Learning has become much easier and convenient in contemporary times. With the help of a smartphone, people can engage in educational pursuits anytime and anywhere. The education app development sector is continuously evolving and has become a hub for technological innovations, presenting a substantial niche for business endeavors.
Many well-known enterprises, including Samsung, Dell, and Fujitsu, are investing heavily in the smart education and eLearning sectors. Projections indicate that the market size of educational app development is poised to expand significantly. By 2030, it is expected to reach a growth rate exceeding $13.96 billion, reflecting a CAGR of 8.9%.
The landscape of learning has been reshaped by the rise of educational apps. Whether it’s mastering a new language or preparing for exams, the development of educational applications has brought about a revolution in the field of education.
The persistent need for technology in the educational sector makes the creation of educational apps a valuable endeavor, benefiting students, educators, and institutions. Nevertheless, the process of developing educational apps is intricate, demanding meticulous planning, thoughtful design, and precise execution.
So, let’s have a look at the Education app development process in detail.
How to develop an Educational App?
The purpose behind venturing into education app development goes beyond merely following industry trends or staying competitive. The primary goal of implementing an education app development process is to enable the effective sharing of knowledge and provide users with the flexibility to access educational materials effortlessly, regardless of their location or time.
When undertaking the task of developing an educational app, it becomes essential to clearly define your target audience, identify the necessary content, and articulate the distinctive features your business aims to offer. The initial step in this process involves conceiving and shaping the app idea.
- Concept Development
During educational app development, it is crucial to comprehend the distinctive impact your application will bring to the market. Furthermore, understanding the preferences of educational institutions, including the desired trends, knowledge databases, and communication channels they seek on mobile platforms, is essential.
Once these aspects are clear, devise innovative approaches to app development. It is imperative to incorporate cutting-edge technology that not only aligns with current needs but also anticipates future requirements, ensuring an intuitive and responsive experience for users. Throughout this process, remain mindful of selecting technology that is forward-thinking and contributes to the overall effectiveness of your application.
- Market Research
The educational sector has emerged as a prominent platform for testing cutting-edge technological solutions, presenting businesses with lucrative opportunities. Projections indicate that the educational app industry is poised to witness substantial growth, exceeding $325 billion by the year 2025.
Given the noteworthy expansion within this industry, it becomes imperative to focus on this pivotal juncture. A lack of comprehensive market research stands as a primary cause for the premature failure of numerous companies. Therefore, if your company aims to introduce a customer-centric application, it is crucial to actively seek and incorporate customer opinions. Conducting surveys, whether offline or online, should be an integral part of your research strategy.
- User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX)
Highlighting the crucial nature of first impressions is essential, particularly when engaging with a varied audience. Establishing a positive impact from the outset is key to capturing the interest of students, instructors, and schools. The effectiveness of an educational app relies on its capacity to be simple, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to navigate.
For younger users, prioritizing design simplicity is essential, while also ensuring that lively visuals and enjoyable music align with the preferences of all users. Achieving a balance that addresses the diverse needs of the audience is likely to enhance download rates, making the app an appealing and user-friendly educational resource.
- Technology Stack
Now is the moment to select a suitable technology stack for the development of your educational app. The choice of technology should be guided by the application’s specifications, taking into consideration factors such as its complexity, time to market, core functionality, the number of platforms, and security requirements. Additionally, the project scope and the selected technologies play a crucial role in determining the ideal team structure.
Therefore, it is essential to assemble a team of developers with the appropriate technological expertise, covering essential software development roles. In this phase, the involvement of business analysts, project managers, and QA specialists is also integral to ensuring the successful delivery of your solution.
Milestones, Iterations, and Project Implementation
After commencing the development of your preferred application, the next step involves putting your plans into action. This implementation phase requires various documents, a straightforward and achievable strategy, and a well-structured timeline with milestones. These milestones act as checkpoints for iterative processes, and it’s crucial for your development team to unanimously agree on a practical delivery schedule. Alternatively, collaboration with external entities can expedite the delivery process, ensuring optimal results in a shorter time frame.
However, it is imperative to avoid setting an excessively ambitious timetable that could disrupt the software development process. Opting for realistic goals is a prudent approach. Milestones serve as crucial markers for monitoring project progress, providing a framework for your development team to align efforts toward common objectives during the discovery phase.
App Testing
Testing software is an essential component of educational app development that cannot be overlooked. It is a systematic process aimed at verifying the correct functionality and adherence to the specifications of a software program. The primary objective of software testing is not only to ensure the user-friendliness and simplicity of a program but also to guarantee its freedom from errors.
Moreover, the significance of bug-free software cannot be overstated, as it is crucial for achieving customer satisfaction. In essence, quality assurance is an integral part of the software development process, ensuring that each product delivers exceptional value.
App Deployment
Once the educational app has successfully undergone rigorous testing and quality assurance processes, the next critical step is deployment. App deployment involves making the application available for users to download and use. This phase requires careful planning and execution to ensure a seamless transition from development to actual use.
During deployment, it’s crucial to consider the platform-specific requirements. Whether your app is targeted for iOS, Android, or both, adhere to the guidelines and standards set by the respective app stores. Ensure that the app meets all necessary criteria for approval, including functionality, design, and compliance with security measures.
Post-Launch Support and Maintenance
The journey doesn’t end with deployment, it extends into post-launch support and maintenance. Establish a dedicated support system to address user queries, technical issues, and feedback promptly. Regularly release updates to enhance features, fix bugs, and adapt to changing educational trends.
