One of the technology trends lately involves universities creating digital portals where courses, lectures, and resources are made available through popular platforms like iTunes University and YouTube.  Here are just a few links from my bookmarks about this trend:

•  Free Online Courses from Great Universities
• A Closer Look at YouTube EDU by Dan Colman
• A Plan to Develop and Spread Better College Teaching Practices
• The use of video in higher education has moved beyond mere lectur...
• ReadWriteWeb: iTunes U Proves Better than Going to Class
• iTunes University and the classroom: Can podcasts replace Profess...

I did a search of the iTunes store and found only one resource available from Athabasca University.  This is a series of voice recordings on French poetry by Vina Tirven-Godum for a French course and is part of the AU Library Digitization Portal.  

A search of YouTube yielded more results.  Here is a quick sampling of a variety of videos created and uploaded from AU professors, about AU, or interviews of AU faculty:

Athabasca University Funny Chemistry Lab Safety Video:

{{video:http://www.youtube.com/v/Twk8GVRvJnk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1@@445x364}}

Athabasca University Executive MBA: 

{{video:http://www.youtube.com/v/mpDnja0AKIg&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1@@445x364}}

Martha Cleeveland - Athabasca University:

{{video:http://www.youtube.com/v/3mjfx4Jc1jk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1@@445x364}}

Athabasca University Observatory:

{{video:http://www.youtube.com/v/AElb0YjuUpA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1@@445x364}} 

Web 2.0 & evaluating distance ed:

{{video:http://www.youtube.com/v/rp94yilDgv4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1@@445x364}} 

A preliminary search leaves the impression that AU lacks an organizational approach to utilizing these services for distance learning.  This is surprising in the sense that AU is a distance education institution and iTunes U and YouTube EDU appear to be a natural fit.  

I don't know if the organization is taking a wait and see approach and looking for more concrete evidence that these services actually add value to the learning experience offered by AU.  There is a legitimate questions as to whether this is another education technology fad or not? 

As an AU grad student in the MDDE program, I am a little surprised that the lead in this area seems to be taken by other institutions without any clear indication that AU is interested or considering using the video and podcasting services of some major players in this technology.  At the least it could promote the university to the world and enhance their reputation as a leader in distance education.