eduCommons offers the following introductory answers to Frequently Asked Questions about how visitors to the site can make use of course materials, what technology we use to publish the eduCommons site, and 43 other common inquiries we receive. Click on a subject heading below to view questions and answers relating to your selection.
This document provides the help for the Western Governors University OpenCourseWare site in the form of a list of frequently asked questions and answers. If you have other questions about this site please email postmaster@localhost.
The idea behind Western Governors University OCW is to make Western Governors University course materials that are used in the teaching of undergraduate and graduate subjects available on the Web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world. Western Governors University OCW will advance technology-enhanced education at Western Governors University, and will serve as a model for university dissemination of knowledge in the Internet age. This venture continues the tradition at Western Governors University, and in American higher education, of open dissemination of educational materials, philosophy, and modes of thought, and will help lead to fundamental changes in the way colleges and universities utilize the Web as a vehicle for education.
Because technology makes it possible for us to increase the reach of educational opportunity, we have a moral obligation to do so. Western Governors University OCW supports Western Governors University's mission to serve the public through learning, discovery, and engagement, and is true to Western Governors University's guiding principle that academics come first. As Western Governors University enters the 21st century, services like OpenCourseWare enable it to more fully accomplish its land grant mission. Western Governors University OCW contributes to the "shared intellectual commons" in academia, which fosters collaboration across Western Governors University and among other scholars across disciplines and around the world.
Western Governors University OCW differs from other Western Governors University Web-based education offerings in that it is free and open, does not provide university credit, and grants no access to university faculty. Western Governors University OCW is not a distance-learning initiative. Distance learning involves the active exchange of information between faculty and students, with the goal of obtaining some form of a credential. Increasingly, distance learning is also limited to those willing and able to pay for materials or course delivery. Western Governors University OCW is not meant to replace degree-granting higher education or for-credit courses. Rather, the goal is to provide the content that supports an education.
Many individual faculty members at Western Governors University and other universities already use the Web extensively to make standard course materials available to their students. Some colleges and universities now require a Web site for every class. But, to a large extent, these Web sites are designed for, and access is only provided to, the students enrolled at these institutions. Western Governors University OCW is an unprecedented effort of a much broader magnitude, as the goal is to provide the course materials free and open to the world.
We expect Western Governors University OCW to grow to encompass the course materials of all faculty who are willing to participate. Over time, the goal is for most of the courses offered at Western Governors University to be represented in the collection. Another goal of Western Governors University OCW is to catalyze the development of groups or communities around the course materials. Individuals participating in these informal groups will coach, mentor, and support each other in their learning, adding significant value to the materials themselves. Finally, we strongly desire to extend the reach and impact of the "opencourseware" concept.
We are committed to Western Governors University OCW remaining a free and openly available publication of the course materials that support the dynamic classroom interactions of a Western Governors University education. Even as we continue to grow and evolve, the materials will always remain free and open to all. Along with this commitment to remaining free and open, Western Governors University OCW is also committed to the idea that Western Governors University OCW is not a distance-learning, or a degree-granting, initiative, and that there will not be a registration process required for users to view course materials now or in the future. Western Governors University OCW is working hard to publish all of the Western Governors University faculty's course materials who wish to participate.
Because Western Governors University OCW is not a distance-learning, or a degree-granting, initiative, there is no registration process required for users to view course materials. Western Governors University OCW is a publication of the course materials that support the dynamic classroom interactions of an Western Governors University education. Western Governors University OCW is available on the Web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world.
To find what courses are available at this time, view the complete course list. Once you have accessed a particular course site, the left-hand navigation bar of each course homepage will detail what materials are available for that individual course.
You can, utilize the Search function that can be found in the right-hand corner of every page on the Western Governors University OCW site. You can search for specific text, such as certain academic discipline area, across all courses or within just one course. Or to perform a detailed search, use our Advanced Search.
Or, to see what courses are available is to click on Courses in the top navigation bar on every page of the Western Governors University OCW Web site. This will allow you to view the list of courses available at this time.
Western Governors University OCW can be considered a large-scale, Web-based publication of the course materials that support an Western Governors University education. Educators are encouraged to utilize the materials for curriculum development, students can augment their current learning by making use of the materials offered, and self-learners are encouraged to draw upon the Western Governors University OCW for self-study or supplementary use. Course materials offered on the Western Governors University OCW Web site may be used within the license associated with the content, course or overall Western Governors University site as applicable.
Because Western Governors University OCW is not a distance-learning, or a degree-granting, initiative, there is no registration process required for users to view course materials. There are also no prerequisites for users who utilize Western Governors University OCW course materials in their own learning. However, each course site indicates the prerequisites and corequisites that are required of Western Governors University students.
