Development of educational applications: Trends, Technologies, and Software used

Modern inventions and technologies have brought a sea change in every aspect of today’s life. Thanks to computers, the internet, and mobile applications, learning and education in the 21st century have become very easy and accessible. The development of a wide variety of educational applications assists both students and teachers to learn and deliver education respectively. In this article, you will learn about the development of educational applications and their recent trends in vogue. Besides current trends of educational apps, you will be provided with adequate information regarding the latest tools, technologies, and software that are used in the design and development of educational mobile apps and websites. 

What is an educational app?

An application that assists in online learning, promotes virtual teaching, and mobile learning is termed as an educational app. You can find hundreds of educational apps in android and IOS devices. Zoom, Khan Academy, Google earth, etc. are some notable educational apps. There are educational apps for children, classroom, test preparation, online courses, language learning, and brain training. Educational apps are popular because they are efficient, modern, convenient, time-saving, and cost-effective. 

Step by step process to develop an educational application

 To build a responsive and user-friendly educational app, a certain step needs to be followed. Important steps involved in the development of an educational app are as follows: 

Step#1: Conceiving an idea for an educational app:

The very first step involved in the educational app development process is to conceive an idea for it. Here it is thought that what kind of education app is to be developed? Maximum efforts should be taken to conceive novel and unique ideas about the app. Original content and unique idea help app Development Company to make the responsive app.

Step#2: Market Research for an app:

In addition to the novel idea, market research is one of the important steps involved in the app development process. To target your right audience is an uphill task involved in the app development process. Focused should be given to core competitors in the market while building phone apps for educational purposes. Besides, factors like the available budget and timeline are also an important one in this step.

Step#3: UI UX of the app

UI UX of the app is another important step in app development. Leading mobile app development companies to put their best efforts to create an attractive, simple, and user-friendly design of the app. Nice, clean, and easy to use factors are considered to make an educational app popular among its targeted audience.

Step#4: Testing the app

In addition to the aforementioned steps, next comes the testing phase in the mobile application development process. In this step educational app is tested on a trial basis to point out any possible weakness during the app development. The app is shared with colleagues and friends to check the user interface and user experience of it.

Step#5: Release of the app

Once the app is developed and designed by the best app design provider and tested on a trial basis, the app is released for all and sundry targeted audience. The app is marked heavily after its release so that it can be availed by the maximum number of people or users.

Step#6: Evaluation of the app

The next step in the android ios app development process is periodic evaluation.  Time to time performance evaluation of the app helps app design company and app owner to correct pitfalls in the design and operation of the app. Top mobile apps developers recommend frequent evaluation of the app for its success among the users.

Step#7: User feedback

Last but not least, user feedback is one of the core steps involved in the app design and development process. The usefulness and popularity of an educational app is widely measured through positive feedback and reviews given to it by the customers and users. It helps to bring desired changes in the app to make it useful for its targeted users.

The popular and widely employed trends in the educational apps

In-depth information and study of widely used trends in the educational app design and development should be given due consideration to develop responsive educational apps for the users. As per Freelancer.com:

“There is such a high demand for education apps that statistics predict the market will be worth USD 38.7 billion in 2020.”

The most important trends in the educational app are as follows:

• Virtual Reality (VR)

One of the most popular trends in educational apps is virtual reality. The simulated environment in VR-based educational apps helps the student to move and engage with virtual features during learning. Remote interaction in three-dimensional space and integrations of a wide variety of skills makes VR a popular trend in the educational apps. The virtual reality technologies and features make educational apps interesting and friendly.

The use of VR technologies in many educational apps including Quiver and InMind has made them unique, efficient, and effective in numerous ways. However main obstacles in utilizing Virtual reality features in the educational app are high cost as well as design and development complexities. Benefits of VA based educational apps include practical and creative learning, improved student engagement, and less distracting immersive learning. 

• Augmented Reality (AR)

Besides virtual reality, augmented reality is also an important trend in the development and design of the educational app. It has introduced new ways of learning and comprehending information. It also helps to skim various parts of the books, provides video and audio tips to students. AR helps make the educational app more amazing by increasing real-life experience and the addition of content visualization. 

