Custom educational app development has unlocked the potential to create an engaging learning experience for almost any topic. At DigitalMara, we use cutting-edge tools to design mobile and web apps for education that integrate advanced features. In this article, we’ve collected some best practices for educational software, to provide a roadmap for developing products that truly make an impact.
Digital education stands out for its convenience and flexibility. Users can learn at their own tempo, working with educational content at any time, in any place. It’s particularly appealing for those with a busy schedule or who lack the opportunity to engage in traditional learning. Besides that, the online format provides access to a much wider range of courses and programs.
The market offers a great variety of educational apps, designed for different ages, interests, and learning styles. The main thing needed to get started is a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop.
Custom e-learning app solutions began seeing exponential growth during the pandemic. People started to learn remotely, turning to digital platforms as a primary source of education and skill development. Educational apps have also become a popular alternative for passing time more productively.
Even though global downloads have decreased over the past two years since the world returned to normal, market revenue has maintained steady growth. This resilience is due to developers following the top trends in educational apps, including incorporating technologies such as Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and gamification, to enhance learning and keep users engaged. These innovations, along with personalized learning paths and interactive content, keep educational apps among the most popular categories in both Google Play and the App Store.
Educational apps come in a wide range of types, each serving a unique purpose and addressing specific aspects of learning. These apps leverage various technologies and approaches to app design to best fulfill the needs of users. The table illustrates the basic types of Edu apps:
| App | Features |
| E-Learning platforms |
Provide users with access to a vast library of online courses across various subjects, ranging from academic disciplines to various skills. Features include video lectures, multimedia lessons, interactive quizzes, progress tracking, peer discussion forums, and certificates of completion. Often used by universities, businesses, and individuals for self-paced learning and skill development. |
|
Learning management systems |
Help to organize and manage online education. This is a centralized platform to create and deliver various types of learning content, manage students and educational courses, track progress, and make assessments. Modern LMS platforms can integrate AI to personalize learning paths based on student performance and advanced data analytics to provide deeper insights into student progress and engagement. |
| Language learning apps |
Help users learn new languages through tutorials, and interactive lessons including speaking, listening and grammar, and other content. These apps often use gamification techniques like rewards, streaks, and points to keep learners motivated. They also use speech recognition technology to improve pronunciation and conversational skills. |
|
Subject-specific learning apps |
Provide specialized and focused content on particular subjects like math, science, coding, music, and others. These apps typically offer tutorials, problem-solving exercises, progress assessments, and real-time feedback. They can also include personalized learning paths based on performance, and gamification. |
|
Virtual classroom apps |
Facilitate real-time remote learning environments, allowing instructors and students to interact via live video sessions, chats, and collaborative tools. Users can send files, share screens, and use digital boards. These apps are used in both educational institutions and corporate training settings and can be integrated with learning management systems (LMS). |
|
Learning apps for kids |
Designed to teach young children foundational skills like reading, writing, math, and problem-solving, through fun and interactive games, stories, puzzles, and animations. These apps include elements to keep children engaged while allowing parents to maintain control. |
Key features of educational apps
It all starts with an engaging user interface. UI/UX design for learning apps should be user-friendly and visually appealing. Designs can be customized to fit the target age group or be universal. For example, for children, the app may feature bright colors, simple icons, and large buttons, while for older users the design can be more sophisticated. In all cases, clear navigation is essential.
There is particular demand today for inclusivity, meaning the app needs to be accessible for users with disabilities, following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Some important practices include sufficient color contrast between the text and the background elements; large, clear fonts that are easy to read; easy navigation; and features such as text-to-speech, screen readers, and voice commands.
The core element of an educational app is its content. It should combine usefulness with engagement. Deploying a variety of formats, including text, images, videos, and animations, allows applications to keep the attention of users and cater to different learning styles. Interactive learning app features, such as quizzes, gamified challenges, chats, and simulations, further enhance engagement. High-quality content is essential; it must be accurate, up-to-date, and come from reliable sources.
If targeting a global audience, the app needs to be multilingual, so that users can choose a preferred language or the app can automatically detect the user’s device language. This must cover everything — menu, instructions, notifications, support, and other internal information. For the sake of localization, educational content should be translated and adapted somehow. For example, by adding subtitles to a video or providing an accurate transcript.
Users create profiles where they add personal info, indicate interests, set learning goals, and track their progress. Personalization in educational apps is all about tailoring the learning experience to the individual needs, goals, and preferences of each user. It encompasses several practices:
- Offering adaptive learning, which is when the app’s algorithms analyze user performance data such as test scores, response times, and completion rates. This makes it possible to adjust the difficulty level of learning materials and suggest appropriate learning paths.
- Providing the possibility to choose the learning style, if the app offers a variety of content formats to choose from.