Western Governors University OCW does not sell, offer vendor discounts for, or represent any vendor who may sell the software, books, or other materials that users of Western Governors University OCW may require to understand the course materials offered on the Western Governors University OCW Web site.
The course-pack materials that accompany most Western Governors University courses often contain proprietary information and copyrighted materials that Western Governors University Faculty only use in their classroom interactions with Western Governors University students. These materials are not available, nor will they be in the future, to Western Governors University OCW users.
No, Western Governors University has no relationship with, grants no special permission to, and does not approve, endorse, or certify any organizations, teachers, tutors, or other service providers who use educational materials available on the Western Governors University OCW Web site in connection with their services. Except for students admitted to Western Governors University, Western Governors University does not authorize the granting of any kind of degree, certificate, or other recognition for participation in or completion of any course of study based on or using published Western Governors University course materials.
To reference Western Governors University OCW you must comply with the terms of the license associated with Western Governors University OCW and/or the specific course materials. Typically you must you must give credit to Western Governors University and the faculty author of the course materials anytime you use Western Governors University OCW materials. For your convenience, each Western Governors University OCW page includes a citation appropriate for the page at the bottom of the content. However, any reference to Western Governors University (including the Western Governors University name in any of its forms or Western Governors University seals or logos) that deliberately or inadvertently claims, suggests, or in Western Governors University's sole judgment gives the appearance or impression of a relationship with or endorsement by Western Governors University, is prohibited.
[See also Intellectual Property]
Links to Western Governors University OCW or to courses or pages within the Western Governors University OCW Web site are permitted so long as the use of the materials associated with the link is permitted under the terms of the license associated with the course materials or particlar content. Typically course materials are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license 2.5, however individual course materials may have a separate license. Please check the bottom of the page to view the applicable license for any particular item. For your convenience, each Western Governors University OCW page includes a citation appropriate for the page at the bottom of the content.
In addition to meeting the terms of the license, links to Western Governors University OCW are permitted as long as the link is freely accessible (e.g., no restrictions or fee for access); and there is no claim, appearance, or implication of an affiliation with or endorsement by Western Governors University. Western Governors University OCW cannot guarantee the persistence of any specific link other than those to the Western Governors University OCW homepage.
[See also Intellectual Property]
Each Western Governors University OCW course Web site is developed individually with the participating faculty and instructors. It includes as much of the Western Governors University faculty member's course materials as is available in a digital format, or can be cost-effectively prepared; and is free of Intellectual Property and copyright restrictions. Western Governors University faculty and instructors participate only voluntarily, and publish only as much content as they are comfortable having on a Web site that is freely accessible worldwide.
In some cases, solutions to homework assignments, quizzes, and exams are only discussed and presented in the classroom, and not made available in print or electronic format to the Western Governors University students--or to the worldwide community of visitors to the Western Governors University OCW Web site. In other cases, the instructors plan to re-use in their Western Governors University classroom the assignments, quizzes, and exams, and so they do not wish to widely publish their solutions.
Although video lectures are useful for students, there are many reasons that Western Governors University OCW does not include video lectures in every course. First is the issue of bandwidth. We are very much focused on making Western Governors University's courses materials as accessible as possible to users all over the world, including the developing world. If we were to start depending on the video component as THE key element of every Western Governors University OCW course, we would be excluding a large portion of the Western Governors University OCW audience who are not using high-speed Internet connections. They would never be able to download the videos and we are very sensitive to that fact.
Another key concern about video is cost. The technology for compressing and storing video becomes more and more affordable by the day, but it is still not affordable, or feasible from a production standpoint, for us to be compressing 20 video lectures for all of our courses. Western Governors University OCW does not have that kind of storage capacity, at this time.
A key Western Governors University OCW audience is educators, and for them, we are hoping that by providing the syllabus, reading lists and lecture notes, we are offering a chance for them to jumpstart their own pedagogy and improve the way they teach their chosen discipline. While video lectures are very easy for people with fast Internet connections to watch, they do not really fulfill the mission of Western Governors University OCW.
Prior to making any course materials publicly available, the Western Governors University OCW team has reviewed all material extensively to determine the correct ownership of the material and obtain the appropriate licenses to make the material openly available on the Web. We will promptly remove any material that is determined to be infringing on the rights of others [See also What do I do if I believe a portion of Western Governors University OCW material infringes my copyright?].
The intellectual property policies created for Western Governors University OCW are clear and consistent with other policies for scholarly materials used in education. Faculty retain ownership of most materials prepared for Western Governors University OCW. Western Governors University retains ownership only when significant use has been made of the Institute's resources. If student course work is placed on the Western Governors University OCW site, then copyright in the work remains with the student.
See the Terms of Use for more information.
