple is Dominating the Tech War for Today’s Classroom [INFOGRAPHIC]

Click through for the full thing!

(source: http://www.opencolleges.edu.au)

"iTunes U 1.2 now makes it easy to take notes while watching or listening to a lecture. This update also adds the ability to search within posts, assignments, notes, and materials — from any of your subscribed courses — using the improved Search feature in iTunes U. It is also now simple to share your favorite courses with friends using Twitter, Mail, and Messages."

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iTunes U is a free download for the iPhone and iPad. [App Store]

Apple Updates iTunes U With Note-taking and Improved Search

Colleges enthused as iTunes classes go live →

Worth highlighting:

Anyone with an iPad or iPhone can use the app and access the free classes on iTunes U. Having this new standalone app should be a boon to users and educators. The Inside Higher Ed website is highlighting material from Harrisburg Community College, where there are free courses in differential equations and astronomy. It’s the first iTunes U offering from a community college.

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How Apple is Revolutionizing Education (infographic)

iTunes U Introduces Free eBooks: Download Shakespeare’s Complete Works →

Woot!

Perhaps you’re accustomed to downloading free lectures and courses on iTunes U. Now, you have a new option. Last week, Apple began introducing free eBooks to its media collection. And, to kick things off, they’re giving users access to 18 free textbooks sponsored by Connexions (a Rice University project); a series of 100 ebooks produced by the Open University, and then, courtesy of Oxford University, the complete collection of Shakespeare’s plays from the First Folio of 1623.  You can download all of these texts in the open ePub format.

iTunes U Downloads Top 300 Million →

In just over three years, iTunes® U downloads have topped 300 million and it has become one of the world’s most popular online educational catalogs. Over 800 universities throughout the world have active iTunes U sites, and nearly half of these institutions distribute their content publicly on the iTunes Store®. New content has just been added from universities in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico and Singapore, and iTunes users now have access to over 350,000 audio and video files from educational institutions around the globe.

Learning in the Future » Innovative uses of Web 2.0 Technologies in Education →

UNLV Law School Prelaw Advisor, Dr. Wood, is doing some really cool things to improve her teaching, including using iTunes U, Facebook, Blogger, and a wiki.

Special Report - International Education - Universities Use Social Media to Connect - NYTimes.com →

Time was, teachers would tell students to turn off their cellphones in the classroom. Less so, now. Facebook, Twitter, and iTunes have not only invaded the classroom but have also become part of the class.