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Listen: we know homework isn’t fun, but it is a good way to reinforce the ideas and concepts you’ve learned in class. But what if you’re really struggling with your homework assignments?

If you’ve looked online for a little extra help with your take-home assignments, you’ve probably stumbled across websites claiming to provide the homework help and answers students need to succeed . But can homework help sites really make a difference? And if so, which are the best homework help websites you can use? 

Below, we answer these questions and more about homework help websites–free and paid. We’ll go over: 

• The basics of homework help websites
• The cost of homework help websites 
• The five best homework websites out there 
• The pros and cons of using these websites for homework help 
• The line between “learning” and “cheating” when using online homework help 
• Tips for getting the most out of a homework help website

So let’s get started! 

The Basics About Homework Help Websites–Free and Paid

Homework help websites are designed to help you complete your homework assignments, plain and simple. 

What Makes a Homework Help Site Worth Using

Most of the best sites allow users to ask questions and then provide an answer (or multiple possible answers) and explanation in seconds. In some instances, you can even send a photo of a particular assignment or problem instead of typing the whole thing out! 

Homework help sites also offer more than just help answering homework questions. Common services provided are Q&A with experts, educational videos, lectures, practice tests and quizzes, learning modules, math solving tools, and proofreading help. Homework help sites can also provide textbook solutions (i.e. answers to problems in tons of different textbooks your school might be using), one-on-one tutoring, and peer-to-peer platforms that allow you to discuss subjects you’re learning about with your fellow students. 

And best of all, nearly all of them offer their services 24/7, including tutoring! 

What You Should Should Look Out For

When it comes to homework help, there are lots–and we mean lots –of scam sites out there willing to prey on desperate students. Before you sign up for any service, make sure you read reviews to ensure you’re working with a legitimate company. 

A word to the wise: the more a company advertises help that veers into the territory of cheating, the more likely it is to be a scam. The best homework help websites are going to help you learn the concepts you’ll need to successfully complete your homework on your own. (We’ll go over the difference between “homework help” and “cheating” a little later!) 

You don't need a golden piggy bank to use homework help websites. Some provide low or no cost help for students like you!

How Expensive Are the Best Homework Help Websites?

First of all, just because a homework help site costs money doesn’t mean it’s a good service. Likewise, just because a homework help website is free doesn’t mean the help isn’t high quality. To find the best websites, you have to take a close look at the quality and types of information they provide! 

When it comes to paid homework help services, the prices vary pretty widely depending on the amount of services you want to subscribe to. Subscriptions can cost anywhere from $2 to $150 dollars per month, with the most expensive services offering several hours of one-on-one tutoring with a subject expert per month.

The 5 Best Homework Help Websites 

So, what is the best homework help website you can use? The answer is that it depends on what you need help with. 

The best homework help websites are the ones that are reliable and help you learn the material. They don’t just provide answers to homework questions–they actually help you learn the material. 

That’s why we’ve broken down our favorite websites into categories based on who they’re best for . For instance, the best website for people struggling with math might not work for someone who needs a little extra help with science, and vice versa. 

Keep reading to find the best homework help website for you! 

Best Free Homework Help Site: Khan Academy

• Price: Free!
• Best for: Practicing tough material 

Not only is Khan Academy free, but it’s full of information and can be personalized to suit your needs. When you set up your account , you choose which courses you need to study, and Khan Academy sets up a personal dashboard of instructional videos, practice exercises, and quizzes –with both correct and incorrect answer explanations–so you can learn at your own pace. 

As an added bonus, it covers more course topics than many other homework help sites, including several AP classes.

Runner Up: Brainly.com offers a free service that allows you to type in questions and get answers and explanations from experts. The downside is that you’re limited to two answers per question and have to watch ads. 

Best Paid Homework Help Site: Chegg

• Price: $14.95 to $19.95 per month
• Best for: 24/7 homework assistance  

This service has three main parts . The first is Chegg Study, which includes textbook solutions, Q&A with subject experts, flashcards, video explanations, a math solver, and writing help. The resources are thorough, and reviewers state that Chegg answers homework questions quickly and accurately no matter when you submit them.  

