Schoology vs MindTap

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Our analysts compared Schoology vs MindTap based on data from our 400+ point analysis of LMS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Schoology Software Tool

Product Basics

Schoology is an online learning platform that focuses on K-12 students. Overall, it serves over 1,600 customers, 60,000 schools and boasts more than 20 million users. It aids in course creation, content curation, lesson design, personalized instruction, testing, assessment and more. Learners can use it on PCs, mobile, tablet, iOS, Android or Kindle.

There’s an enterprise edition with greater functionality for organizations with more robust needs. The functionality includes increased assessment abilities, communications, administrative control and integrations to allow for more customization and advanced analytics for a larger or more complicated organization.
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MindTap is an online learning software owned by Cengage that provides educational content and some class management. Among its assets are coursework, textbooks and print with over 1,300 options. The subjects it covers span across business, economics, humanities, math, professional disciplines, science, social science and technology. Some of its educational modules include grading, testing, homework submissions and a mobile app. Instructors can inform students of due dates and encourage underperforming class members.
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$10/Student, Monthly, Freemium
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$160 Annually
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Increased Organization: Organize and centralize a content library with assessments, text, video, multimedia and more that students, teachers and administrators can access. Make it easier to find essential assets like logos, policy information and more.
  • Better Connected Campus: Open valuable opportunities for learners and faculty to continue discussions after class, ask questions regularly and join collaborative groups. Allow educators to speak with learners, create discussions and speak with other teachers and parents. Provides a window for parents into their child’s progress and what they’ve been doing or not doing. Keep everyone on the same page with consistent messaging through a clear line of communication across the district. Last, moderated discussions encourage creative collaboration.
  • More Engaged Students: Cultivate more engaged and invested learners through the use of multimedia, group discussions and many opportunities for collaboration. Access images, video and other elements to enrich the content as well as increase retention.
  • Greater Efficiency: Free up instruction time through automation for grading, commenting, testing and sharing data. Eliminate the tedium of manually inputting information.
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  • More Confident Students: Give learners more tools to succeed by increasing core competencies. Personalize materials and deliver feedback to reach people by highlighting text and annotations. Increase completion rates and security through smartphone accessibility and the ability to identify at-risk pupils.
  • Saves Time: Access information in one unified location. Automate grading processes to save the time of tediously entering grades. Integrate with other tools to ensure all needs are met without needing to hunt down individual applications.
  • High-Quality Content: Find and share interactive textbooks or create a resource library for employees so workers and students can peruse information at their leisure. Create a shareable, professional-looking collection of assets.
  • Greater Engagement: Increase students’ motivation to learn and boost engagement through improved coursework. Establish clear communication lines between trainer and trainee. Use StudyHub to follow notes, bookmarks and selected text. Students can also create study guides.
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  • Intuitive UI: Navigate a clean and easy-to-use interface for quick onboarding and easy adoption across organizations. Lets students move through lessons more naturally with instructional tools designed for K-12 usage.
  • Web Conferencing: Offers a virtual conferencing system with video capabilities for long-distance learning, parent-teacher conferences, questions, additional tutoring and other cases where one-on-one instruction is needed.
  • Collaboration: Create communication channels, make and join groups, curate group content libraries, share resources within a course and more. Access a public content library of assignments, tests and lessons from other educators. The content is great for educators looking for additional materials. Connect with a professional learning community where faculty can get help from other educators, coaches and education thought leaders.
  • Data and Analytics: Analyze multiple metrics to test the effectiveness of courses, lessons and quizzes. Gauge student engagement and performance data to conduct high-level research. Examine data at the class, institution or district level and turn metrics into an action plan to address problem areas. Standardize the metrics and tests to ensure a more fair comparison. Gather reliable information to inform policy. Build assessments or download tests that were built by multiple individuals or sourced from the larger community. Check curriculum against different standards such as Common Core, NGSS and others while identifying gaps in learning and skills.
  • Instructor Feedback: Give learners immediate feedback after tests and quizzes. Understand where learners are competent as well as areas that need more attention. Leave comments for teachers as well to better coordinate learning.
  • Course Management: Manage and develop courses and necessary materials like assignments, quizzes, tests, assessments and more. Assign due dates for assignments and activities. Create text lessons and then embed materials from Google Drive, Microsoft Office, YouTube and other places for better learner engagement.
  • Personalized Instruction Track students individually or in groups with different learning methods. See what works and what doesn’t for each student, and design a path that plays to their strengths.
  • Single Sign-On: Cut down on password management and long log-in times with an SSO. Help organizations that have multiple apps integrated into the solution. Makes adoption easier since administrators and learners can navigate it more easily.
  • Mobile App: Allow learners, educators and administrators to work on the go. Grade, message, learn and communicate through the app. For grading, the UI makes it easier to swipe between assignments, manage edits and filter by lateness. Inspect performance next to rubrics and use comments and annotations for written and video feedback.
