McGraw-Hill Connect is an e-learning platform offered by McGraw-Hill Education. Features include course and assignment creation, grading, learning aides, e-books, and student portals.
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USATestprep
Score 9.5 out of 10
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USATestprep in Atlanta is a provider of curriculum resources and test prep for grades 3-12.
For institutions and students who do not want to own books or engage in a majority of in-class only lecture material. Ideally it makes course material cheaper as digital assets, but some people still prefer the more tangible assets. Participants will like the product if they want a more online learning experience.
USATestprep would not be appropriate for certain connections type teachers. This program is geared more toward content level classes. Classes like P.E., band, chorus, etc. would not benefit from using USA Test prep. Some gifted level classes might not be appropriate due to students finishing the course work really fast.
Integration with Canvas is seamless and easy to use.
Assignment completion, for students, is straightforward and easy to use.
The SmartBook allows students to read as they are tested with questions and this helps them learn the material easily without having first trying to read, memorize a chapter and then answer questions.
The ebook is not a real ebook, it's really just a web page, or a series of webpages. It can only be accessed through MH Connect, therefore, when logging into the system. A real eBook would be able to be accessed as such-- on a Kindle or other e-Reader, or on a desktop eBook reader. The interface for this is also not very dynamic, just kind of obnoxious and Web 1.0.
Limited learning tools beyond simple exercises, at least from what I saw.
Terrible customer service. Long wait times with representatives who do not seem to understand their own product and cannot seem to answer very basic questions.
There is quite a steep learning curve in effectively navigating the site and using the resources. MGH seems to discourage integration with other sites, by only allowing links to their site rather than full assignment integration with grade pass back. Resources for teachers and students is good, but presentation format is different than many other programs, forcing both to learn another system.
Personally, I did not encounter McGraw-Hill support. However, I worked with colleagues who needed support and were able to receive in a timely manner. Overall, McGraw Hill Connect is user-friendly (at least from teacher interface) and easy to navigate, which minimizes the need to reach out for support. The help button is useful and provides plenty of immediate support.
Customer support is fantastic!! Only if all other companies gave the same kind of support. Anytime I have had to contact support, my issue is typically resolved within 30 minutes. When contacting support, you will not talk to a robot either. There is always another person at the end of the line.
McGraw-Hill is the most user-friendly and teacher-friendly for students and teachers. McGraw-Hill provided the online portion of learning that helped teachers provide the resources to students that were needed. Additionally, even though McGraw-Hill is wordy in its descriptions in the workbooks it was the least "wordy" of the other options provided to teachers, such as, Go Math.
IXL is a good program that allows teachers to focus on problems for specific standards. It allows teachers to assign work and monitor student progress. What I like about USATestprep is that you can assign and create assessments that automatically grades the student work where IXL is not able to do.
