OpenStax vs SkillsCommons
OpenStax
openstax.orgSkillsCommons
skillscommons.orgSide by side
| Figure | OpenStax | SkillsCommons |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 2 |
| Spec score · Open Educational Resource Platforms | 8.9 (#4) | 7.6 (#16) |
| Accessibility | OpenStax works toward WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 compliance and uses Level Access for automated and manual accessibility reviews. | The web interface supports screen readers, keyboard access, captions, and the Able Player; DocReader supports Word and PDF documents on devices without plugins. |
| Audience | OpenStax provides free, openly licensed textbooks and affordable technology for introductory courses. | Its mission is to help individuals, communities, educational institutions, organizations, and businesses prepare people for successful employment. |
| Support | OpenStax says its support team helps instructors and students with questions about textbooks, instructor resources, and Assignable through its support center or email. | The support center provides guides and FAQs and lists [email protected] for assistance; webinar scheduling is available by contacting support. |
| What it is | OpenStax is a nonprofit education initiative of Rice University that publishes free, peer-reviewed educational materials. | SkillsCommons is a repository of free and open learning materials and program support materials for job-driven workforce development; it is not an LMS. |
Plans
OpenStax
- OpenStax textbooksFree
- OpenStax Assignable$15, paid once
- OpenStax AssignablePriced on request
SkillsCommons
- SkillsCommons repository — browsing and downloadsFree
- SkillsCommons repository — hosting contributionsPriced on request
In their own words
OpenStax
OpenStax is a nonprofit education initiative of Rice University that publishes free, openly licensed textbooks and related materials for introductory courses. Subject matter experts write the textbooks, which are peer-reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Books can be read online on the web, Android or iOS, or downloaded as free PDFs; low-cost print editions are also offered. Most titles are accessible without an account, although a small number require sign-in. Students can highlight, take notes and create study guides, with a free student account required for some features. Educators with a free account can access test banks, PowerPoint slides, solutions manuals and customization tools. OpenStax Assignable lets instructors assign readings, assessments and supporting materials through an LMS, with automatic grading and gradebook synchronization. It supports LTI 1.3 and Blackboard, Canvas, D2L Brightspace and Moodle. Textbooks cost nothing. Assignable starts at $15, paid once, billed per student per semester; instructors use it free, and a two-week trial begins on the first day of access. Institutional pricing is by contact.
SkillsCommons
SkillsCommons is a free repository of learning and program-support materials for job-driven workforce development. It aims to help individuals and organizations prepare people for employment, but it is not an LMS: it does not enroll students or provide course credit. Visitors can search and download materials without an account; institutions and organizations need an account to upload, individually or in bulk using a CSV of metadata. Contributors can embargo attached files until a specified date, after which requesters may ask the submitter for access. Courses exported from an LMS can be uploaded, with LMS-specific and IMS Common Cartridge formats recommended when available. Programmatic discovery options include keyword search, item METS data and OAI metadata harvesting. The interface supports screen readers, keyboard access, captions and Able Player; DocReader supports Word and PDF documents on devices without plugins. SkillsCommons says it works toward Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 accessibility and aligns its commitment with WCAG 2.0 AA. The support center offers guides and FAQs, and large uploads may require support planning for connection speed and bandwidth.