How should I teach an Xplorlabs pathway?

Each Xplorlabs pathway begins with lab footage that mirrors a real-world event or problem that students can come to better understand through active learning strategies grounded in research-based information, driving questions, supporting interactives, and hands-on investigations.

We motivate students to learn more about the science of thermal runaway, fire, batteries, and ecology using relevant issues such as: 

• Mining natural resources used for lithium-ion batteries that power cellphones and other electronic devices (Science of Extraction to E-Waste)
• Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries (Science of Thermal Runaway)
• The three essential components of the fire triangle (Science of Fire Forensics)
• How fire sprinklers and other fire safety systems work to support fire-safe spaces (Science of Fire Safety)

The pathways and resources are designed to complement classroom curriculum related to science, engineering, and technology, and to be relevant to education settings outside of schools. All of the resources in our pathways can be used independently, in any order, to best fit the time and learning needs of your students.

Our Resource Library contains the interactive videos, online experiences, hands-on investigations, and engineering challenges that make up each pathway — all of which are downloadable and can be searched and filtered by topic and resource type.

How does this look in a classroom setting?

We trust the teacher. Teachers and educators know what is needed in their classrooms. Our pathways combine text guides, interactives, videos, and hands-on investigations to support sensemaking of the science behind each phenomenon or problem.

Our Resource Library, which can be searched and filtered, allows you and your students to pick which individual asset(s) you want to explore. The flexibility of our resources allows you to build the experience you want for your students.

How much time does it take to complete a pathway?

The amount of time is up to you, whether you use a single resource or follow the entire pathway — do what works best for your students and classroom.

In most cases, a pathway can be completed in one or two class periods with the option to extend as you choose. You can find pacing documents within each pathway to help decide what fits best with the time you have and the curriculum you need to cover.

Do these educational materials meet Next Generation Science Standards?

Yes, every Xplorlabs resource was carefully created by our team of former educators to align with all three dimensions of Next Generation Science Standards.

Our resources include graphic organizers that support thinking in terms of crosscutting concepts, investigations and hands-on activities that support science and engineering practices, and integrated disciplinary core ideas aligned to middle and high school content.

Is Xplorlabs free to use?

Yes, Xplorlabs is 100% free and never requires a user account for teachers or students.

Xplorlabs comes from the education team in the Institute for Research Experiences & Education at UL Research Institutes, a nonprofit organization committed to building a safer, more sustainable world. Providing open-access educational resources to teachers and students that are directly tied to ULRI’s leading-edge safety science research is one key way we’re delivering on that mission and building the future of safety science.

The website looks different. Are the old materials still available?

Over the years, we’ve updated the look and feel of Xplorlabs. You will find much of the same content as before, but you will also find that resources and sequences have improved to be more consistent with the best strategies for active teaching and learning across all three dimensions outlined in NGSS. You can still access all the Xplorlabs resources you know and love — the website just looks a little different to help engage students even further.

I’m interested in using Xplorlabs more. Do you offer fellowship opportunities?

Our education team in the Institute for Research Experiences & Education offers a yearlong Xplorlabs Educator Fellowship that provides teachers and informal educators with professional learning experiences alongside peers and UL Research Institutes’ safety science experts.

Started in 2023, the program has grown thanks to regional partnerships with Penn Engineering’s Cora Ingrum Center for Community and Outreach, as well as Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation and the Greater Phoenix Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainability.

The yearlong fellowship starts in May with the application typically open from March to early April. Learn more about the Xplorlabs Educator Fellowship.

Will additional topics and pathways be added over time?

Yes! Emerging phenomena in safety science drive the science and research led by UL Research Institutes — which directly inform our Xplorlabs resources.

You can stay up to date on our new topics, pathways, and resources by signing up for our Xplorlabs email.

Do I have to do the entire pathway with my students?

No, the pathways are modular. Educators and students can choose to explore an entire pathway, just examine the driving question(s), or check out individual resources in the Resource Library.

We trust teachers as experts in their space and empower you to use individual resources, content on a page organized under a single driving question, entire pathways, or a blend of all of these as you identify what is best for your students and content.

Can students use Xplorlabs independently?

Yes. The interactive simulations, video demonstrations, student guides, and other resources can be used independently by students.

But it is important to note that many of our hands-on investigations and engineering design challenges require adult supervision (safety procedures are also provided within these resources). Additionally, our resource library features video alternatives for students to watch and collect their own data when the investigation can’t be done as a group.

Where does the science in Xplorlabs come from?

Xplorlabs uses the latest safety research from UL Research Institutes’ world-class research institutes to build Xplorlabs learning materials.

The education experts and former teachers in ULRI’s Institute for Research Experiences & Education work directly with researchers and scientists to bring their findings into Next Generation Science Standards-based education resources that make safety science both relevant and meaningful to students.

Learn more about what makes Xplorlabs so unique.

How do I partner with safety professionals in my community?

Xplorlabs recognizes the importance of building relationships in your community. Many of our pathways provide educators and community stakeholders the opportunity to collaborate on educating students through our Community Partnerships model.

The Science of Thermal Runaway, the Science of Fire Safety, and the Science of Fire Forensics pathways all provide educators and fire personnel an opportunity to collaborate while educating students. 

Learn more about the Xplorlabs Community Partnership model and how our education team can help you get started in your school or community.

What career paths connect to safety science?

Safety science careers span a wide range of disciplines that protect people, products, and the planet. Professionals in this field use science and engineering to understand how things fail, prevent harm, and design safer systems. Examples include fire protection engineers, battery safety researchers, data scientists, environmental health specialists, product safety engineers, and standards developers, just to name a few.