Currently, with its market value expected to reach $350 billion by 2025, e-learning is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. The COVID-19 lockdown has forced many families and individuals to start learning online, which led to an increase of educational app downloads by 90%, as AppAnnie reports. Apart from large end-to-end edtech platforms for K12 education and corporate training, learning apps for kids and adults are gaining immense popularity.
Electronic learning combines fun and efficiency with advanced personalization capabilities, offering an individual approach to customers’ learning needs. It also saves time and is often more cost-efficient than in-person learning. If you’re new to educational app development and are looking for fresh app ideas, check out some of our suggestions.
Educational App Ideas
If you’re thinking about building an educational app that users will love, consider the following options:
1. Apps for Kids
Helping children learn in a fun and engaging manner is the reason why educational apps for kids are gaining so much popularity. Math, foreign languages, and natural sciences are examples of disciplines taught via educational apps. Such apps serve as mediators between children, teachers, and parents, while gamification helps to add zest to serious disciplines and enhance student’s involvement.
2. Language learning apps
If you know a language learning system that is fast and efficient, why not turn it into an algorithm for a language learning app? Duolingo is an excellent example of how a language learning app can win a wide base of loyal users: the app offers short and personalized language-learning lessons. Memrise uses an entirely different approach: it offers users videos with native speakers.
3. Course authoring solutions
How about helping people create their own e-learning courses? Course authoring apps are a thriving niche since they offer companies and individuals comprehensive tools for creating and launching their own educational programs. Existing solutions like Adobe Captivate and iSpring Suite Max already have a vast pool of loyal users, but the market for course authoring apps is ripe and ready to welcome new entrants.
VARTEQ builds solutions that help create course presentations for educational purposes. Our technical guidance and expertise will help to author any type of educational content with rich interactions, audio, video, and knowledge assessments.
4. Progress tracking apps
Knowledge assessment apps are capable of not only keeping records of student’s grades but also of mapping out knowledge gaps and suggesting personalized learning plans for overcoming them. On top of that, such apps are capable of tracking students’ attendance and behavior patterns in order to determine if they need assistance and take preventive measures to avoid student churn.
5. AR/VR enhanced apps
While mixed reality technologies are still far from being omnipresent, they stand an excellent chance of becoming mainstream, as soon as 5G delivers on the promise of increased speed and broader Internet bandwidth. In a corporate environment, however, immersive technologies are increasingly used to power corporate training and to offer real-time instructions on how to perform particular tasks or operations.
6. Full-scale learning management systems
As such, you may also want to consider building an end-to-end learning management system (LMS) containing course authoring and knowledge assessment tools, as well as tools for tracking and managing learning activities. Such systems are excellent assets for corporate e-learning initiatives and may be enhanced with advanced gamification and communication features.
Must-Have Features of Educational Apps
Speaking of features: all educational apps have unique features that set them apart from competitors. However, some features are an absolute must for educational apps and should be included in every app aiming for success.
Login
Enabling users to log in using their existing Facebook, Google or other social network accounts facilitates signup. Also, make sure users can easily restore their forgotten passwords.
User profile
Users should be able to fill their profile with personal details and access course schedules, progress reports, messages and personalized news feeds from their accounts.
Alerts and notifications
Push notifications and alerts are useful tools for keeping users engaged. Make sure users get to choose which notifications they want to receive: upcoming events, course updates, new messages, etc.
Search feature
Fast search is a must if you want to engage users and maximize their involvement. Make sure they can search and browse your app content to discover new learning materials.
Payment processing
Online payments call for enhanced security, but they are an essential educational app feature. The Payment function should be easily accessible from the app interface and support popular payment methods.
Social network integration
Integration with social networks is a hallmark of our time. Enabling users to share their achievements with friends on social networks is also a great means of letting more potential users find out about your app.
Learning content
Finally, access to learning content, preferably in different formats (text, audio, video, PowerPoint presentation, etc) is, inarguably, an absolute must-have.
To Conclude
Surely, deciding on an e-learning app idea takes more than just getting to know popular trends: it requires serious market research and careful evaluation of the ‘pains’ and needs of your potential users. At VARTEQ we are open to discussing educational app ideas and discovering new app development options. We will also guide you through the product discovery phase and help you develop a comprehensive product specification.