  • Integrations: Access over 200 apps already integrated into the program. This includes external sites, games, authoring tools and student information systems. Enable easier movement between programs, cutting down on loading times. Link programs such as Aeries, BrainPOP, Edpuzzle, Google Drive, Khan Academy, OneDrive, Scrible, Skyward, Vimeo and more to the tech stack.
  • Interoperability: Use published content from other vendors like McGraw Hill, CK12 and others. Find content that’s compliant with LTI, QTI, Common Cartridge and SCORM should integrate easily. Automate passing data between an SIS and other systems for data consistency. Plug in a variety of custom options with the program’s open API.
  • Assessment Management: Store and use high-level assessments within the workflow from one centralized location. Create a more in-depth analysis of the creation of personalized teaching. It provides an assessment management platform to control testing distribution and analysis across districts. Access a broader learning community allows teachers to collaborate and improve the ways they measure progress.
  • Enterprise Administration: Give administrators a higher level of control. Manage roles, permission, privacy grading and more. See system analytics, extract data, develop and share centralized resources and create custom SSOs, URLs, logos and colors.
  • Enterprise Integrations: Let users make courses, accounts and enrollments from SIS data and give them all functionality from the core program. Integrate with grade books and over 100 third-party educational apps. Import content that follows IMS Global LTI and Common Cartridge standards
  • Enterprise Class Management: Access additional resources to help and develop courses. This can record audio and video into assignments, comments and testing. It can also create an online portfolio to show off student work, view materials on mobile and use technology-enhanced testing. Last, it provides mastery reports to measure learner progress against national, state or institution goals.
  • Enterprise Communications: Connect all faculty in departmental, PD or other groups to encourage collaboration and sharing across more than 130 countries. Give advisors access to their students’ attendance, enrollments, schedule and grades. Parents can see overdue notifications and get email summaries of their children’s activity. The solution can also send messages to the entire system in an instant.
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  • Course Management: Instructors can grade and curate content, facilitate online discussions and walk students through sample assignments. Provide quizzes, assessments and interactive homework. Let learners see current and upcoming homework as well as individual progress. Clone courses easily to repeat units for different classes, adding information, copying and changing dates.
  • Learning Path: Create a path by selecting material to customize a course. Add or delete material when needed and move activities around for personalized experiences. Encourage pupils to track progress and reach out to trainers.
  • Mobile App and eReader: Give employees and students access to an ebook that works on or off the internet through the smartphone app. Use interactive elements to keep people engaged. Take attendance with geolocation and polls to ensure learners are present. Provide other tools like online flashcards, practice quizzes and alerts for homework and due dates. Make annotations and notes in the online textbook. Embed videos into the reader, share highlighted notes and emphasize key text to demonstrate what’s important in testing. Give students access to a text speaker that reads aloud.
  • Suggested Content: Customize information for specific students to increase engagement with education guides. Suggest videos and assignments that reinforce learning, offered by class or by chapter.
  • Integrations: Connect with more full-service LMSs like Blackboard, Brightspace, Canvas, Moodle or other solutions. Integrate with other Cengage platforms such as SAM, WebAssign and Cengage Unlimited. Use the same login to access material. Some major products auto-sync grades, so instructors don’t have to duplicate work. Communicate with various programs with IMS Basic LTI standards and additional functionality for more common products.
  • Reporting: Dig deep and understand where students are failing or succeeding with real-time analytics that measure 12 different metrics and deliver actionable insights.
  • Subjects: Let learners consume content, software and textbooks that cover a variety of topics like agriculture, anthropology, art, astronomy, biology, college skills, communications, counseling, early childhood education, film, history, humanities, human services, mass communication, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, social sciences, theatre, world languages and more.
  • Aplia: Connect concepts to real-world situations. Elevate critical thinking with feedback, algorithmic questions, review problems and other elements.
  • Pathbrite Portfolio: Showcases learner work through videos, images, documents and other assets. Give a visual representation of accomplishments and skills.
  • Cengage Unlimited: Work with several Cengage learning solutions aimed at specific subjects, including:
    • CengageNOWv2: Study for accounting, business statistics and taxation. Complete assignments, study for exams and succeed academically. Give workers and students practice opportunities to help them master content.
    • OWLv2: Save time with coursework in chemistry classes. Help finish assignments, study for exams and give learners other tools to help with success.
    • SAM: Cover Microsoft Office and computer concepts. Practice and apply skills to prepare for the Microsoft Office environment. Auto-grade assignments and use flexible reporting to report the outcomes.
    • WebAssign: Study STEM technology. Acquired in 2016, it has former educators on its development support teams to ensure the pedagogy of the experience.
    • Discontinued Programs: The iLrn, eSAM and iLrn Advance products aren’t for sale for students and can’t be accessed as of December 31st, 2020.
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Product Ranking

#17

among all
LMS Software

#39

among all
LMS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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AI-based Capabilities Assessments Collaboration Compliance Content And Course Management ECommerce Learning Delivery Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Reporting And Dashboard User Management And Gamification 0 82 83 83 85 0 87 91 92 100 55 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 972 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 13 reviews
86%
of users recommend this product

Schoology has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 972 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

MindTap has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 13 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

