National Geographic
Learning | Cengage

A flexible, multi-language platform for primary-level English-language learners, created by National Geographic Learning with Avallain Author and Avallain Unity.

Client

National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage Learning, is a leading English Language Teaching publisher. Cengage is the global education and technology company built for learners. Cengage’s products and services create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want.

9 months

from project start-up to market launch

Almost 30 K

interactive pieces of content

> 40

classroom presentation tools created

Goal

To provide National Geographic Learning with both a scalable, intuitive, and easy-to-use learning platform, as well as a powerful authoring tool to improve the creation process of high-quality learning materials. Also, to seamlessly migrate from their legacy tools and technologies into their new platform.

Initial situation

National Geographic Learning (NGL) already provided educational material to institutions, learners and teachers all over the world, enhancing their teaching and learning experiences significantly.

NGL still needed a strong and scalable learning platform and learning management system to provide cutting-edge educational services within the digital space, as well as a flexible online authoring tool which would allow them to continually develop new educational content for young learners.

Customer requirements

National Geographic Learning required their platform to be able to give teachers and learners easy, intuitive and reliable access to a wide variety of content types and games. Their authoring solution would also need to be intuitive, efficient and flexible, allowing them to provide regular content updates.

In addition to this, it was vital to NGL that their platform would provide their customers with an entertaining, creative and multi-language user experience, to encourage primary-level learners to engage with it and allow the platform to be used in various markets all over the world. Thus, the visual presentation of the platform would have to be attractive, the content would need to be highly interactive, and the platform would need to function properly in a variety of different languages.

Challenges

It quickly became evident that multiple Avallain teams would need to work in tandem to create an individualised platform architecture with consistent solutions for different aspects, from visual design and user experience to the underlying technical solutions.

This required us to work closely with National Geographic Learning throughout all stages of the project, from the platform specification phase to the design phase as well as the final development of the software.

Solutions

We were able to organise multiple teams to work concurrently on the different aspects of the platform while interfacing directly with the NGL team. This was necessary to implement a learning platform which would offer a variety of functions such as assignments, messages and progress reports while retaining a unified user experience, design and software basis.

While one group of Avallain specialists created individualised Design Packs to allow for a consistent look throughout the platform, our Avallain Author team supported the NGL editorial team during the content creation process. Finally, we set up a bespoke offline application for primary courses created with Avallain Author, to ensure that teachers would be able to use digital books in offline classes.

Outcomes

Within only nine months, National Geographic Learning and Avallain created a comprehensive learning platform for English-language learners which allows users to practice their skills using an intuitive interface and highly entertaining, fully interactive gamified learning content. Meanwhile, teachers can create individual assignments for their students or enhance their lessons with digital books and offline activities.

Today, the learning platform enjoys a rapidly increasing global user base, with learners, teachers and institutions enhancing their education with almost 30.000 pieces of interactive content and more than 40 classroom presentation tools. Thanks to the flexibility provided by Avallain Author and Avallain Unity, the platform is continuously being updated with new, individually designed content as well as new functions and language options such as Mandarin.

As a proof of the quality of the product delivered by Avallain, the platform was selected as the winner of the 2020 SIIA Codie Award for Best ESL, ELL, or World Language Acquisition Solution.

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Products used

Custom Learning Platforms, solved.

Avallain Unity

A robust and customisable learning platform architecture for implementing your bespoke learning management system. Leverage countless features that make it easier to publish, monitor and market digital educational content.

Avallain Author

The world’s most flexible and powerful eLearning authoring tool. Quickly and easily create original, interactive and responsive educational content - all with zero coding or development required.

National Geographic Learning | Cengage