Similarly to VR, AR features have stepped into several educational apps like Star Walk and Anatomy 4D. Owing to its recent entry in trends of an educational app, proper implementation of AR in the educational app requires highly skilful specialists to handle its complex nature. The major advantages of AR in educational apps include practical learning, anytime and anywhere learning facility, and improved student engagement.

• Artificial intelligence (AI)

AR is the key trend in the educational android and IOS app development and design. AR is a process of making intelligent machines that function as humans. Smart content, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, and Virtual Facilitators and Learning Environments are notable examples in educational app development and management. Implementation of AI in the educational apps has rendered them highly effective and efficient in terms of their development, design, management, and operation.

Advanced Intelligent Virtual Assistants are used in plenty of areas including the improvement, and development of educational apps. AI algorithms in educational apps help in the evaluation of user abilities and learning process. The use of machine learning algorithms in AI reduces the number of scientific manpower required and it is cost-effective as well.

• Gamification

Gamification is a vital trend concerning educational application as it increases motivation, excitement, and interest of users of the educational apps. Duolingo, Yousician, and Sololearn are pivotal representatives of Gamification in educational apps. App designing companies make use of Gamification features in the educational app to create excitement in users. Besides, the thing that makes Gamification more attractive in the educational app is its low cost in comparison to VR and AR. 

Fun environments in educational apps help students in meeting real-life challenges and dealing with different situations safely. The addition of fun factors in the educational app increases the understanding and deeper insights into the learning topic. In the Gamification learning and entertainment goes parallel that boosts the self-confidence of the students during the learning process.

• Cloud-Based Learning (CBL)

Cloud-Based Learning is also one of the major trends in the educational app development, design, and operation. The CBL has rendered the sharing of knowledge simple and enriched. It assists in reducing the need for active infrastructure, and IT costs. Besides, it also improves accessibility and opportunities for creating effective and efficient collaborations.

The CBL has transformed the education process as it offers online curricula to change the traditional learning environment. CBL mobile applications promote easy sharing of the project in an easy setting and format. CBL promotes group learning and collaboration among students in the completion of assignments and tasks.

• Mobile Immersive Learning

The trend of Mobile immersive learning in educational mobile apps is a notable one. It supports engagement and enriching of content to the students.  Common examples of Mobile immersive learning features in educational apps involve Device embedded learning products, language training apps, as well as IoT learning devices and memory training apps.  The extensive usage of interactive and visual content makes educational apps attractive to users helps the building of customer loyalty and offers a wide variety of monetization opportunities. 

Major categories of educational apps

• Language Learning Educational App

      Language learning android and IoS app are very helpful in learning foreign and alien languages at the doorstep. These educational apps have made learn any language easy and accessible. Some examples of Language learning educational apps include Duolingo, Memrise, LinguaLift, etc. If you want to develop this type of app and want to become unique, you must include quality material, interactive design, and easy to use interface.

• Classroom apps

      Classroom type apps are those which are based on cloud learning and facilitate distance learning. All the teaching materials are placed at one location, students and teachers can access that material easily. The best representatives of these types of educational apps are Kahoot, Google Classroom, Classtree, etc.

• Education Apps for Kids

      ABCmouse, Epic!, Quick Math Jr. are some educational apps for kids and children. Educational apps for kids are also major categories of education apps. These apps are designed to help the student in reading, writing, translation, and learning. Science and another complex type of topics are visualized through these apps for better understanding.

• Test preparation apps

      Education app like Gradeup, EduRev, PocketAptitude, and others assist the student in the preparation of different types of test. Various categories of the test are placed at one location and you can learn and practice those tests easily and at low cost. 

• Education Apps for Online Courses

      To deliver online courses various android and Ios apps and websites have been developed. The best names in this type of category include Linkedin Learning, Coursera, iTunesU. You can learn a wide variety of courses from experienced tutors on numerous topics. 