Chegg also offers textbook rentals for students who need access to textbooks outside of their classroom. Finally, Chegg offers Internship and Career Advice for students who are preparing to graduate and may need a little extra help with the transition out of high school. 

Another great feature Chegg provides is a selection of free articles geared towards helping with general life skills, like coping with stress and saving money. Chegg’s learning modules are comprehensive, and they feature solutions to the problems in tons of different textbooks in a wide variety of subjects. 

Runner Up: Bartleby offers basically the same services as Chegg for $14.99 per month. The reason it didn’t rank as the best is based on customer reviews that say user questions aren’t answered quite as quickly on this site as on Chegg. Otherwise, this is also a solid choice!

Best Site for Math Homework Help: Photomath

• Price: Free (or $59.99 per year for premium services) 
• Best for: Explaining solutions to math problems

This site allows you to t ake a picture of a math problem, and instantly pulls up a step-by-step solution, as well as a detailed explanation of the concept. Photomath also includes animated videos that break down mathematical concepts to help you better understand and remember them. 

The basic service is free, but for an additional fee you can get extra study tools and learn additional strategies for solving common math problems.

Runner Up: KhanAcademy offers in-depth tutorials that cover complex math topics for free, but you won’t get the same tailored help (and answers!) that Photomath offers. 

Best Site for English Homework Help: Princeton Review Academic Tutoring

• Price: $40 to $153 per month, depending on how many hours of tutoring you want 
• Best for: Comprehensive and personalized reading and writing help 

While sites like Grammarly and Sparknotes help you by either proofreading what you write via an algorithm or providing book summaries, Princeton Review’s tutors provide in-depth help with vocabulary, literature, essay writing and development, proofreading, and reading comprehension. And unlike other services, you’ll have the chance to work with a real person to get help. 

The best part is that you can get on-demand English (and ESL) tutoring from experts 24/7. That means you can get help whenever you need it, even if you’re pulling an all-nighter! 

This is by far the most expensive homework site on this list, so you’ll need to really think about what you need out of a homework help website before you commit. One added benefit is that the subscription covers over 80 other subjects, including AP classes, which can make it a good value if you need lots of help!  

Best Site for STEM Homework Help: Studypool

• Best for: Science homework help
• Price: Varies; you’ll pay for each question you submit

When it comes to science homework help, there aren’t a ton of great resources out there. The best of the bunch is Studypool, and while it has great reviews, there are some downsides as well. 

Let’s start with the good stuff. Studypool offers an interesting twist on the homework help formula. After you create a free account, you can submit your homework help questions, and tutors will submit bids to answer your questions. You’ll be able to select the tutor–and price point–that works for you, then you’ll pay to have your homework question answered. You can also pay a small fee to access notes, lectures, and other documents that top tutors have uploaded. 

The downside to Studypool is that the pricing is not transparent . There’s no way to plan for how much your homework help will cost, especially if you have lots of questions! Additionally, it’s not clear how tutors are selected, so you’ll need to be cautious when you choose who you’d like to answer your homework questions.  

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Homework Help Sites?

Homework help websites can be a great resource if you’re struggling in a subject, or even if you just want to make sure that you’re really learning and understanding topics and ideas that you’re interested in. But, there are some possible drawbacks if you don’t use these sites responsibly. 

We’ll go over the good–and the not-so-good–aspects of getting online homework help below. 

3 Pros of Using Homework Help Websites 

First, let’s take a look at the benefits. 

#1: Better Grades Beyond Homework

This is a big one! Getting outside help with your studies can improve your understanding of concepts that you’re learning, which translates into better grades when you take tests or write essays. 

Remember: homework is designed to help reinforce the concepts you learned in class. If you just get easy answers without learning the material behind the problems, you may not have the tools you need to be successful on your class exams…or even standardized tests you’ll need to take for college. 

