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Cengage Delivers Online Learning Platform

Ed tech developer Cengage Learning has launched a new online learning platform.

Called MindTap, the platform is designed to work across devices--traditional computers, smart phones, and tablets--to deliver coursework, learning management, and a range of educational materials. Some of those educational materials are delivered via "MindApps," a collection of apps from Cengage and third-party sources that provide syllabus-aligned instructional activities, along with broader functionality like lecture capture, remediation tools, social networking, tutoring, and plagiarism prevention, among others. MindTap also provides a dashboard for students to access their own work and tools for teachers and administrators to assess and track student learning.

In addition to MindApps, the platform also provides MindTap Reader, a tool that's designed to enhance the electronic textbook experience with "significant reading learning activity functionality embedded within the context of text and other elements including video/audio, annotations, activities, applications and instructor source materials, while also preparing existing products to take advantage of future MindTap services," according to Cengage.

Other features of MindTap include:

  • Access to Cengage's Gale library databases and other content;
  • Support for third-party learning management systems;
  • Support for teachers creating homework assignments and quizzes;
  • A wide selection of interactive learning activities;
  • An integrated gradebook;
  • Multimedia support;
  • Social networking tools;
  • Text-to-speech; and
  • Note-taking and highlighting capabilities;

Further information about MindTap, including a demo request form, can be found here.

Editor's note: This article has been modified since its original publication to correct a significant factual error. We had previously stated that MindTap is available now for K-12 institutions. It is not yet available for K-12, though it is available for higher education institutions. [Last updated March 28, 2011 at 2:02 p.m.] --David Nagel

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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