Washington State on iTunes U: free, open access to K-12 education-related content

OLYMPIA — Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn announced today that students, teachers and families now have online access to a growing source of free, Washington-based educational resources.

“Washington State on iTunes U is the school that never sleeps,” Dorn said. “This is a free and open resource with podcasts and videos ideal for the teachers, students and families in our K-12 community.”

iTunes U is a site within Apple’s iTunes Store that offers free, educational content in the same, downloadable ways that people listen to music and watch videos. Washington State on iTunes U centralizes online resources into three categories — instruction, assessment and professional development.

The list of content contributors for Washington State on iTunes U is varied and expanding. Teachers, district and ESD staff and people who work with public media outlets and community-based organizations have shared video and audio content. The functionality of Washington State on iTunes U makes it easy to find, download and play content created by Washington educators for the teachers, administrators and students who work and learn in state schools.

“Schools and government agencies are looking for ways to deliver low- or no-cost access to civic and educational content,” said Superintendent Dorn. “iTunes U is one channel we can offer that organizes and presents high quality educational content at no cost to schools and the public.”