#2: Convenience

One of the main reasons that online homework help is appealing is because it’s flexible and convenient. You don’t have to go to a specific tutoring center while they’re open or stay after school to speak with your teacher. Instead, you can access helpful resources wherever you can access the internet, whenever you need them.

This is especially true if you tend to study at off hours because of your extracurriculars, work schedule, or family obligations. Sites that offer 24/7 tutoring can give you the extra help you need if you can’t access the free resources that are available at your school. 

#3: Variety

Not everyone learns the same way. Maybe you’re more of a visual learner, but your teacher mostly does lectures. Or maybe you learn best by listening and taking notes, but you’re expected to learn something just from reading the textbook . 

One of the best things about online homework help is that it comes in a variety of forms. The best homework help sites offer resources for all types of learners, including videos, practice activities, and even one-on-one discussions with real-life experts. 

This variety can also be a good thing if you just don’t really resonate with the way a concept is being explained (looking at you, math textbooks!).

Not so fast. There are cons to homework help websites, too. Get to know them below!

3 Cons of Using Homework Help Websites 

Now, let’s take a look at the drawbacks of online homework help. 

#1: Unreliable Info

This can be a real problem. In addition to all the really good homework help sites, there are a whole lot of disreputable or unreliable sites out there. The fact of the matter is that some homework help sites don’t necessarily hire people who are experts in the subjects they’re talking about. In those cases, you may not be getting the accurate, up-to-date, and thorough information you need.

Additionally, even the great sites may not be able to answer all of your homework questions. This is especially true if the site uses an algorithm or chatbot to help students…or if you’re enrolled in an advanced or college-level course. In these cases, working with your teacher or school-provided tutors are probably your best option. 

#2: No Clarification

This depends on the service you use, of course. But the majority of them provide free or low-cost help through pre-recorded videos. Watching videos or reading info online can definitely help you with your homework… but you can’t ask questions or get immediate feedback if you need it .

#3: Potential For Scamming 

Like we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of homework help websites out there, and lots of them are scams. The review comments we read covered everything from outdated or wrong information, to misleading claims about the help provided, to not allowing people to cancel their service after signing up. 

No matter which site you choose to use, make sure you research and read reviews before you sign up–especially if it’s a paid service! 

When Does “Help” Become “Cheating”?

Admittedly, whether using homework help websites constitutes cheating is a bit of a grey area. For instance, is it “help” when a friend reads your essay for history class and corrects your grammar, or is it “cheating”? The truth is, not everyone agrees on when “help” crosses the line into “cheating .” When in doubt, it can be a good idea to check with your teacher to see what they think about a particular type of help you want to get. 

That said, a general rule of thumb to keep in mind is to make sure that the assignment you turn in for credit is authentically yours . It needs to demonstrate your own thoughts and your own current abilities. Remember: the point of every homework assignment is to 1) help you learn something, and 2) show what you’ve learned. 

So if a service answers questions or writes essays for you, there’s a good chance using it constitutes cheating. 

Here’s an example that might help clarify the difference for you. Brainstorming essay ideas with others or looking online for inspiration is “help” as long as you write the essay yourself. Having someone read it and give you feedback about what you need to change is also help, provided you’re the one that makes the changes later. 

But copying all or part of an essay you find online or having someone write (or rewrite) the whole thing for you would be “cheating.” The same is true for other subjects. Ultimately, if you’re not generating your own work or your own answers, it’s probably cheating.

5 Tips for Finding the Best Homework Help Websites for You

Now that you know some of our favorite homework help websites, free and paid, you can start doing some additional research on your own to decide which services might work best for you! Here are some top tips for choosing a homework help website. 

Tip 1: Decide How You Learn Best 

Before you decide which site or sites you’re going to use for homework help, y ou should figure out what kind of learning style works for you the most. Are you a visual learner? Then choose a site that uses lots of videos to help explain concepts. If you know you learn best by actually doing tasks, choose a site that provides lots of practice exercises.

Tip 2: Determine Which Subjects You Need Help With

Just because a homework help site is good overall doesn’t mean that it’s equally good for every subject. If you only need help in math, choose a site that specializes in that area. But if history is where you’re struggling, a site that specializes in math won’t be much help. So make sure to choose a site that you know provides high-quality help in the areas you need it most. 