Continuous monitoring of app performance, user engagement, and feedback is essential. Therefore, using analytics tools to gather insights into user behavior, popular features, and potential areas for improvement is paramount. This data-driven approach allows for informed decision-making and ensures that your educational app remains a valuable and user-friendly resource.
Having covered all the aspects, we now comprehend that these considerations are vital to keep in mind during the development phase of application creation. By reaching this point, we have completed half of the requirements for educational apps, paving the way for the implementation phase. To leverage the benefits of cutting-edge applications, understanding the features expected by an ideal customer is crucial. Therefore, let’s explore the key aspects of educational apps.
Must have features to develop Educational Apps
Given that this application will be utilized by a diverse user base including teachers, students, parents, principals, and various other stakeholders, it is imperative to guarantee optimal performance without any disruptions, even when accommodating millions of participants. So, here are some of the must-have features while developing an educational app.
User Registration and Login
These functionalities enable users to establish a unique identity within your application, allowing them to create profiles and monitor their progress. Ideally, the registration process should be streamlined, potentially incorporating social media or email credentials for a one-step signup.
User Profile
A learner’s account should include essential user details and a profile image. On their profile page, users should have access to both personal and app-related information, such as the number of enrolled courses, billing details, and more.
Search Functionality and Filters
Students should easily discover educational content using the search tool. Popular search options on eLearning apps include keyword search and category browsing. Additionally, incorporating a recommendation engine can enhance the user experience by suggesting relevant courses and content.
Payment Gateway Integration
For educational apps offering paid subscriptions or courses, integrating a secure payment solution is crucial. Payment gateways like PayPal facilitate swift transactions, and additional integrations such as Google Pay and Apple Pay can expedite the payment process. Ensuring the secure storage of payment details is essential regardless of the chosen gateway.
Push Notifications
Alerts and notifications serve as valuable features to re-engage users and facilitate two-way communication. Notifications can inform learners about updates, and new challenges, and highlight recommendations, new courses, or unlocked features.
Learning Analytics
Learning apps should showcase progress through a comprehensive dashboard, listing active and completed courses, earned badges, certificates, accomplishments, and goals.
Content Management
EdTech applications typically organize learning materials by relevance, topic, and other criteria. These materials may include theoretical courses, interactive text exercises, video and audio lessons, live-streaming lectures, and assessments.
Cloud Integration and Cross-Platform Support
Given that both learners and educators use multiple devices for learning, a seamless user experience is vital. Cloud integration ensures that user progress is saved and synchronized, allowing them to access the app from any device or platform.
After looking at the above features you must be thinking about how much does it cost to make an educational app? Well, don’t worry we have come up with a proper cost breakdown to build an education app.
How Can GML Soft Labs Help in Building An Educational App?
Educational applications, such as those exemplified by Byju’s and Udemy, etc have revolutionized the learning industry. With their forward-thinking features, they strive to elevate the user experience and bolster user retention.
Experienced Team of Developers
GML Soft Labs boasts a team of experienced developers with expertise in educational app development. They understand the unique challenges and requirements of the education sector and can tailor solutions accordingly.
Customized Solutions
GML Soft Labs offers customized solutions tailored to the specific needs and objectives of each client. Whether it’s developing a new app from scratch or enhancing an existing one, they work closely with clients to deliver solutions that exceed expectations.
Integration of Advanced Technologies
GML Soft Labs stays abreast of the latest technologies and trends in educational app development, including augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. By integrating these advanced technologies, they can create innovative and cutting-edge solutions that enhance the learning experience.
Continuous Support and Maintenance
GML Soft Labs provides ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure the app remains functional, secure, and optimized. They respond promptly to any issues or concerns and proactively address any updates or enhancements needed.
Conclusion
At GML Soft Labs, our team specializes in delivering cutting-edge educational app development services, providing these apps with a competitive advantage. Our developers are proficient in the field, and equipped with advanced technologies to fulfill all project requirements. As an experienced app development company in Chennai, India, We follow an agile approach that adheres to the principles of digital transformation. This enables us to build unique and engaging mobile applications similar to BYJU’s and Udemy.
FAQs
- Can I develop an educational app without coding skills? While coding skills are beneficial for app development, there are user-friendly app development platforms and tools available that require minimal coding knowledge. Consider exploring no-code or low-code platforms to bring your educational app idea to life.
- How can I monetize my educational app without charging users directly? Besides traditional monetization models like in-app purchases or subscriptions, you can explore alternative revenue streams such as partnerships with educational institutions, sponsored content, or advertising placements within your app.
- What are some best practices for retaining users and encouraging engagement in educational apps? Foster a sense of community within your app by incorporating social features like discussion forums, peer-to-peer collaboration tools, and leaderboards. Additionally, regularly update your app with fresh content, features, and challenges to keep users engaged and coming back for more.
- How can I ensure the safety and privacy of children using my educational app? Prioritize compliance with regulations such as COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) and implement robust privacy settings and parental controls within your app. Educate parents and guardians about your app’s privacy policies and provide clear guidelines on how their children’s data will be collected, used, and protected.
- What are some emerging trends shaping the future of educational apps? Keep an eye on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality, which have the potential to revolutionize the way we learn and teach. Experiment with innovative features and functionalities that harness the power of these technologies to deliver immersive and personalized learning experiences.