iTunes for You

Yesterday marked the first day of the spring series of the World Leaders Forum. Columbia on iTunes U—a recent initiative spearheaded by the Columbia College Student Council and supported by administrators and organizations on campus such as Columbia University Information Technology, Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning, and Free Culture at Columbia—has the potential to publicize high-profile campus events through an online, easily accessible format. Event planners should work more actively with CCNMTL to expand this initiative to cover more events on campus, especially those that appeal to students, alumni, prospective students, and parents.

Last March, CCSC, along with other campus and administrative groups, passed a resolution to bring iTunes U to Columbia. Since then, CCNMTL has begun to upload both lectures and events. The program has two portals—one is available to the general public, and the other can be accessed only with a Columbia UNI and password. While professors can post their course lectures to iTunes, the initiative could greatly expand its coverage of campus events. The Conferences & Events section currently includes several hundred audio and visual tracks, but the misleading figure only adds up to a handful of individual conferences. Furthermore, the events available are geared toward professionals, not students.

Columbia on iTunes U presents an excellent opportunity to further the spirit of learning both on Columbia’s campus and in the greater Columbia community. With schedules packed with classes and exams, students often cannot find time to attend nonacademic yet intellectual activities. Events can supplement and round out the lessons taught in traditional classroom settings. Moreover, by enabling both students and the general public to access its features, iTunes U has the unique ability to reach out to alumni, parents, and prospective students. For alumni and parents, the program is an easy way to keep them connected to their alma mater or for them to feel involved in their children’s lives. ITunes U can also attract prospective students by generating excitement in anticipation for their potential futures at Columbia. For example, the World Leaders Forum brings together renowned figures in the international and domestic spheres, but only a small fraction of Columbia affiliates have direct access to the presentations. Event planners and CCNMTL should strive to collaborate closely to cover more pertinent, diverse, and numerous events.

Learning outside of the classroom is just as important as learning inside the classroom. By combining education and modern technology, Columbia can engage its current students and remain connected to Columbians around the world.