Labster and OpenStax join forces to offer free educational resources for enhancing science learning

Labster, an EdTech platform specialising in virtual labs and science education, has partnered with OpenStax, an initiative from Rice University that offers free educational resources for K12 and higher education in the USA. 

The collaboration seeks to facilitate access to open educational resources (OER), aiming to decrease the cost of high-quality science materials for schools and universities.

Julian Allen, PhD, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Labster, stated the goal of the partnership: 

“Making science education more accessible to all learners everywhere has been Labster’s core vision since its founding. By offering high-quality course materials that are affordable for students as well as sustainable for educational institutions.”

OpenStax, known for its peer-reviewed, free digital content library, joins Labster in this effort.

Anthony Palmiotto, Director of Higher Education at OpenStax, commented on the benefits of combining resources with Labster's platform:

 "Partnering with Labster as one of our valued OpenStax Allies enables the OpenStax library of peer-reviewed, customisable, free digital science content to connect directly with Labster’s immersive learning platform for science simulations."

OpenStax and Labster will host a public webinar on April 18, 2024, to introduce the educational community to the resources available through this partnership. The event is open to educators, science instructors, and curriculum directors and will provide guidance on integrating Labster’s virtual labs with OpenStax textbooks.

Labster also allows instructors to align their course content with relevant OpenStax chapters and Labster simulations, further supporting the integration of the resources into the curriculum.

Allen summarised the initiative's goals: "This partnership is a significant step forward in our shared commitment to breaking down the barriers to equitable learning."