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Partnership Adds Videos and Podcasts to OpenStax Resources

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 03/07/24

Educational video company Boclips has announced a partnership with social learning platform Perusall to provide access to Boclips' videos and podcasts from within OpenStax course materials.

Boclips' library includes materials on many academic subjects aligned with OpenStax courses, and students will be able to discuss and annotate sources within Perusall to aid in their learning.

The integration provides access to almost 17,000 Boclips videos in more than 50 OpenStax courses, according to a release. Content from 250 content brands is delivered ad-free and aligned with learning goals for each chapter. With Perusall's platform, instructors can highlight and annotate text selections, provide assignments, ask and answer student questions, and monitor student engagement with the material.

Perusall was launched following a four-year research project at Harvard University in 2015. Its platform has several features to assist student learning:

  • Allows peer-to-peer messages and e-mails to discuss course material and assignments;
  • Allows instructors to assess student progress with student activity and "confusion" reports to they can provide help;
  • Allows instructors to "mix and match" content;
  • Provides a one-on-one or group chat;
  • An interactive note-taking and quoting feature;
  • The ability to sync with students' own institutions' LMS;
  • Provides accessibility resources, such as a read-aloud feature; and
  • Protects data privacy.

"Today, it’s more important than ever to find creative ways to expand access to video content that is relevant, accessible, and curated to suit a given curriculum," said David Bainbridge, Boclips founder and CEO. "Perusall shares our vision of expanding access to high-quality learning materials, and we look forward to collaborating with them in support of educators and learners nationwide."

"This is about embedding Perusall's unique approach to social learning into students' experience with both their OpenStax content and Boclips' videos," said Brian Lukoff, chief technology officer and Perusall co-founder, "helping them both to build a sense of community and strengthen their understanding of the course content."

Visit the Perusall features page to learn more about how it works.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

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