Concord Consortium STEM Learning Tools vs Pivot Interactives

Concord Consortium STEM Learning Tools is a nonprofit organization that creates research-based digital resources for inquiry-based STEM education. Its computational virtual labs model scientific principles so learners can explore otherwise invisible processes, including chemical reactions, genetics, evolution, and plate tectonics. CODAP is a free, web-based data science app for students, curriculum developers, and education researchers. It is designed for grades 5–14 and supports data analysis across subjects with drag-and-drop graphs and maps, linked graphs, maps, and tables. Users can import data from spreadsheets, URLs, files, or plugins. Plugins can connect to census, weather, and sensor databases, and a PhET projectile simulation plugin is featured. Developers may add plugins or contribute to the open-source code. Resources include interactive simulations, virtual experiments, guided lessons, and assessment tools. The organization also offers research collaboration, consulting, custom models, assessments, and professional development.

Pivot Interactives is a web platform for science teaching built around interactive video activities and active learning. Its library has more than 550 activities across biology, earth and space science, chemistry, environmental science, and physics. Students explore phenomena, adjust physical parameters, and investigate data through experimental design. Teachers can create classes, invite students, assign experiments, customize activities, and grade student work. Co-Lab lets students work together on assignments; the platform also provides frequent feedback and auto-grading. Pivot is presented for grades 6–12 and higher education. It supports LTI 1.3 integrations with learning management systems including Canvas, Schoology, Google Classroom, Moodle, Blackboard, and D2L Brightspace. The 30-day free trial provides instructors and students full feature access, including classes, LMS connections, activity editing, assignments, and grading. The Classroom plan costs $6.10 per seat per year. Semester options for institutions, students, and bookstore course codes each cost $11.10 per seat per semester. The platform requires a stable high-speed internet connection and does not support offline use of images, videos, or questions.