If you would like to use Western Governors University OCW course materials, but you are unsure whether your intended use qualifies as non-commercial use, please contact us using the feedback page or email postmaster@localhost.
See the Terms of Use for more information.
A commercial use would involve the assessment of a direct or indirect fee for use of the Western Governors University OCW materials, or any derivation or modification of the Western Governors University OCW material, or any other commercial exploitation of Western Governors University OCW materials. All uses, reuse, and distribution of Western Governors University OCW material, including works derived from Western Governors University OCW material, must be attributed to Western Governors University OCW and to the original authors where identified on the Western Governors University OCW materials you distribute. If you would like to use Western Governors University OCW course materials, but you are unsure whether your intended use qualifies as non-commercial use, please contact us using the feedback link at the top of the page.
To reuse or repost materials from Western Governors University OCW, confirm that the license allows for the use you intend. If the license permits reuse, you must give proper attribution to the original Western Governors University faculty author(s).
For your convenience, at the bottom of each page, we provide a citation in APA format, a copyright statement and a license for that page.
Or you may chose to cite the resource in the following manner: "This material was created by or adapted from material created by Western Governors University faculty member, (Name), (Title), (Year). Copyright © (Year), (Faculty Member's Name)."
As an example, the citation for "Understanding Online Interaction" taught by Utah State University Professor David Wiley would read, "This material was created or adapted from material created by Utah State University faculty member David Wiley, Associate Professor. Copyright © 2004, David Wiley."
If you want to use the course materials on your Web site, and the materials are licensed using a Creative Commons license, you must also include a copy of the Creative Commons license, or clear and reasonable link to its URL (for example, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/), with every copy of the materials or the derivative work(s) you create from it.
The intent of Western Governors University OCW is that our Web site should reflect the course materials for what is being taught at Western Governors University. The reason for this policy is that the materials presented on the Western Governors University OCW site are authored by members of the Western Governors University Faculty, and thus, our faculty will take final responsibility for these materials. It would be difficult for Western Governors University OCW to guarantee the accuracy and originality of materials we received from outside sources. However, we encourage other universities to create their own "opencourseware" in which materials from their courses would be posted online and openly shared with the world. Western Governors University OCW is eager to link to other universities or institutions that have similar goals.
Western Governors University OCW, prior to making any Western Governors University OCW materials publicly available, has reviewed all material extensively to determine the correct ownership of the material and obtain the appropriate licenses to make the material available on Western Governors University OCW. Western Governors University OCW will promptly remove any material that is determined to be infringing on the rights of others. If you believe that a portion of Western Governors University OCW material infringes on your copyright, please contact us using the feedback page or email postmaster@localhost.
To file the notification, you must be either the copyright owner of the work or an individual authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner. Your notification must include:
If you do not include an electronic signature with your claim, you may be asked to send or fax a follow-up copy with a signature.
Participation of Western Governors University faculty in Western Governors University OCW is completely voluntary.
Western Governors University OCW is intended as a publication of Western Governors University course materials on the Web, and not as an interactive experience with Western Governors University faculty. It provides the content of, but is not a substitute for, an Western Governors University education. The most fundamental cornerstone of the learning process at Western Governors University is the interaction between faculty and students in the classroom, and among students themselves on campus. Western Governors University OCW does not offer visitors to the Web site the opportunity for direct contact with Western Governors University faculty, though individual portal faculty may choose to list their contact information. Inquiries related to specific course materials will be forwarded to the Western Governors University faculty member associated with that course for their consideration. However, due to the tremendous volume of email inquiries received, it is unlikely he or she will answer all emails.
Yes inquiries will be ansered. Western Governors University OCW encourages users to provide feedback on the site and the published course materials. The comments and constructive criticism of users will help the Western Governors University OCW staff improve the site and published course materials as we continue to evolve.
You may translate course materials in Western Governors University OCW if permitted by the license of the course materials you wish to translate. Western Governors University asks that any Western Governors University OCW materials translated into other languages from the original language must be accompanied by the proper attribution of the original materials and include the following disclaimer:
"These Western Governors University OpenCourseWare course materials have been translated into [YOUR LANGUAGE] by [YOUR INSTITUTION] and Western Governors University OpenCourseWare makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the materials, express or implied, including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or the absence of errors, whether or not discoverable. Western Governors University OpenCourseWare bears no responsibility for any inaccuracies in translation. Any inaccuracies or other defects contained in this material, due to inaccuracies in language translation, are the sole responsibility of [YOUR INSTITUTION] and not Western Governors University OpenCourseWare."[See Also How do I properly cite my reuse of Western Governors University OCW materials]
The majority of Western Governors University OCW course sites work in modern Web browsers on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Although higher-speed connections are preferable, slower connections, such as modems, should allow users to view most materials on the sites (however, downloading or accessing materials may take somewhat longer).