Tip 3: Decide How Much One-On-One Help You Need 

This is really about cost-effectiveness. If you learn well on your own by reading and watching videos, a free site like Khan Academy is a good choice. But if you need actual tutoring, or to be able to ask questions and get personalized answers from experts, a paid site that provides that kind of service may be a better option.

Tip 4: Set a Budget

If you decide you want to go with a paid homework help website, set a budget first . The prices for sites vary wildly, and the cost to use them can add up quick. 

Tip 5: Read the Reviews

Finally, it’s always a good idea to read actual reviews written by the people using these homework sites. You’ll learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of what the users’ experiences have been. This is especially true if you intend to subscribe to a paid service. You’ll want to make sure that users think it’s worth the price overall!

What’s Next?

If you want to get good grades on your homework, it’s a good idea to learn how to tackle it strategically. Our expert tips will help you get the most out of each assignment…and boost your grades in the process.

Doing well on homework assignments is just one part of getting good grades. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about getting great grades in high school in this article.

Of course, test grades can make or break your GPA, too. Here are 17 expert tips that’ll help you get the most out of your study prep before you take an exam.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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case, christine l., microbiology: a systems approach 4th edition cowan, marjorie kelly, microbiology: principles and explorations 9th edition black, jacquelyn g.; black, laura, microbiology with diseases by body system (4th edition) bauman, robert w,, phd, microeconomics: principles, applications, and tools (8th edition) o'sullivan, arthur; sheffrin, steven; perez, stephen, microeconomics: principles, problems, & policies, 20th edition mcconnell, campbell; brue, stanley; flynn, sean, molecular biology of the cell 6th edition alberts, bruce; johnson, alexander; lewis, julian; morgan, david; raff, martin; roberts, keith; walter, peter, multivariable calculus, 7th edition stewart, james, munson, young and okiishi's fundamentals of fluid mechanics, binder ready version 8th edition gerhart, philip m.; gerhart, andrew l.; hochstein, john i., numerical methods for engineers chapra, steven; raymond, canale;, numerical methods for engineers and scientists gilat, amos;, organic chemistry, 5th edition smith, janice, organic chemistry (8th edition) wade jr., l. g., organic chemistry 9th edition mcmurry, john e., organic chemistry as a second language, 3e: first semester topics klein, david, organizational behavior (16th edition) robbins, stephen p.; judge, timothy a., physical chemistry: thermodynamics, structure, and change atkins, peter; de paula, julio, physics (10th edition) young, david; stadler, shane, physics for scientists and engineers: a strategic approach with modern physics (3rd edition) knight, randall d., physics for scientists and engineers: a strategic approach with modern physics (4th edition) knight, randall d., physics: principles with applications (7th edition) giancoli, douglas c., physics technology update (4th edition) walker, james s., prealgebra (7th edition) martin-gay, elayn, precalculus (10th edition) sullivan, michael, precalculus (6th edition) lial, margaret l.; hornsby, john; schneider, david i.; daniels, callie, precalculus (6th edition) blitzer blitzer, robert f., precalculus: concepts through functions, a unit circle approach to trigonometry (3rd edition) sullivan iii, michael, precalculus: mathematics for calculus, 7th edition stewart, james; redlin, lothar; watson, saleem, principles of anatomy and physiology 14e with atlas of the skeleton set (14th edition) tortora, gerard j., principles of economics, 7th edition mankiw, n. gregory, principles of heat transfer (activate learning with these new titles from engineering) 8th edition manglik, raj m.; kreith, frank, principles of life for the ap course (2nd edition) hillis, david m.; sadava, david e.; hill, richard w.; price, mary v., principles of macroeconomics 7th edition mankiw, n. gregory, principles of marketing (16th edition) kotler, philip t.; armstrong, gary, principles of microeconomics, 7th edition mankiw, n. gregory, shigley's mechanical engineering design 10th edition budynas, richard; nisbett, keith, statistics (12th edition) mcclave, james t.; sincich, terry t., statistics, 4th edition freedman, david; pisani, robert; purves, roger, statistics for the life sciences (5th edition) samuels, myra l.; witmer, jeffrey a.; schaffner, andrew, statistics: informed decisions using data (4th edition) sullivan iii, michael, statistics: the art and science of learning from data (3rd edition) agresti, alan; franklin, christine a., stats: data and models (3rd edition) de vaux, richard d.; velleman, paul d.; bock, david e., stats modeling the world, 4th edition bock, david e.; velleman, paul f.; de veaux, richard d., system dynamics 3rd edition palm, william iii, thermodynamics: an engineering approach 8th edition cengel, yunus; boles, michael, thinking mathematically (6th edition) blitzer, robert f., thomas' calculus 13th edition thomas jr., george b., trigonometry (10th edition) lial, margaret l.; hornsby, john; schneider, david i.; daniels, callie, trigonometry (11th edition) clone lial, margaret l.; hornsby, john; schneider, david i.; daniels, callie, trigonometry 7th edition mckeague, charles p.; turner, mark d., understanding business, 10th edition nickels, william g.; mchugh, james m.; mchugh, susan m., understanding nutrition 14th edition whitney, eleanor noss; rolfes, sharon rady, university calculus: early transcendentals (3rd edition) hass, joel r.; weir, maurice d.; thomas jr., george b., university physics with modern physics (14th edition) young, hugh d.; freedman, roger a..

