Podcasting on iTunes U: Audio and Video of Lectures, Course Materials, and Special Events

Frequently Asked Questions

At its simplest, podcasting is making audio or video files (usually voice recordings) available for users to access and listen to on their computers or portable audio devices.  While podcasts are often regularly scheduled, so that individuals can set their computers to automatically receive specific podcasts as they are released, podcasting can also refer to specific one-time files that people can browse and access.

It is up to a faculty member to decide if they want to podcast lectures or other audio materials.  George Mason University does not require any faculty or academic unit to podcast.

With the Podcasting at Mason site up and running, you should follow these simple steps:

  1. Launch Mason on iTunes U (box on the right)
  2. Browse the available instructional and informative podcasts and select one you would like to access
  3. Click the play button to hear the podcast and the subscribe button (if available) to have the podcast regularly delivered to your computer.

Faculty may podcast material relating to their course instruction, and students may podcast if it is an assignment that is part of their course work at Mason.

The Instructional Resource Center (for faculty and staff) and the STAR Center (for students) have software, computers and how-to guides that will help you to create podcasts.  There are also numerous internet sites that will help you to create podcasts (see for example, http://www.podcasting-tools.com/how-podcasting-works.htm).  Please note that the George Mason University iTunes U site is for official outreach podcasts of the University and faculty and student instructional podcasts only. 

If it is not previously copyrighted.  Originally created music may be used as a part of a podcast, but music from the internet and from CDs is subject to copyright protections and cannot be used unless permission is sought and granted in writing.

No.  Podcasts can download to any computer with sound card and speakers can be played on laptops or desktops in addition to many portable digital music players.  However, certain podcasts created for Mac platform called “enhanced podcasts” are iPod exclusive.

Yes, but not using earplugs.  It is a violation of Commonwealth law to drive wearing devices that reduce hearing ability.  But there are many inexpensive solutions to listening to podcasts in the car:  devices that broadcast to a radio wavelength that can be played on the car radio, devices that plug portable players into a cassette which can be inserted and played, portable speakers that can power and play a mobile device using the lighter socket, and others.  You can also burn podcasts onto a CD and which can play in the car CD player.  Commute time can be a great use of lecture or material reinforcement with podcasts, but please be careful and keep driving safety as your highest priority.

Outreach podcasts, generally made available to a wide variety of people, can be played and forwarded.  Educational material, including lectures and course content, is restricted to members of the George Mason University community (current ID).  Some faculty may restrict access to students within their courses; this material may not be shared with anyone outside of the course.

The campus administrator is Rick Reo, who can be reached at rreo@gmu.edu or 703-993-8536.  The Steering Committee for Mason’s iTunes U initiative is chaired by the Senior Director of Learning Support Services, Jennifer Korjus, who can be contacted at jkorjus@gmu.edu or 703-993-9648.

The STAR Center’s STAR*Works lab, located in 311 Johnson Center, has headphones and software installed for students to access and listen to podcasts. The University Library Media Reserve Room also has stations for listening to podcasting.  For assistance with downloading podcasts to your personal computer, see Apple's tutorial, or contact the STAR Center (for students) or the IRC (for faculty and staff) about how this is done.

No. The tracks offered via Mason on iTunes U are kept apart from the content on the main iTunes Music Store. Thus, you will not be able to access Mason on iTunes U directly without first visiting podcasting.gmu.edu.

The search function currently references the main iTunes Music Store. Mason on iTunes tracks are catalogued separately, and thus will not be found in a search at the moment.

No. Since this a special section for Mason, there are no direct links off the main iTunes Music Store . You must first visit podcasting.gmu.edu to access Mason on iTunes U.