4.9 (11)
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4.4 (380)
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4.4 (436)
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3.7 (145)
4.6 (13)

Awards

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MindTap stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive Interface: Schoology's interface is generally considered user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for those with limited technical expertise. This ease of use can lead to a smoother transition for institutions adopting the platform.
Mobile App: The availability of a mobile app enhances accessibility for both educators and learners, allowing them to engage with course materials and activities on the go.
Assessment and Feedback Tools: Schoology provides tools for creating and administering assessments, including quizzes and assignments. It also facilitates the provision of timely and effective feedback to students, which is crucial for their learning progress.
Communication and Collaboration: Features such as discussion forums, messaging, and group projects foster communication and collaboration among students and between students and instructors. This can contribute to a more engaging and interactive learning environment.
Customization Options: Schoology offers a degree of customization, allowing instructors to tailor the platform to their specific teaching styles and course requirements. This flexibility can enhance the overall learning experience.
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Improved Student Engagement: MindTap offers a variety of interactive activities and assessments that can help to keep students engaged with the material. This is in contrast to traditional textbooks, which can be passive and unengaging.
Personalized Learning: MindTap can be customized to meet the individual needs of each student. This means that students can focus on the areas where they need the most help, and they can learn at their own pace.
Accessibility: MindTap is accessible from any device with an internet connection. This makes it easy for students to access their course materials from anywhere, at any time.
Data and Analytics: MindTap provides instructors with data and analytics that can help them to track student progress and identify areas where students are struggling. This information can be used to improve instruction and better support student learning.
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Limited Customization: Teachers may find it challenging to personalize their courses due to the platform's rigid structure and limited theme options.
Gradebook Challenges: The gradebook functionality can be cumbersome, especially when dealing with complex grading schemes or needing to make bulk edits.
Mobile App Issues: The mobile app's interface and functionality may not be as user-friendly or comprehensive as the web version, potentially hindering on-the-go access for students and teachers.
Integrations and External Tools: Schoology's compatibility and integration with external tools and platforms can vary, potentially limiting options for incorporating diverse educational resources.
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Cost: Students have expressed concerns about the additional cost associated with purchasing access to MindTap, especially when required course materials are already expensive. This can create a financial burden for students, particularly those on a tight budget.
Technical Issues: Users have reported encountering technical problems with MindTap, such as glitches, errors, and compatibility issues with certain devices or browsers. These issues can disrupt the learning process and cause frustration for students who rely on the platform to access course materials and complete assignments.
Learning Curve: Some students have found MindTap's interface to be complex and not intuitive, requiring a significant investment of time and effort to learn how to navigate the platform effectively. This can be a barrier for students who prefer a more straightforward and user-friendly learning experience.
Integration Challenges: Integrating MindTap with existing Learning Management Systems (LMS) can sometimes present challenges, leading to synchronization issues, broken links, and difficulties in accessing grades or assignments. This can create confusion and inconvenience for both students and instructors.
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Schoology is like the Swiss Army knife of classroom tools, helping teachers juggle everything from lesson planning to grading. But is it all sunshine and rainbows? Not quite. While some users sing its praises for being user-friendly and feature-packed, others find it a bit rigid and pricey. So, let's break it down. Schoology's strengths lie in its comprehensive suite of features. Think attendance tracking, online gradebooks, and even a social media-esque interface for collaboration. It's like having a virtual classroom at your fingertips. Plus, it plays nicely with other tools like Google Drive, making file sharing a breeze. However, this robust functionality comes at a cost – both literally and figuratively. Some users find the pricing structure a bit steep, especially for smaller institutions or individual educators. Additionally, the platform's customization options can feel limited, making it less adaptable to unique workflows or teaching styles. So, who's Schoology's ideal student? It's a great fit for schools or districts seeking a one-stop shop for their learning management needs. Its ease of use and extensive features make it perfect for those who want a comprehensive solution without a steep learning curve. However, if you're looking for a more flexible and budget-friendly option, you might want to explore alternatives like Moodle or Canvas. Remember, the best LMS is the one that fits your specific needs and preferences, so do your homework before committing!

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Let's tap into the minds of MindTap users and see what they have to say. User reviews from the past year suggest MindTap offers a robust platform for learning and course management, but it's not without its quirks. Reviewers frequently praise MindTap's ability to integrate seamlessly with learning management systems (LMS) like Blackboard and Canvas, making it a convenient hub for accessing course materials, assignments, and grades. The platform's interactive features, such as quizzes, flashcards, and simulations, receive positive feedback for enhancing engagement and comprehension. However, some users find the interface a bit clunky and overwhelming, especially for those new to online learning platforms. Technical glitches and occasional syncing issues can also disrupt the learning flow. Despite these drawbacks, MindTap stands out for its comprehensive content library and alignment with Cengage textbooks, making it a valuable tool for students seeking additional support and practice. Ultimately, MindTap is best suited for students who prefer a structured learning environment with readily available resources and are comfortable navigating a feature-rich online platform. Those who value simplicity and a more intuitive interface might explore alternative options.

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