• Gamification Apps

      Gamification apps for education purpose serves the objective of education and entertainment. Many responsive apps have been developed by top mobile apps companies.

• Brain training apps

      Educational apps like MentalUP, Lumosity, Elevate, etc help students in memory, logic, and attention. There is a lot of competition in these categories. You have brought unique, original, and novel content to stand out in these types of apps.

Salient features of educational applications

• Comprehensive, Interactive, and Valuable Content:

  The app should include all relevant material on specific topics. It needs to interactive and valuable to users as well.

1. 1. Live Tutorials: Live tutorials in the mobile app help in better understanding and real-life experience
   2. Powerful and Supportive Database: The database of apps should be powerful and supportive of the smooth operation of the app.
   3. Regular Mock and Practice Test: This feature improves the understanding level and keeps students updated.

• Easy To Login:

  The education app must have better user experience including easy login and operation

• Lesson categorization:

  The lessons in the educational app should be categorized in different sets for the sake of accessibility and simplicity.

1. 1. Offline: The app must operate and support offline. It means the user can use it without the internet.

• System of scheduling:

  For better understanding and learning, the schedule needs to be formed for different parts.

• Social Media Platform:

  Presence of educational app over social media platforms help in creating awareness and reaching the maximum number of audience. 

• Success assessment:

  The self-assessment features will make apps useful for the student by tracking their assessment while learning. 

Benefits of Education App Development

The flexibility of time:  User can use it when he needs it.

An instant notification: Student and parents are notified regarding exam or event instantly through notifications

Interactive content:  It increases the engagement and interaction of students.

The 24/7 availability: Education can be learned any time

Progress tracking: Improvement in learning can be traced during online learning through mobile apps.

Technologies used in the development of educational apps

• Android 

     Android has widely used technology in the development and design of educational apps for learning and education in the 21st century. It is largely based on the Linux kernel, its source code is accessible through Apache license and it can be downloaded by anyone. Android mobile educational apps are popular among students and teachers. Quizlet, Google Play Books, Khan Academy, EdX, etc. are some of the commonly used Android-based educational apps. Android apps are easy to access and cost-effective. Android is multitasking, has millions of users and several widgets.

• iPhone Operating system (iOS)

     Ios is another popular technology used in the development of educational apps and online learning. Photomath – Camera Calculator, Evernote, Memrise: Learn Languages Free, Kahoot, Udemy, etc. are popular IoS based educational apps in use. Likewise Android, IoS is also easy to access, less costly, and user-friendly.

• Computer and Information Technology

    The use of Computer and Information Technology has a key role in the design, development, and management, and operation of educational apps. Computers and IT tools and techniques make possible proper development and smooth operation of educational apps. This technology helps in tracking the performance and smooth operation of the particular educational app in a better way.  

• Telecommunication Technology 

Educational apps also take help from telecommunication technology for smooth and proper disbursement of learning to students and teachers. For far and wide reach and accessibility of educational apps, telecommunication technology plays a pivotal role. People and user access educational apps by using communication devices and technologies.

• Electrical  and Electronics Technology

Electrical and electronics technologies have a crucial role to play in the development and design of educational apps. Electronic equipment is utilized in making and developing electronic devices that enable them to run the app. While the electrical component provides power to all the devices to operate them. All these work in collaboration for better results.

Software that can be used in the development of educational apps

There is numerous software that can be used in the development of the educational app. Here is the list of the top software that is used in application development.

Picture: Table of the top software

Picture: Screenshots of Chart for comparison of Softwares

In the nutshell, it can be concluded that educational apps have benefited the education sector in various ways and have made learning easy and at doorsteps. In this article, educational apps were discussed in detail. The major trends in the development and design of education apps are detailed. The use of VR, AR, AI, etc. in educational apps discussed and their respective benefits also pointed out. A detailed guide to developing an education app has been given stepwise. Besides, technologies used in the development, design, management, and operation of education apps are also given light. Afterwards, various types, features, and benefits of educational apps are given.

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