How to build an Elearning app: Education app development in a nutshell
In simple terms, Educational mobile apps serve as convenient tools for learning digitally, and getting skilled through their smartphones or tablets. In today’s times, Whether one is aiming to master a new language, develop driving skills, or delve into coding, these apps provide versatile learning opportunities. This Elearning phenomenon has been around for a long time but has boomed after the recent pandemic of covid 19. The emergence of several prominent tech giants underscores the significant potential within the education app development sector. Creating an educational app is a complex endeavor, requiring meticulous planning, deliberate design, and accurate execution. If you're contemplating the development of an educational app, this blog is tailored to simplify the process for you.
Every educational app, regardless of the subject it covers, inherently caters to two primary target audiences: students and teachers. While there will be distinctions in features between the e-learning app development for learners and teachers, both versions need to be created specifically.
The realm of learning encompasses various elements, including exam preparation, courses, and management ERPs. This diversity adds a layer of complexity that makes the creation of a universally flawless education app particularly challenging.
Education app development: An insight into the market
The current market for educational app development is thriving, and indications suggest a sustained upward trajectory. As of the conclusion of the first quarter in 2022, educational apps held the third position among the most popular app categories in the Apple App Store, closely trailing games and business apps. Similarly, on the Google Play Store, educational apps secured the second spot, with games being the only category ahead.
Research conducted by IMARC underscores this growth, projecting a robust 24.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the global educational app market between 2021 and 2027. Furthermore, a report from Technavio predicts that the market is on track to achieve a substantial milestone, reaching $70.55 billion by the year 2025.
Education app development process
Creating an educational app involves navigating a multifaceted process with distinct stages, each demanding meticulous attention to produce an engaging, effective, and user-friendly final product in a competitive market.
Idea Generation:
The initial step is to delve into the mindset of the target audience, identifying their needs and understanding their challenges. Through comprehensive brainstorming, the objective is to conceptualize ideas that can effectively address the audience's needs and provide valuable educational content.
Market Research:
After crystallizing the app concept, extensive market research becomes crucial. This phase aims to gain a profound understanding of the dynamics in educational app development, identifying potential gaps and intricacies in the current landscape.
App Design:
The design phase holds paramount importance, focusing on creating a user-friendly and visually appealing educational app. This involves meticulous attention to crafting the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX), incorporating wireframing, prototyping, and establishing a style guide.
Development:
Following the design phase, the development stage involves actualizing the educational app. This includes intricate programming and coding, integrating features such as gamification, social learning elements, and assessment tools. A skilled development team is essential, or outsourcing can be considered for precision and efficiency.
Testing:
A dedicated testing phase is integral to the development process. Thorough testing methodologies, including beta testing, user testing, and quality assurance testing, aim to identify and rectify potential bugs, ensuring seamless app functionality aligned with its intended purpose.
MVP Deployment:
Upon successful testing, the next step involves deploying the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to the designated app store or online marketplace. This phase includes creating a comprehensive app store listing and optimizing the app for search engines to enhance visibility and discoverability in the competitive digital landscape.
Must have features to include in any education app
Education app is a features-loaded app. These features help make this app better and more user-friendly for its target audience. Some of these features are very basic while some can be advanced. Here is the list of features that are must-haves for every educational app
Login/Signup
Sign-up or login are two fundamental aspects of user engagement, often serving as the initial step in onboarding and initiating a user's interaction with an app. Streamlining this process by enabling automatic login or signup through Google or other email accounts presents a substantial advantage. This feature greatly expedites the signup procedure, eliminating the need for users to manually input their email or phone number and personal details, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.
Push notifications
The push notification feature serves the purpose of facilitating the transmission of notifications from an application to users as deemed necessary. This capability has evolved into a prevailing industry standard, and it is widely adopted, with nearly every application incorporating this functionality as part of its features.
Real-time text messaging
Within the context of an educational application, fostering active engagement between students and their educators as well as fostering collaborative interactions among peers is of paramount importance. Consequently, the strategic inclusion of a real-time text messaging feature emerges as a highly advantageous and impactful component.
Video conferencing
The incorporation of video conferencing stands as an imperative feature for any educational application. This essential functionality entails the integration of an internal feature dedicated to video conferencing, or alternatively, the utilization of third-party software to fulfill this crucial requirement.
These are some common features that are very basic for any educational app to have, other than these some advanced features can also be put in to make it out of the competition.
AI and ML
The progressive integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) is becoming more prevalent in the development of educational applications, with the aim of crafting tailored learning experiences. These advanced technologies play a pivotal role in analyzing user data, enabling the delivery of personalized content and feedback to enhance the overall educational journey.
BlockChain
The utilization of blockchain technology holds the potential to establish secure and transparent digital records that document student achievements and progress. Additionally, this technological innovation can facilitate the development of decentralized educational platforms, further enhancing transparency and security in the educational landscape.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing enables applications to store data and execute complex computations on remote servers, offering the potential to create scalable, secure, and accessible education apps from anywhere.
Conclusion
The evolution of education apps has transformed the landscape of learning, offering a paradigm shift for both educators and learners by introducing cutting-edge tools that extend beyond the confines of traditional classrooms and textbooks. The ubiquity of mobile devices has dismantled the limitations of specific locations and timeframes, granting learners the autonomy to progress at their own pace, following personalized schedules within environments of their choosing. Education app development not only enhances accessibility but also revolutionizes the learning process, making it more immersive and interactive, thereby simplifying the comprehension of intricate concepts.
Yet, the journey of education app development is intricate and demanding, requiring a deep understanding of the target audience, educational goals, and staying abreast of the latest technological trends. Developers are tasked with integrating best practices in user interface design, development, testing, and deployment to ensure the effectiveness, reliability, and security of their apps.
Despite its intricacies, the demand for educational apps is on a steady ascent. As technology progresses, these apps are anticipated to assume an increasingly pivotal role in the education sector. Therefore, it is crucial for educators, developers, and other stakeholders in education to embrace app development, leveraging its benefits to significantly enhance the overall learning experience.