Dental Students Launch
iTunes U Initiative

Profiles in Success: School of Dentistry, University of Michigan

Research to Probe Benefits of iTunes Content Delivery

A leading research institution, UM is launching a long-range study on the benefits of using audio-based content in the curriculum. In the meantime, Johnson says much anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that iTunes U is definitely a success.

“I think that students are probably learning the same amount,” she observes. “But they tell us that they’re learning it faster by listening to the recordings. They’re double-checking themselves, and they’re realizing what they missed in their note taking.”

“Students are especially excited about the audio book feature in iPod,” adds Johnson. “Since many of our faculty members speak very quickly, this feature allows students to slow down the lectures a bit. At the same time, they can speed up a slower lecture, and it still sounds like a human being is talking!”

“We spend only about 15 to 30 minutes of staff time per week on this project now, and the students take care of it, start to finish. The return on investment has been really, really tremendous for the university.”

— Lynn Johnson

Minimum Investment, Maximum Return

Johnson says many other departments at UM are now interested in iTunes-based content delivery. Soon, she predicts, scores of students will sport an iPod around campus as part of their study regimen.

“We spend only about 15 to 30 minutes of staff time per week on this project now, and the students take care of it, start to finish,” Johnson says. “So the return on investment has been really, really tremendous for the university. This was probably the simplest project I’ve ever been involved with, yet it’s given us the biggest bang for our buck. iTunes U offers our students one more learning option in their very complicated lives; it’s made things a lot easier for all of us.”