Frequently Asked Questions


How can I use these open materials?

Each document in GALILEO Open Learning Materials is classified by its Creative Commons license. These licenses allow you to reuse, redistribute, revise, remix, and retain these documents, with particular restrictions per the license. To learn more about the types of licenses, check out the Creative Commons License Page.

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What is the best way to find materials for my course?

The left sidebar contains ways to browse by course number, course title, discipline, and Creative Commons license. Try these browsing features before typing in a search. There are many other places to find OER, and many are listed on our More Open Content Page.

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Can faculty and staff submit materials to the repository directly?

At the moment, GALILEO Open Learning Materials uploads are administrator-only. If you would like to add your materials to the collection, please email Jeff Gallant at jeff.gallant@usg.edu.

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What separates a textbook from other types of materials?

For the purposes of this repository, a textbook is any text covering a comprehensive amount of a course's topics. The nature of the textbook is changing, and what might not have been considered a textbook ten years ago may have that categorization now. In the interest of keeping categories as simple to use as possible, textbooks in GALILEO Open Learning Materials may also include comprehensive reference sources, such as directories, dictionaries, or encyclopedias.

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Why does this resource categorized as "Open" not have an open license?

In the initial rounds of Textbook Transformation Grants, ALG focused on existing OER adoption and did not have the infrastructure to support the native hosting of open materials. Because of this, while open access to materials created was required, an open license was only recommended. With GALILEO Open Learning Materials, it will be far easier for grantees to assign an open license to a created work. ALG is asking the creators of past works without an open license to make these particular resources open in the near future.

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