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Why Mathematics Textbooks Matter

A test on textbooks, schools typically adopt new mathematics textbooks every five to seven years., before publishing and distributing new textbooks to schools, textbook developers field-test and revise new materials on the basis of evidence of effectiveness., textbook authors and publishers base the content of mathematics textbooks on national curriculum standards., u.s. textbooks resemble textbooks used in countries where students perform well on international mathematics assessments., mathematics textbooks have a direct impact on what schools teach and what students learn., a better alternative, selecting a textbook, what about professional development, teaming up for success.

True . Tyson-Bernstein and Woodward (1991) note the ubiquitous nature of textbooks in U.S. schools; textbooks are a prominent, if not dominant, part of teaching and learning. This phenomenon, however, is not limited to the United States, as international studies indicate (Robitaille & Travers, 1992): Teachers of mathematics in all countries rely heavily on textbooks in their day-to-day teaching, and this is perhaps more characteristic of the teaching of mathematics than of any other subject in the curriculum. Teachers decide what to teach, how to teach it, and what sorts of exercises to assign to their students largely on the basis of what is contained in the textbook authorized for their course. (p. 706)

Figure 1. “Traditional” U.S. Textbook Lesson: Volume of Cylinders and Cones

The textbook method of presentation necessarily affects instruction. Stigler and Hiebert (1999) characterize the typical 8th grade mathematics lesson in the United States as “learning terms and practicing procedures” (p. 27). According to the researchers' analysis of videotaped lessons, U.S. teachers usually follow a routine that begins with short-answer review questions followed by relatively long segments of homework checking. After checking the homework, the teacher presents the students with a few sample problems and [demonstrates] how to solve them. Often the teacher engages the students in a step-by-step demonstration by asking short-answer questions along the way. (p. 80)

Figure 2. “Standards-Based” Textbook Lesson: Volume of Cylinders and Cones

• What key mathematical ideas in each content strand should each grade level address?
• How does the content of the textbook align with these key mathematical ideas?
• What types of activities does the textbook provide? Are students challenged to think and develop understanding, or are they simply shown how to work some exercises and then asked to practice procedures? Will these activities engage students in mathematical thinking and activity?
• Is there a focus on mathematical thinking and problem solving? Are students expected to explain “why”? Does the textbook encourage students to explore “what if” questions and to offer and test conjectures?

Ball, D. L., & Cohen, D. K. (1996). Reform by the book: What is—or might be—the role of curriculum materials in teacher learning and instructional reform? Educational Researcher, 25 (9), 6–8, 14.

