HHMI BioInteractive provides biology classroom materials and professional learning for educators and students, with high school and undergraduate life science educators as its primary audience. Its free resources include films, interactive labs, simulations, animations, data-driven investigations and lessons. Educator tools help users adapt, implement and assess classroom materials. HHMI says resources are developed with scientists and educators, draw on peer-reviewed research and real-world data, and undergo scientific accuracy review. Free professional learning includes online and in-person workshops, courses, and partnerships with schools and districts. The online community lists educator connections, teaching tools, resource modifications, custom collections and a personalized activity dashboard. Assessment Builder offers crowdsourced, vetted items for high school and introductory undergraduate life science courses, but requires a verified BioInteractive educator account. Interactive Video Builder lets users make interactive videos using more than 200 videos, clips and animations; its terms caution that creation may be suboptimal on phones and tablets, though playback works well there. Online Community resources may be used for educational purposes; commercial use requires express permission from HHMI and other copyright owners.
Who it is for
It is aimed primarily at high school and undergraduate life science educators, while also offering biology learning materials for students. Educators who want Assessment Builder access need a verified BioInteractive educator account.
What is good
- Free films, labs, simulations, animations and lessons
- Free online and in-person professional learning
- Assessment Builder includes vetted assessment items
- Interactive Video Builder draws from more than 200 media items
What to know first
- Assessment Builder requires a verified educator account
- Interactive video creation may be suboptimal on phones and tablets
- Commercial use of Online Community resources requires express permission
Verdict
BioInteractive offers a broad set of free biology teaching materials and professional learning for life science educators. Check the educator verification requirement for Assessment Builder and the usage terms for commercial activity.
HHMI BioInteractive plans and pricing
All plansCompared on biology learning software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Virtual labs
- Yes
- Biology simulations
- Yes
- 3D biology models
- Yes
- Assessment tools
- Yes
- Teacher tools
- Yes
- Primary learner level
- mixed
- Supported platforms
- web