Metadata is, literally, "data about data." Metadata can be better understood as information that describes other information. For example, this Web page of FAQs for Western Governors University OCW has an author, a title, a date of creation, and a unique Internet address; this information constitutes the metadata about this page. Metadata enables sophisticated, powerful, and accurate searches across Western Governors University OCW course materials.
The fonts and style of the Western Governors University OCW Web site have been specifically selected to meet certain design and accessibility standards. The Western Governors University OCW Team has tested the site and these standards across a wide variety of browsers and platform. However, some users may still find that their browser configurations continue to display the text too small. You can change the displayed font size using your browser's View menu. In Netscape 7, there is a "VIEW - Text-Zoom" selection (try 120%). In Netscape 4.x, there is a "VIEW - Increase Font" selection. In Internet Explorer, you can select "VIEW - Text-Size - Larger or Largest." We hope this helps you to more comfortably view the Western Governors University OCW course materials.
All course materials published on the Western Governors University OCW site are checked to see if they are valid XHTML and meet Section 508 and WAI-AA guidelines as part of the authoring process. We require all images to contain ALT attributes and all links to contain TITLE tags.
A small percentage of the PDF documents offered on the Western Governors University OCW Web site may be compatible only with newer versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you would like to view such a file, we recommend downloading the latest version of the Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web site at http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html.
The information we learn from visitors helps us improve the Western Governors University OCW site, and assists our foundation sponsors in evaluation of usage, access, and impact of Western Governors University OCW on the worldwide educational community. Western Governors University OCW collects the following information from visitors:
[See Also Privacy Policy]
Western Governors University OCW uses "cookies" in a limited way. Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that this Web site transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser to enable our systems to recognize your browser when you make return trips to the site. This allows us to track your use of the site (anonymously), and to analyze patterns in site use, such as repeat visits, length of visits, and breadth of content used, for example). Cookies also allow us to conduct periodic, online, voluntary user surveys where we can gain more insight into what type of people are actually using the site, how they are using the site, and what the educational impact of the site is on these users.
Western Governors University OCW's use of cookies is designed to be unobtrusive, and we do not collect personally identifiable information through their use. However, if you do not wish to accept cookies, the "Help" portion of the toolbar on most Web browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether. Disabling cookies will in no way affect your access to content on the Western Governors University OCW site. If you leave cookies enabled on your Web browser, you may be asked to complete a brief questionnaire that will help us gain a better understanding of the use and impact of Western Governors University OCW.
[See Also Privacy Policy]
Information about our site visitors is an important part of understanding and extending the impact of Western Governors University OCW in the worldwide academic community. Individual personally identifiable information about users (name, email address, etc) will not be made available to third parties except as outlined below, nor will it ever be used for commercial purposes. We share user information only as described below.
[See Also Privacy Policy]
Western Governors University OCW runs on the open source eduCommons software. The current technical solution has been in use since January 2005 with a small technical team managing all aspects of this infrastructure at the Center for Open and Sustainable Learning (http://cosl.usu.edu/) at Utah State University.
The planning tools used by the Western Governors University OCW team to assist faculty in publishing their course materials include a portion of the workflow in eduCommons, and several checklists and documents. For creating and managing content, we use several desktop tools (file conversion tools) as well as eduCommons, that together fully support our publishing process. Our content delivery infrastructure includes a production cluster and a content staging cluster.
For more information on eduCommons, please contact The Center for Open and Sustainable Learning (http://cosl.usu.edu/).
Western Governors University OCW is firmly committed to open systems and will share its approach and the open source eduCommons software with those who may want to launch similar efforts. eduCommons has a dedicated team of developers focused on extending the platform, features and functions to meet Western Governors University OCW and other institution's needs.
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) and an aggregator allow you to subscribe to discussion forums, blogs and other websites in order to receive timely, organized updates of posts, news, and other information you care about.
It is particularly generous of you to offer a financial contribution to
support Western Governors University OCW. This is a wonderful endorsement of what we hope to
achieve. If you wish to make such a donation, please make your check
payable to "Western Governors University" and enclose a note indicating that the contribution is
for the Western Governors University OCW Fund. You can mail your check to:
<YourUniveristy>
<Street Address>
<City, State, Zip>
Western Governors University OCW is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting program. Western Governors University OCW
course materials are available for free on the Web for the use of
educators and self-learners. Those interested in applying to be
full-time students at Western Governors University are encouraged to contact the Admissions
Office:
Office of Admissions
<YourUniveristy>
<Street Address>
<City, State, Zip>
<Phone: 999-999-9999>
http://www.yoursitehere.com/admissions/