Apple has launched a major update to iTunes U for iOS today, bringing features to simplify homework management for students and grading for teachers. Dawn Chmielewski, writing for Re/code:
With this latest version of Apple’s educational software, students will be able to turn in homework from their tablets; these documents will carry a timestamp recording when the student submits term papers, book reports and other work. An integrated grade book will alert teachers when a student’s work is complete and ready for review, or if it’s time to send a reminder.
Interestingly, Apple’s updated iTunes U webpage shows a PDF markup feature similar to the one coming in iOS 9. And, “students can hand-in their homework from any Apple creativity app and dozens of third-party apps” – this seems to be based on an extension that communicates with the iTunes U app.
Last, a few notes from Fraser Speirs:
Biggest feature in iTunes U 3.0 is assignment hand-in. You can use Open In, annotate PDF in-app or upload from any Document Provider ext’n.
— Fraser Speirs (@fraserspeirs) June 25, 2015
So, in theory, you can turn in an assignment stored in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, etc. as well as from any native app.
— Fraser Speirs (@fraserspeirs) June 25, 2015
There’s also a cross-assignment grade book in the backend, private feedback and more.
— Fraser Speirs (@fraserspeirs) June 25, 2015