Traditional education has undergone changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. More and more learners of all ages are becoming attracted to online learning. As a result, Google Play and Apple’s App Store reported the largest number of downloads of educational apps during the first quarter of 2017 to 2020, at 467 million and 470 million, respectively.
This guide discusses the prominent e-learning app types, features, and advantages of an educational app, along with the phases of the e-learning app development process. We will also discuss how to create an educational app and give you a general sense of how much the educational app development will cost. Let’s begin.
What is an Educational App?
An educational app is a software made to assist people with any form of remote learning. It promotes and facilitates online learning, particularly self-learning. Examples range from applications that teach young children fundamental math concepts to apps that serve as adult training platforms for advanced professional skills.
Who Uses Educational Apps?
Educational apps are used by many different individuals and organizations to meet various learning needs. For example,
- Parents engage their young children in interesting learning activities through these apps
- Students, candidates, and students who need exam preparation assistance
- Professionals seeking new certifications
- People who want to learn new things, advance their knowledge, or become experts in something
- Educational facilities to address various learning issues
- Online course platforms as a tool for enhanced market promotion
- Teachers for monitoring students’ development
The Benefits of Educational Apps
The market analysis above clearly shows that the industry is growing rapidly. Although the shift from traditional education methods to online learning started a decade ago, however, the pandemic accelerated the speed. Let us explore the benefits in detail that will help you become confident to adopt the change.
Mobile and portability
If learners can acquire the ability to learn on the move in today’s fast-paced world, that’s excellent. So, two of the most important advantages of educational mobile apps for learners are portability and mobility. With this, students may start learning anything they want, wherever they are, on their mobile phones.
Increased engagement
People are always more drawn to images than to simple text. An application for education is an outstanding example of this. As a result of the somewhat routine nature of classroom lessons, it becomes challenging for students to maintain focus. On the other hand, educational applications are engaging and enjoyable to use, drawing in a lot of students.
Time efficiency
Through educational apps, learners can save a lot of time. Travel time is reduced because there is no need to travel. It is simple to download references and class notes, which also saves time. Instant upgrades, portability, limitless learning, etc., are features that greatly reduce time.
Money-saving
Even if an educational app is paid for by a subscription, the cost is still significantly lower than hiring a tutor. Learning applications are the simplest and least expensive way to learn something new. They are the first option people are choosing these days. Simply tap the app icon to begin studying right away; it couldn’t be easier!
A wide variety of courses
People are no longer limited to choosing only the programs available in their city or having to wait for a specific individual to provide a tour. These days, we have the option of selecting any online learning resource. Thus, the development of educational applications is now very pertinent.
Constant availability
Learning educational apps are accessible all the time, unlike universities and colleges. The days of time-bound learning are long gone. Educational applications give learners 24/7 access to resources to learn new topics at their convenience. Additionally, the educational app can assist learners in resolving their doubts whenever and wherever they are.
The Development Process of an Educational App
Educational app development requires an understanding of both, the eLearning processes and mobile application development. Gathering the requirements about the target audience and curriculum requirements, it is best to partner with an expert e-learning mobile app development firm like Appinventiv.
Research and ideate
If you want to build a great mobile learning application, the first step is research and idea generation. Compile all the content for the courses you want to provide in the app. You must thoroughly analyze the online learning market in order to differentiate your app and keep up with it.
App design
User Interface (UI)-friendly apps are more appealing and widely used on mobile devices. The user-friendly UI of the app makes it simple to access its content. Use medium-sized elements and images in the UI for simple access.
App development
After the design process is completed, you can start the development process. This step covers everything from front-end and back-end development to app functionality. App testing and bug fixes are also included in this phase.
App deployment
Once all the app components are ready, you can deploy the program on the operating system of your choosing. Whether Android or iOS, the app will be developed accordingly and function properly on that platform.
Now that we have seen how to build an educational app, let’s move on to the important features you must include when planning to develop such apps.
Must-have Features in Educational Apps
The market is flooded with educational apps for students, making it challenging to select the ones with the best features. So, we have investigated and identified some of the most important features an educational app should have. The cost of development rises as features become more sophisticated.
An educational app’s fundamental features typically include:
Filters and a search bar
An educational app functions like a catalog where all the available learning resources are listed. Sometimes, it could be challenging for learners to choose a course if there are too many courses available on the app.
Therefore, offering a search bar to find a specific course can help make it easier for learners to find the right one. Include a search feature for the course categories and filters by level, pricing, and language.
One-step login and a user dashboard
A decent education app must have a dashboard and one-step login features. Students may concentrate on their studies by saving time with a one-step login. On the other hand, the dashboard gives learners the ability to design their own educational profiles and monitor their learning process.
Push notifications
Is a new lesson on the horizon? Are there any new videos that students can watch? Have the results of the progress report been posted? You can communicate this to your app users directly through the push notification feature. This feature will also increase app usage.
Payment mechanisms
Learners would use this feature to pay for paid courses, and teachers would be able to collect their fees. It is advisable to select a secure payment option. You can provide simple payment methods such as UPIs, bank cards, smart wallets, and others.
Recording of sessions
The users will feel secure knowing they can repeat the course after a face-to-face session, thanks to session recordings. Consequently, the gaps are filled as learners can review the challenging ideas following the live session.
Students find that these recorded sessions are highly beneficial for studying for examinations and other assessments. Additionally, it frees the learner from having to take notes. Therefore, a perfect education app should feature session recordings to increase student involvement.
File sharing
An online tutor might want to communicate something about the lesson during a crucial discussion or after the session. A file-sharing option would therefore be useful. Tutors can share a variety of multimedia content, including photographs, videos, PDFs, and more, with the aid of this feature. It also aids students in maximizing the session’s value.
Admin Console
Add this feature to administer online content; edit, update, and delete lessons, notifications, etc.
Make sure that the students can post the outcomes of their progress test on their social media accounts if they are pleased with them. They might use this as an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments. You benefit from free advertising among a community of people who share your interests.
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