by Tracy Davis | The Ann Arbor News

Eastern Michigan University joined iTunes U Tuesday, allowing the public access to university lectures and events on a multimedia platform.

The service is free and works on Macs and PCs. So far, EMU has roughly 140 podcasts and other events on the site, with plans to add many more, said Rhonda DeLong of EMU's Web communications.

The application can be used to access events when you can't attend, such as lectures and presentations. It doesn't cost the public or university anything.

"It's really something that has taken off among universities nationwide," DeLong said. "So it's a great place for Eastern to be. We're among really big names out there."

Over time, EMU professors will be able to share the content of their courses with the world via EMU on iTunes U.

The University of Michigan began offering content via podcast on iTunes in 2005.

To learn more, visit www.emich.edu/itunesu.

eLearning enables us to deliver both learning and information at will—dynamically and immediately; to tap the knowledge of experts and nonexperts and catapult those messages beyond classroom walls and into the workplace; and to know, through the magic of technology, who is learning, referring, and contributing—and who is not. eLearning helps organizations increase knowledge and improve skills by connecting people, ideas, and information in online courses with engaging interactive content. eLearning can include formal online courses and simulations as well as informal and workflow learning using web conferencing, mobile performance support tools, digital learning games, publications, and podcasts.