- Allowing the user to set personal learning goals and adjust levels of difficulty. In response, the app should offer a personal learning path.
- Providing a well-structured progression path that keeps users engaged by showing them a clear roadmap and tangible milestones.
Offline access is a valuable feature for educational apps, making them more flexible and accessible. Users may have the opportunity to download learning materials and interact with them at any time. When an internet connection becomes available, the app can synchronize progress made offline with the online servers. This ensures that learning progress is not lost. Also, there can be limited functionality when the app is offline.
Gamification in educational apps transforms the learning experience. This feature makes it more enjoyable and engaging by incorporating game mechanics into educational contexts. Elements such as points, badges, levels, leaderboards, and rewards help to incentivize progress and celebrate achievements. Such features provide immediate feedback and recognition, helping to keep learners motivated, consistent, and driven to reach new milestones. Thoughtfully integrated, gamification creates a dynamic environment that not only supports learning but also makes it feel rewarding and fun.
Technologies to develop educational apps
EdTech product development requires a careful selection of technologies to ensure they are user-friendly, responsive, and capable of handling the diverse needs of learners. The right tools also determine the app’s scalability, security, and performance. For instance, web-based educational solutions are good for in-depth courses, collaborative projects, and Learning Management Systems. We recommend using technologies like HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue for the front-end and Node.js, Django, Java or Ruby on Rails for the back-end. Mobile apps are lightweight tools for end users. Here we choose platform-specific languages such as Swift and Objective-C for iOS, Kotlin and Java for Android, or cross-platform frameworks like Flutter and React Native.
One of the crucial requirements is scalability in educational app design to support growing numbers of users and to allow for expanding content without compromising performance. As the user base increases, the app should handle larger amounts of data, maintain quick response times, and ensure a seamless experience across different devices and operating systems. A scalable design also allows developers to add new features, modules, or content updates as educational needs evolve.
Building educational apps also requires a strong focus on data security to protect sensitive user information, particularly when dealing with minors and personal learning data. Encryption, secure login processes, and regular data backups are essential measures to guard against unauthorized access and data breaches. Equally important is the app’s performance, as seamless functionality and quick response times play a vital role in delivering an engaging and effective learning experience. Using optimized code, caching strategies, and load-balancing technologies can significantly enhance performance, ensuring the app remains responsive even as user numbers grow.
Learning data analytics and tracking
Data analysis is the backbone of any app. It is essential to have robust mechanisms for collection, storage, processing, and visualization. In educational apps there is a wide variety of learning data that can be collected:
- Engagement data – how long users spend on specific lessons, activities, or modules; overall time spent per session and the frequency of app usage
- Performance data – results from assessments, quizzes, and practice exercises, response accuracy
- Progress data – the current level of users within the app, improvements in skills over time, strengths and weaknesses in specific subjects or skill areas
- Profile data – age, grade level, and learning goals
Once collected, data must be securely stored in compliance with privacy regulations. Storage solutions need to support not only scalability, to accommodate growing datasets but also data integrity, to ensure that information remains accurate and unaltered over time. Another component is real-time data processing with the help of advanced analytics tools, including the usage of AI algorithms.
Finally, effective data visualization brings learning data to life, transforming complex datasets into intuitive visual formats. Visualization and analysis are often resolved with dynamic and customizable dashboards, which allow educators and administrators to interact with the data in real time. These dashboards are equipped with various capabilities to uncover valuable insights.
Video and audio integration
Video and audio content adds a powerful dimension to the learning experience, enabling users to engage with content on a deeper level. Video can be presented in the form of recorded lectures, tutorials, live-streaming sessions, and interactive video calls. Meanwhile, audio provides options like podcasts, language practice recordings, and narration for text-based content.
There are several reliable options for hosting video content in educational apps, each suited to different needs. Popular choices like YouTube and Vimeo provide easy-to-use, accessible platforms for public or ad-free content, while tools like AWS Elemental, Microsoft Azure Media, and Google Cloud Platform (Video Intelligence and Streaming) offer high customization and scalability, supporting live and on-demand videos. For hosting audio files, options like Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage allow scalable, secure storage and retrieval. One can also choose SoundCloud API or Spotify API for storage and streaming capabilities.
From a development perspective, optimizing for bandwidth is essential, especially with mobile users in mind, to ensure smooth playback even on slower networks. Embedding adaptive streaming technology allows the app to adjust video quality based on the user’s internet speed. It’s also important to consider offline access, enabling users to download audio and video files. Implementing robust caching mechanisms can improve performance by pre-loading frequently accessed content. Finally, incorporating accessibility features like captions, transcripts, and playback speed controls makes the content usable for a broader audience, including those with disabilities.
