Codon is an evidence-based biology courseware platform.

  • Codon’s Course Planner helps faculty design and teach high-structure courses using lesson-level learning objectives and backward design methodology.* 

  • Codon’s structured Study Path helps students develop stronger self-regulated learning skills by helping them apply self-testing, spaced learning, and metacognition.  

  • In Codon’s Introducing the Life Sciences by Scott Freeman et al, students learn from streamlined and active Readiness Readings that replace the traditional textbook.**

  • Codon’s plug-and-play In-Class Active Learning, which includes both activities and a polling system, helps spark student engagement.

*All of our learning objectives have been vetted over many years by the community. For example, our majors biology course by Scott Freeman et al, is based on validated learning objectives from the NSF consensus study by Hennessey and Freeman, recently published in PLOS ONE: Nationally endorsed learning objectives to improve course design in introductory biology.

**Readiness Readings for Principles of Genetics by Jennifer Knight et al are in development now.

The fine print, up front. Codon has all the tools you need to teach a high-structure, evidence-based course. The platform replaces overpriced textbooks, online homework, and polling systems; it integrates with all the major learning management systems. Students retain access to their courses for at least five years and, if they drop the course, Codon will re-enroll them at no charge when they begin again.

Codon focuses on the evidence-based practices that are hard to implement without good technology and high-quality content.

Spotlight: Codon’s Course Planner (Design to Align, or D2A)

Many faculty rely on low-tech and tedious ways—often spreadsheets and sticky notes—to track alignment of course components. Codon provides customizable plug-and-play course frameworks that remove the tedium and help faculty quickly design aligned, high-structure courses.