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Posted to the Tech Juggernaut blog at
https://ttjtech.net/2020/08/13/attention-students-important-information-regarding-upcoming-changes-to-the-itunes-u-learning-management-system/
Apple has announced that they are sun setting their iTunes U offering next year. This means that the app will no longer be available or supported for use after spring 2021, and those who have previously used iTunes U will need to find an alternative solution for their learning management system (LMS). The exact reason for this decision was not disclosed to the public, but we know for certain that Apple maintains an intense focus on, and an incredible passion for, revolutionizing education. Already, they have great offerings for school districts, such as Apple School Manager, Apple Schoolwork, and the Apple Classroom app, the latter of which is available for local, in-person classes. They have stated that they plan to continue support for these products and continue to enhance said products going forward.
What Will TTJ Use Now?
The Tech Juggernaut has elected to use Google Classroom for all future TTJ courses. This change will happen effective immediately. Students who plan to enroll in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 courses will be using Google Classroom - not iTunes U, for all their class content.
Why Google? Why Not Apple Schoolwork?
At the present time, Apple Schoolwork is only available to accredited educational institutions. While TTJ is made up of certified instructors, we are neither an accredited K-12 district nor a college or university, and are therefore not eligible to use the Schoolwork app at this time. We are fiercely interested in what Apple will offer going forward and certainly do plan to consider it if we should be given such an opportunity, but in the interim, in order to provide an uninterrupted experience for all our students, we needed a solution that was available to us immediately.
Furthermore, we feel that Google Classroom, perhaps more than any other third-party LMS app, provides a powerful yet extremely simple user interface with the right combination of functionality and ease of use for even those students who are completely new to Voiceover and iOS. Finally, if new students are not yet comfortable using their iOS devices, they will be able to access Google Classroom on other platforms, such as Chrome OS and Windows, until they become more confident in using Voiceover and iOS/iPad OS.
For more info, including how to save materials from former classes, go to the blog post listed above.
https://ttjtech.net/2020/08/13/attention-students-important-information-regarding-upcoming-changes-to-the-itunes-u-learning-management-system/
Apple has announced that they are sun setting their iTunes U offering next year. This means that the app will no longer be available or supported for use after spring 2021, and those who have previously used iTunes U will need to find an alternative solution for their learning management system (LMS). The exact reason for this decision was not disclosed to the public, but we know for certain that Apple maintains an intense focus on, and an incredible passion for, revolutionizing education. Already, they have great offerings for school districts, such as Apple School Manager, Apple Schoolwork, and the Apple Classroom app, the latter of which is available for local, in-person classes. They have stated that they plan to continue support for these products and continue to enhance said products going forward.
What Will TTJ Use Now?
The Tech Juggernaut has elected to use Google Classroom for all future TTJ courses. This change will happen effective immediately. Students who plan to enroll in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 courses will be using Google Classroom - not iTunes U, for all their class content.
Why Google? Why Not Apple Schoolwork?
At the present time, Apple Schoolwork is only available to accredited educational institutions. While TTJ is made up of certified instructors, we are neither an accredited K-12 district nor a college or university, and are therefore not eligible to use the Schoolwork app at this time. We are fiercely interested in what Apple will offer going forward and certainly do plan to consider it if we should be given such an opportunity, but in the interim, in order to provide an uninterrupted experience for all our students, we needed a solution that was available to us immediately.
Furthermore, we feel that Google Classroom, perhaps more than any other third-party LMS app, provides a powerful yet extremely simple user interface with the right combination of functionality and ease of use for even those students who are completely new to Voiceover and iOS. Finally, if new students are not yet comfortable using their iOS devices, they will be able to access Google Classroom on other platforms, such as Chrome OS and Windows, until they become more confident in using Voiceover and iOS/iPad OS.
For more info, including how to save materials from former classes, go to the blog post listed above.
