Pulse Check: Our Content Specialists Talk Digital Learning Solutions

At National Geographic Learning, part of Cengage, we are committed to delivering high-quality digital learning solutions that are accessible, effective, and aligned to the needs of today’s educators and students. Our online platforms—MindTap, WebAssign, Spark, and OWLv2—are designed with purpose and academic integrity to support instruction and improve learning outcomes.

We are dedicated to delivering high-quality content and innovative digital learning experiences. Guided by research, ongoing development, and customer feedback, we are developing a new digital platform launching in 2026. Additional work is underway on the best approach to incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into our products from a teacher and student lens.

Our Content Specialist team shapes the educator experience from initial product introduction through personalized implementation and ongoing support. They meet educators where they are, tailoring support to the learning management system (LMS) in use. The Q&A below features insights from team members on favorite platform capabilities, the value of LMS integration, and the updates they are most excited about in the year ahead.

What is one of your favorite features in one of our online learning platforms (MindTap, WebAssign, Spark, OWLv2)?

Brock O’Shell: “I love the Assignment Creator in WebAssign. It lets teachers build assignments using a vast question bank or their own questions, but the best part is the customizable settings—like submission limits, cheating deterrents, feedback options, and especially the randomization feature that gives each student a unique version of a problem.”

Tyrel Hull: “Course customization is my favorite feature in our MindTap platform. Instructors have the ability to rearrange the order of the course, which allows students to have a deep understanding of the content before they progress. In addition to rearranging the course, instructors can embed external activities directly into the course. These additions stay as long as the instructor is teaching the course, so they don’t have to make changes again unless they want to.”

Sara Heindorf: “I personally love the Modified Text feature in our MindTap platform. We understand that students are not reading at the same level, and Modified Text allows students to adjust the reading level digitally, so that the content is easier to digest and understand.”

Why is it important for students to access content directly through their LMS?

Brock O’Shell: “As a former teacher, this really resonates with me. I loved using technology, but it often created more problems than it solved. Our LMS integration changes that—no more resetting forgotten passwords, and teachers can embed direct links to assignments, so students know exactly where to go without wasting time.”

Tyrel Hull: “Using an LMS gives teachers and students something they always want–time! Students don’t have to try and remember passwords, and instructors can add assignments with a few clicks of a button. This makes the learning process easy and seamless, allowing more time for learning.”

Sara Heindorf: “Teachers and students love a one-stop shop where they can access the many digital platforms and resources that they use in their classrooms, all in one place. Students don’t need multiple usernames and passwords to access all the content that they’re using. Teachers can upload resources and not waste class time directing students to multiple platforms and resources.”

Which update or new feature are you most excited for in 2026?

Brock O’Shell: “I’m excited to see how AI will be integrated into our platforms. As AI becomes more relevant and widely used, it will be exciting to see how it enhances the user experience within our platforms.”

Tyrel Hull: “I think it is wonderful that instructors will be able to edit the content as well as the items in the content. This will give instructors the ability to truly find the misconceptions students have and close learning gaps in the moment. The ability to author and edit questions empowers educators. Instructors in the classroom know what their students need and how they learn. Customization of course content allows them to serve their students. The best part is instructors have a rigorous and robust curriculum, so they won’t need to create everything from scratch.”

Sara Heindorf: “We recently had an update to our Reporting features in our MindTap platform, to really help drive instruction and give teachers instant feedback about how their students are doing in their class. Teachers can pull class data around assignments and standards, and I know our reports will only continue to grow. As we move into an updated digital experience, I’m mostly excited for in-platform translation capabilities. Teachers always ask what other languages our programs come in, and soon they’ll be able to translate our content into a huge number of languages with the click of a button.”

Looking Ahead

As we continue to enhance our digital learning solutions, the voices of our Content Specialists remain essential in guiding how we support educators and students. Their insights reflect our broader mission—to create meaningful, accessible tools that adapt to the evolving needs of today’s classrooms.

With exciting updates on the horizon, including expanded AI integration and customizable features, we remain committed to empowering educators with platforms that are flexible, intuitive, and designed to drive real impact. Stay tuned as we approach the launch of our new digital experience in 2026.