Blank, R. K., Earle, J., Schmidt, W., Roseman, J. E., & Nohara, D. (1997). TIMSS: Guidebook to examine school curricula . Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.

Chávez, O. (2003). From the textbook to the enacted curriculum: Textbook use in the middle school mathematics classroom. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri-Columbia.

Education Market Research. (2002, October). K-12 market size and growth rates . Available: www.ed-market.com/r_c_archives/display_article.php?article_id=46

Kulm, G. (1999). Making sure that your mathematics curriculum meets standards. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 4 (8), 536–541.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM]. (1981). How to evaluate your mathematics program . Reston, VA: Author.

NCTM. (1989). Curriculum and evaluation standards for school mathematics . Reston, VA: Author.

NCTM. (2000). Principles and standards for school mathematics . Reston, VA: Author.

NCTM & ASCD. (1991). A guide for reviewing school mathematics programs . Reston, VA: NCTM.

Reys, B. J., Reys, R. E., Barnes, D., Beem, J., & Papick, I. (1997). Collaborative curriculum investigation as a vehicle for teacher enhancement and mathematics curriculum reform. School Science and Mathematics, 97 (5), 253–259.

Reys, B. J., Robinson, E., Sconiers, S., & Mark, J. (1999). Mathematics curricula based on rigorous national standards: What, why, and how? Phi Delta Kappan, 80 (6), 454–456.

Reys, R. E., Reys, B. J., Lapan, R., Holliday, G., & Wasman, D. (2003). Assessing the impact of standards-based middle grades mathematics curriculum materials on student achievement. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 34 , 74–95.

Riordan, J. E., & Noyce, P. E. (2001). The impact of two standards-based mathematics curricula on student achievement in Massachusetts. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 32 , 368–398.

Robitaille, D. F., & Travers, K. J. (1992). International studies of achievement in mathematics. In D. A. Grouws (Ed.), Handbook of research in mathematics teaching and learning (pp. 687–709). New York: Macmillan.

Schmidt, W. H., McKnight, C. C., & Raizen, S. A. (1997). A splintered vision: An investigation of U.S. science and mathematics education . Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer.

Schmidt, W. H., & Valverde, G. (1997). Policy lessons from TIMSS . Paper prepared for the National Governors Association.

Stigler, J., & Hiebert, J. (1999). The teaching gap . New York: The Free Press.

Trafton, P., Reys, B. J., & Wasman, D. (2001). Standards-based mathematics curriculum materials: A phrase in search of a definition. Phi Delta Kappan, 83 , 259–264.

Tyson-Bernstein, H., & Woodward, A. (1991). Nineteenth century policies for twenty-first century practice: The textbook reform dilemma. In Textbooks in American Society (pp. 91–104). Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

Weiss, I. R., Banilower, E. R., McMahon, K. C., & Smith, P. S. (2001). Report of the 2000 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education . Chapel Hill, NC: Horizon Research, Inc. Available: http://2000survey.horizon-research.com/reports/status.php

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Android Police

Gemini 1.5 pro in notebooklm can turn your homework into an interactive podcast.

The tool can now generate spoken dialogue discussions from the information you feed it

• Discover how Google's Gemini Pro model in NotebookLM can create study guides, FAQs, quizzes, and even spoken dialogue discussions.
• Experience the interactive and personalized learning experience by connecting physics and basketball through AI-generated examples.
• Despite some potential limitations, the new features in NotebookLM show that Google is committed to making AI beneficial for all students.

Recent developments in the AI space are really beneficial for students. No, really, I wish tools like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini were around when I was a student. They would have made passing call classes with top grades a breeze. The best AI tools , like Google's NotebookLM , which allows you to upload documents and text to Google's servers and use language models to summarize the materials, can save students hours of time.

In an attempt to upgrade NotebookLM, Google, at its annual Google I/O developer conference, announced that its Gemini 1.5 Pro model is coming to NotebookLM, unlocking new functionalities for the tool.

