FAQ
Our Organization
What is HHMI?
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is an independent science philanthropy that invests in biomedical scientists and science educators to advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. The Institute makes long-term investments in people, not just projects, because we believe in the power of individuals to make breakthroughs over time. Learn more at www.hhmi.org.
What is HHMI’s Science and Educational Media Group?
BioInteractive is part of HHMI’s Science and Educational Media Group (formerly part of HHMI’s Department of Science Education), which aims to transform science education into a creative, interdisciplinary endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research. The Science and Educational Media Group has two main divisions: BioInteractive and Tangled Bank Studios. Learn more at https://www.hhmi.org/education.
Our Classroom Resources
Do BioInteractive resources cover topics in areas outside biology?
BioInteractive resources primarily focus on core concepts and processes in biology for high school and undergraduate students. We also provide interdisciplinary resources with connections to biology in earth and environmental science, chemistry, and math and statistics.
Which resources do you recommend for elementary and middle school teachers?
BioInteractive resources are developed for high school and undergraduate students but can be modified and adapted to different levels of instruction.
Do you have resources in languages other than English?
Many BioInteractive resources are also available in Spanish, as indicated by the “View in Spanish” option on individual resource web pages. If you teach primarily in Spanish, please visit our Spanish-language BioInteractive website. You can translate our resources into other languages for your personal or classroom use.
Are your resources aligned with disciplinary curriculum standards?
Our classroom-ready/stand-alone resources are aligned to many curricular standards, including AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, IB Biology, IB Environmental Systems and Societies, NGSS, Common Core ELA and Math, and Vision and Change. The dates of the standards used are indicated on the resource webpage. The alignment to standards is periodically updated on the webpage and may not match the curriculum connections in the resource documents. If this is the case, the webpage has the most current alignment to the curricular standards.
Are your resources designed for accessibility and use with assistive technology (AT)?
We are dedicated to the process of making BioInteractive resources accessible to every student, and we are continuously working toward this goal. The accessibility guidelines we use are in compliance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act, which includes standards for all documents and media types.
BioInteractive resources that have been developed or remediated for accessibility are indicated in the “Details” section of individual resource web pages. If you encounter a problem using AT with any of the resources labeled as accessible, or have inquiries about resource-specific technical specifications, please contact us (select the “Accessibility” category on the contact form).
Do you provide editable versions of your activities?
All our activities are provided as PDFs, which are not directly editable. However, many of the student handouts contain fillable fields for student responses. Additionally, many of our student-facing documents are also provided as Google Docs, which can be copied, edited, and uploaded on a variety of platforms and devices. You can access the Google Docs for a resource, when available, through the “Resource Google Folder” link in the “Materials” box on the resource’s webpage. Additional Google Docs requests can be made via this form. If you require other editable versions of certain documents, please contact us with a description of your needs.
Why aren’t answer keys password-protected?
As part of our commitment to maximizing resource accessibility, BioInteractive does not currently password-protect any resources.
How do I find out about new resources?
To receive updates from BioInteractive about new resources, website changes, professional development opportunities, and teaching tips, please subscribe to our email newsletter. You may also follow us on various social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Using, Sharing, or Modifying Resources
How can I bring BioInteractive resources into my classroom?
All BioInteractive resources are provided free of charge through our website. You can view resources directly on the BioInteractive website or download them to use in your classroom or on your private class websites. For suggestions on how to present our resources in a variety of online formats, please refer to the Educator Voices articles “Strategies For Using BioInteractive Resources Online” and “Modifications to BioInteractive Resources for Online Classes.”
Are there restrictions on sharing BioInteractive resources?
Terms of use for each resource are indicated in the “Details” section of the resource’s web page and at the top of documents found in the “Resource Google Folder” link. BioInteractive is committed to making some resources available under a Creative Commons license that permits you to modify and share the resource with others.
If you are interested in using BioInteractive resources for purposes beyond those permitted by the resource’s terms of use, please contact us.
Can I contribute an educator tip or implementation suggestion?
We love to hear from educators about how they are implementing our resources in their classrooms. If you would like to submit an educator tip or implementation suggestion, please contact us.
Who can I contact for technical assistance with a resource?
If you are having difficulty with a resource on the BioInteractive website, please contact us for support.
What should I do if I find an error in a resource?
Let us know! All our resources are reviewed by content experts and field-tested by educators with their students, but mistakes still happen. We’d love to hear about any mistakes so we can fix them. Please contact us.
Collaborating with BioInteractive
My organization would like to collaborate with BioInteractive. Who do I contact?
BioInteractive collaborates with organizations that share our mission of advancing science education. If your organization is interested in working with BioInteractive, please contact us.
How can I work with BioInteractive?
There are several opportunities for getting involved in our work. You may join our panel of reviewers and/or field-testers by contacting us. You may also attend one of our workshops. View our Workshops page to see where the BioInteractive team will be presenting!
I have my own educational resources to share. Can you promote them to your audience?
BioInteractive only promotes resources that we have been involved in producing or that were developed by partner organizations.
I missed a BioInteractive workshop I wanted to attend. Can I know what was presented?
To request information about past workshops, including what content was presented, contact us.
Can I request a professional development workshop at my school or institution?
Yes, BioInteractive offers dozens of workshops annually at educational institutions, professional development conferences, professional society meetings, and in partnership with local school districts. You can find out more about upcoming events on the Workshops page. Contact us to request a new workshop.