DDLETB launches Ireland’s first iTunes U service for schools, further education and training

Pupils and students across 16 schools, colleges and further education centres will benefit from a new digital approach to learning introduced to Ireland by the Dublin & Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB).

DDLETB’s new iTunes U service was launched at an impressive exhibition of digital learning projects in Tallaght involving students from Community National Schools, Colleges, and Further Education centres who are piloting the initiative.

8 schools and colleges are actively piloting the programme from January.  These include Scoil Oscair Community National School (Lucan) and post-primary Community Colleges around the Dublin area including Collinstown, Firhouse, Greenhills, Kishoge, Lusk, Riversdale and Tallaght (Coláiste de hÍde).

Teachers from Community Colleges in Ardgillan, Castleknock, Donaghmede (Gaelcholáiste Reachrann), Fingal, Lucan, Luttrelstown and Templeogue, and Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, are also supporting the new iTunes U programme.

A brief video of the launch can be seen here.

iTunes U is Apple’s collaborative learning app which can house multiple resources in a streamlined learning environment.  An initial group of over 70 teachers in 16 centres of learning have undertaken professional training in to create, edit and manage entire courses for the iTunes U platform. They are also sharing their ongoing course work with each other.

A library of iPads has been made available for teachers to use. With resource materials prepared specially by iTunes U skilled teachers, students will be taught using a mix of traditional and digital means. They can also collaborate with teachers and students in an open learning environment.

Up to 20 courses are planned for delivery through the DDLETB iTunes U site and these will be accessible throughout Ireland and the world. iTunes U also enables anyone to download free video and audio lectures from the world’s leading universities, including many in Ireland.

Pupils from Scoil Oscair CNS Lucan, pictured at the launch of the new iTunes U app which took place at the Red Rua Centre Tallaght ,are shown using a drone and an iPad to demonstrate new “tradigital” methods of learning.

Pictured left to right: Roisin Rogers, Kristofer Appiah , Nick Negru, Keeva O’Brien 

DDLETB’s iTunes U service has already had over 1800 downloads and over 17,000 individual viewers of its coursework from all over the world and most notably in the United States, with a course on energy now also featured as a standout item on the global  iTunes site.

The launch of DDLETB’s iTunes U courses has been supported by the Apple Distinguished Educators programme, a voluntary network of education leaders recognised for doing amazing things with Apple technology in and out of the classroom.

iTunes U provides user-friendly technology with a wide choice of options to suit the needs of a class. Courses on the app can vary in length and format depending on the needs of the learner. Teachers can deliver classes in an organised and streamlined manner with a new easy-to-use app which learners can access on their iPads. iTunes U allows users to access courses and notes at any time, receive course updates directly onto their iPads and submit assignments to their teacher and get direct feedback.

Paddy Lavelle, CEO of the DDLETB launched the programme and said: “This is exemplary of the forward looking approach to skills development that we want to see for every pupil and driven by our teachers. It’s truly exciting to be at the forefront of the merging of traditional teaching methods with advanced digital technologies that will underpin and support the skills of our teachers and are easy to use for our students. It’s going to be really interesting to see how students react to the initiative and the long term results iTunes U will impact on teachers and students”.