I tested NotebookLM and saw the promise of something great

The tool now allows you to create a "Notebook guide" from the documents and text you feed it, which is essentially a summary that can generate study guides, FAQs, and even quizzes. However, the main update here is "Audio overview," which can take all the information you feed it as input and create a spoken dialogue discussion from it, benefiting those that learn the best when they listen to information, rather than reading it.

In an example shown on-stage, the tool was able to generate a spoken discussion between two people about physics, specifically force and motion. The presentation also included a demonstration on how the user can join in on the discussion.

You can join the discussion and ask questions!

Josh Woodward, VP at Google Labs, joined the discussion, and asked the tool to give his son Jimmy a "basketball example." The tool quickly jumped in and said, "Hey Jimmy, that's a fantastic idea. Basketball is actually a great way to visualize force and motion," before continuing to break down how physics and basketball are connected.

Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about Google's next-gen multimodal AI

By connecting the dots between basketball and physics, the tool was able to generate a spoken-word and age-appropriate example, making the learning experience a lot more interactive and personalized.

As always, it is not certain that the tool will always work as presented by Google on-stage. It's worth noting that small text on the bottom right of the presentation indicates that the audio was pre-generated. We'd have to try out the feature for ourselves to see if it works as intended. Regardless, bringing Gemini 1.5 Pro to NotebookLM is a welcome addition, and proves that Google is making AI helpful for everyone .

Texas A&M Expanding Initiative Aimed At Curbing Textbook Costs

Efforts aimed at saving Texas A&M University students money on the increasing cost of textbooks are set to expand.

The university’s established course affordability efforts are credited with saving students an estimated $1.2 million this academic year by using Libraries-purchased materials as replacements for traditional textbooks. 

Texas A&M University Libraries recently hired Jennifer Pate to build on that success to create an even greater impact through OpenEd, a program launched at the start of 2023-2024 school year using funds from the Office of the Provost. 

“I’m thrilled to join a library system and a university focused on student success,” said Pate, who has considerable experience with open educational materials, most recently spearheading efforts at the University of Northern Alabama. “The cost of textbooks and course materials has increased steadily at universities worldwide. OpenEd addresses the issue head-on by embracing and advocating for the use of open educational resources.”

The course material affordability unit, housed in the Libraries:

• identifies low- to no-cost course materials;
• supports faculty who adopt, adapt and create open educational resources (OERs);
• increases awareness of program funding opportunities; 
• and assesses the program’s impact on student success

As OpenEd grows under Pate’s leadership, savings are expected to increase exponentially, with new program-focused librarians and technical staff.  

“OpenEd will help keep course materials affordable for current and future Aggies,” said Dr. Alan Sams, provost and executive vice president. “That is our objective, and that is a top priority for our libraries.”

Working alongside expert librarians, faculty, academic support professionals and campus partners,  OpenEd is charged with expanding the OER movement on the Texas A&M campus and making Aggieland a national leader in the course affordability movement.  

“Our existing, longstanding offerings for course reserves, open educational resources and open access materials have helped to make courses more affordable,” said Julie Mosbo Ballestro, university librarian and assistant provost. “OpenEd will consolidate those resources with enhanced, university-level focus and additional resources. I’m excited about the creation of positions dedicated to a program that will cut costs for students.” 

Savings generated through OER efforts will vary depending on majors, but with more than 70% of Texas A&M students receiving some kind of financial aid, even modest cost reductions can help.

“With the ever-increasing costs of housing, transportation and food on top of tuition, it’s no secret that budgeting for four years of college is difficult,” said Ben Fisher ’24. “The university’s efforts to reduce our educational expenses mean a lot to us and can help ease the competing pressures between focusing on our studies or striving to make ends meet to pay bills.”

After three years, the Libraries hope to expand OpenEd for students throughout the Texas A&M University System.

“University Libraries continue to innovate and find new ways to serve students, faculty and staff,” Mosbo Ballestro said. “OpenEd is a game changer that will keep courses affordable for all Aggies. That’s something all of us care about deeply.”

Media contact : Matthew Kennedy, [email protected]

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