Collisions Higher Education vs Labster

Collisions Higher Education is a digital game system for teaching and reviewing chemistry in college courses. It aligns with over 55 core concepts in introductory and general chemistry, organized into eight content areas: Radii Trends, Ionization Energy, Acid Strength, Lewis Structures, Ionic Bonding, Energy in Phase Change, LeChâtelier, and IMFs. Each game includes leveled challenges and an exploratory sandbox. Instructors can view student progress and performance in a teacher dashboard, and can use content overviews, quick start guides, formative assessments, and extension assignments. Instructor access is listed at free for US-based college and university educators. Student subscriptions cost $15 a year for a 12-month term; accounts are linked to an instructor’s class, and students register through an invitation URL supplied by the instructor. The product is listed for Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. Playmada has ceased operations, while its FAQ says Collisions HE remains available and free to educators and students as of July 1, 2022. The FAQ also says the company no longer provides email, phone, or training support and directs users to a support forum.

Labster provides interactive virtual lab assignments for teaching science concepts and practicing laboratory techniques. Its catalog includes more than 300 simulations across STEM subjects. Learners follow guided scenarios, repeat work at their own pace, and receive immediate feedback. Instructors can use automatic grading, customizable quizzes, and a modular assignment builder. A course mapping tool helps match simulations to a syllabus, and listed LMS integrations include Canvas, Google Classroom, Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology, and D2L Brightspace.

Simulations run in supported browsers on Windows and Mac computers. Some are available on iPads and Chromebooks through the Labster app; smartphones, including iPhones and Android phones, are not supported for playing them. Purchases are available to instructors, faculty, and administrators at educational institutions. A free trial is offered, but there is no free plan. Pricing is on request; institutional or department engagements typically begin at $5,000 a year, billed annually, with final pricing dependent on the solution and implementation requirements.