Concord Consortium Lab
Concord Consortium Lab is an open-source HTML5 framework for scientific models, visualizations, graphing, and probeware.
What Concord Consortium Lab is
Concord Consortium Lab is an open-source HTML5 framework for scientific models, visualizations, graphing, and probeware. Authors define Lab Interactives in JSON, combining a model with inquiry controls such as buttons, checkboxes, sliders, and graphs. These components can be authored, shared, and embedded. Listed model types include Next Generation Molecular Workbench, Energy2D, and Probeware, while bar and line graphs can be integrated into activities. Lab combines simulations from multiple modeling engines with data collected from sensors and probes; an example uses a two-dimensional molecular dynamics engine to explore charged and neutral atoms. The framework supports web use, Android, and iOS browsers with SVG support. Concord says the latest desktop browsers provide the best performance, while many simpler models also run on tablets and smartphones. Downloadable tar.gz and zip archives are available, although locally hosted content must be served from a web server. Licensing includes Simplified BSD, MIT, and Apache 2.0 options. Concord describes itself as a nonprofit STEM research and development organization serving educators, schools, institutions, parents, and guardians.
Good
- Open-source framework with multiple listed licenses
- JSON-based interactive authoring
- Sharable and embeddable learning components
- Supports sensors, probes, and graphing
- Runs on web, Android, and iOS browsers
Watch out
- Best performance is on latest desktop browsers
- SVG support is required
- Local content must run through a web server
- Hosted Services restrict commercial use
Who it suits
Lab suits educators and organizations creating interactive STEM learning materials. It also fits authors who need sharable, embeddable, JSON-defined simulations and graphing activities.
Verdict
Lab provides an open framework for building and distributing interactive science activities. Its browser requirements, local-hosting setup, and hosted-service use limits matter when planning deployment.
The facts
Each one read from Concord Consortium Lab's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- Concord says it provides educational software and resources to educators, schools, school districts, other educational institutions, parents, and guardians.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Data agreements
- Concord says it routinely enters into school data privacy agreements and follows the Student Data Privacy Consortium's National Data Privacy Agreement framework.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Download and local hosting
- A project distribution readme describes downloadable tar.gz and zip archives and says local content must be served from a web server.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Examples
- The site demonstrates a 2D molecular dynamics engine for exploring charged and neutral atoms.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Graphing
- Bar and line graphs can be integrated into Interactives.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Concord describes its work as creating research-based digital learning tools and STEM resources for students and partnering with publishers, districts, states, and education organizations.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Interactive authoring
- Lab Interactives are defined in JSON and wrap models with inquiry-oriented controls such as buttons, checkboxes, sliders, and graphs.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Interactives
- Lab Interactives are sharable, embeddable, authorable JSON components that wrap a model with inquiry-oriented interface elements.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The Lab Framework repository includes an MIT License granting permission to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies subject to its terms.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The Lab project is distributed under Simplified BSD, MIT, or Apache 2.0 licenses.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Model framework
- Lab integrates simulations running in multiple modeling engines with data collection from sensors and probes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Model types
- The site lists Next Generation Molecular Workbench, Energy2D, and Probeware as model types for Interactives.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Open source
- The Lab Framework repository describes it as open source and provides development setup instructions for running it locally.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Performance
- Performance is best in the latest desktop browsers, while many simpler models run acceptably on tablets and smartphones.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Concord says student and teacher data are treated as confidential and are not sold or used for targeted advertising.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy agreements
- Concord says it routinely enters data privacy agreements with schools and follows the Student Data Privacy Consortium’s NDPA framework.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy framework
- Concord says student-data handling is governed by school and research-partner agreements and applicable laws including FERPA, COPPA, and state student privacy laws.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Lab is an HTML5 framework for scientific models, visualizations, graphing, and probeware.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Lab Interactives are described as sharable, embeddable, and authorable.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Student privacy
- Concord says it treats student and teacher data as strictly confidential, does not sell it, and does not use it for targeted advertising.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Use limits
- The terms prohibit commercial use and automated access or integration of the hosted Services absent a separate written agreement; they state this does not restrict independently deployed software under its applicable license.checked 9 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1994checked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker
- The Concord Consortium describes itself as a nonprofit research and development organization advancing STEM inquiry through technology.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform requirement
- The Lab Framework requires SVG support; its documentation lists iOS Safari and Chrome for Android among supported browsers.checked 9 Oct 2026
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