Guide on the Educational App Creation

Vadim Balabukha -

Short description of the article

  • Intro

  • Types of educational apps

  • Educational apps development

  • Statistics on the app download frequency

  • Features which can be included in your app

  • Successful examples of educational apps for iOS and Android

  • Conclusion

Intro

Through the human's lifetime, we continue the learning process. Each of us chooses the individual way how to learn and expand new knowledge. That is why the learning process should be fun and interesting. Thanks to the digital advantages, currently we have the opportunity to use mobile and web apps as a tool for the learning process. Such educational apps are easy to use regardless of time and place. The time of boring lessons is over. Today learning a new foreign language or obtaining a new skill became much easier as it has never before.

If you are thinking to create an eductional app as your next project, his article is for you.

Types of educational apps

  1. eBooks or Encyclopedias which offer images, videos, mini-games, quizzes in addition to reading

  2. Games, Puzzles - help to improve memory, vocabulary, grammar, etc.

  3. Workbooks/Worksheets can be used both in the classroom and at home as an additional help for learning.

  4. Classroom apps have to be used at school classes

  5. Courseware is used for learning courses

  6. Assessment software is used for testing of pupils and students

  7. Reference software Books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.

  8. Specific educational apps are purposed for specific goals (driving test, typing tutors etc.)

  9. Other educational apps

The first question each businessman encounters is: Why should I build a learning app? What are the advantages of it?

Educational apps development

If you want to develop an app you should know why the decision to create the educational app is a good idea.

  1. Educational Apps for Android are the first most frequently downloaded apps and Educational Apps for iOS are the third most frequently downloaded apps in 2018.

  2. The people are more and more interested in learning from educational mobile apps because of lack of time.

  3. Children and teens usually prefer interesting learning games from the app over boring school lessons.

If you want to build a good educational app, first read How to create an app in general.

Concerning learning apps the steps are similar:

  • you need to research the market and define your target audience;

  • you need to develop features which will differ your app from the others;

  • you have to decide upon the monetization.

Statistics on the app download frequency

Educational app for iOS

According to statistics, the iOS educational mobile apps are the third most frequently downloaded apps after business apps and games apps for September 2018.

Educational app for Android

Another statistics is showing Most popular Google Play categories for October 2018. Android education apps are on the first place here.

Features which can be included in your app

There are must-have features as well as additional features. A lot of following features are often used in the apps and with their help, the app becomes more user-friendly:

  1. Integration with social networks. It really saves time. Every app is using this feature because the user doesn’t need to sign up. The personal info is taken from one of the social networks.

  2. Clear planning and scheduling structure. If the user has got a plan for the coming week/month, the goals become more clear.

  3. Progress tracking and achievements. It’s always good to see results and to understand that you move forward.

  4. Regular update - the users should get the latest relevant materials.

  5. Offline mode learning. The users should be able to learn without the Internet connection.

  6. Cloud integration. This ability to store materials in the cloud is useful for many apps.

  7. Tests. Self-testing helps to estimate the achievements.

Successful examples of educational apps for iOS and Android

As the market is full of many interesting apps, we have to mention some of them. Here are the examples of top apps for study.

1. The Great Courses (Free, containing in-app purchases)

Downloading this app you get lectures from expert professors, the themes of lectures vary from literature and history to business, music, and even cooking. The lectures are provided with videos that makes the learning process even more interesting. The app won’t cost you anything but you have to pay for individual courses. Additionally, a free trial is available.

2. Memrise (Free, premium version available)

This app is intended for learning a language and helps you to learn vocabulary through gamification. With its help users learn words and phrases of the chosen language and recognize them aurally.

3. Udacity

There are many topics to choose from. Actually, it’s for free, but if you pay for a nanodegree service you’ll get feedback from experts. The certification will cost around $200.

4. Brainscape

This app uses flashcards for learning. There are many subscription choices: per month, per year, for a lifetime.

5. Due

Due offers countdown reminders: both daily and weekly. They synchronize across your devices and automatically shift if crossing time zones.

6. Photomath

It’s a real help for people trying to solve a difficult task. If you write some question or make a photo of it, you’ll get the solution and the steps leading to it.

7. Math Motion: Cupcakes

It’s a game for children in which they learn to count due to running a cupcake business. They need to figure out the cost of cupcakes, fulfill orders and make other calculations and unwittingly learn math on the elementary level.

8. Periodic table

This periodic table entertains with its learning process offering you different levels of data and videos about each element.

9. Udemy

This app offers videos helping to learn about design, marketing, business, etc. There are many free videos but there are prepaid lectures, too.

10. Evernote

Evernote provides users with notes, to-do lists, offers tools for taking photos and voice reminders.

You ask why the above mentioned-apps became popular. Due to the:

  • they are practical and easy;

  • have unique features;

  • solve problems of the defined target audience;

  • have a clear structure;

  • some of them offer gamification of learning;

  • add to it an interesting design and you’ll understand how the successful app should look like.

Additionally, you need to think about the monetization. There are some things you need to know about. The competition in the educational niche is quite tough and the income won’t be very large at te start. As it was already mentioned above, you have to research the market and define your target audience; then decide upon features which will differ your app from the others.

Conclusion

Educational apps have become popular because they offer an interesting way of learning and many other comfortable features for studying. According to statistics, they take the third place in iOS and the first place in Android on the app download frequency.

For the educational app creation you should firstly find out how to build a regular app. You have to remember that the app should solve some problem, have a clear structure etc. Also, remember to think about the monetization.

Surely, you can create an app by yourself. However, if you want to develop an educational application and need a piece of advice from the expert team, we are ready to help you! Feel free to contuct us!