Learning content management
Effective learning content management is a critical component of any educational app, ensuring that content is organized, accessible, and adaptable to different learning paths. A robust Content Management System (CMS) allows educators and administrators to create, update, and distribute various types of learning materials from a centralized platform. With version control features, a CMS can manage content updates seamlessly, ensuring Edu apps users always access the most current materials without disruptions.
To build a resilient CMS, it’s essential to consider scalability so that the system can handle a growing volume of content and user demands as the app expands, allowing the smooth addition of new modules and learning materials. Equally important is to add an analytics component, which will provide valuable insights into how learners interact with the content. Administrators can identify which materials are most effective and which tasks yield less favorable results. Advanced analytics can also support personalized learning, allowing the user to adjust content based on individual results and preferences.
Artificial Intelligence
AI can empower literally all features of educational apps, making them more personalized, engaging, and accurate. AI algorithms continuously analyze all data points, including response time, lesson completions, and quiz scores. Based on this analysis, the app instantly adapts to a user’s unique learning style, providing personalized educational content and recommendations to optimize learning outcomes.
Intelligent virtual tutors powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP) can respond to user questions, explain concepts in multiple ways, and identify areas where a student may be struggling. In addition, AI can be seamlessly integrated into assessment systems, increasing the precision and depth of evaluations. By analyzing user responses, the app can highlight strengths, pinpoint specific areas for improvement, and suggest tailored learning activities to bridge knowledge gaps.
Since AI algorithms analyze vast amounts of user data, it is essential to implement robust data encryption and privacy protocols. Transparent data governance practices, including anonymization techniques and compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR, protect users. As AI evolves, ethical considerations such as bias mitigation and inclusivity are increasingly being integrated, ensuring a fair, secure, and inclusive learning environment for all students.
For successful AI integration in educational app development, it’s essential to take several key actions. First, decide whether to develop a custom model or to leverage a pre-trained model. Next, prepare an accurate and extensive dataset, as the quality of data directly impacts the effectiveness and precision of the AI model. This involves not only gathering diverse, representative data but also cleaning and labeling it meticulously to reduce bias and enhance model accuracy. Also, it’s necessary to consider setting up a robust data pipeline to facilitate seamless updates, enabling the model to continuously learn and adapt over time.
Augmented Reality
With Augmented Reality (AR), developers can create an immersive and interactive learning experience that extends the traditional capabilities of apps that we are already used to. These technologies enhance engagement and understanding of complex concepts through experiential learning. AR overlays digital content onto the real world, enhancing the learner’s interaction with the subject matter. For example, by scanning a textbook page with an AR-enabled app, a 3D model of cells, the solar system, or a historical event can pop up, allowing users to explore complex concepts. Such apps can also support collaborative learning experiences by allowing multiple users to interact with the same digital objects in real-world environments. For example, they can work together to resolve tasks using shared AR elements.
What should you pay attention to when adding AR functionality? AR apps can be resource-intensive, so it’s essential to ensure that your app is optimized for performance on various devices. Realistic textures, smooth animations, and interactive elements will enhance the learning experience, but they need to be balanced with performance considerations. Additionally, the app should be designed to handle varying lighting conditions and environmental factors that might affect the AR experience, such as glare or low light.
Compliance regulations
Edu apps are subject to compliance regulations. Besides the standard GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CPAA (California Consumer Privacy Act), there are also specific regulations to consider. Data security in EdTech applications plays a vital role in meeting these standards, ensuring that personal information is protected, and compliance is maintained.
- The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the US regulates educational apps that are used in schools and other educational institutions that get federal funding. It protects the privacy of student records, ensuring that data is handled securely and that parents or eligible students have control over access to their education records.
- The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the US is applied to all apps that collect and use data from children under 13. Secure educational apps must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information from their kids.
- The Children’s Code (or Age-Appropriate Design Code) in the UK regulates online services accessed by children under the age of 18. Secure educational apps must ensure that they minimize data collection from children, avoid using nudge techniques such as prompts that encourage users to share more data, and set high privacy settings by default.
Final words
Creating successful custom software for education involves a blend of innovative design, rigorous development standards, and attention to user needs. As technology continues to evolve, applications pave the way for meaningful educational impact tomorrow. At DigitalMara, we know the best practices for educational software and are committed to developing effective solutions for the needs of learners and educators alike.
We recommend following these steps to create an educational app:
- Start by clarifying the app’s main objectives and identifying its target audience. This guides your learning content, design, and features.
- Conduct market research, analyzing top trends in educational apps and competitive product offerings.
- Develop learning content tailored for your audience.
- Think about custom UI/UX design.
- Make a list of all desired features and prioritize those for MVP.
You can always assemble your own team or turn to educational app development outsourcing. This option offers cost-effective team augmentation for app projects, providing access to specialized talent. Outsourcing allows you to work with teams who have extensive experience in educational app development services.
Choose our services of custom software development or team augmentation for your educational app development.
