E-learning (e-education or distance learning) refers to the delivery of educational services online using web/ mobile applications and internet access.
The boom of e-learning results from the general availability of online education and overall efficiency at a lower cost provided an e student has enough intrinsic motivation.
The growing e-learning market size proves modern knowledge chasers prefer an online format to study when and where they want:
Market size in million U.S. dollars. Source: Statista
Probably these days the size of the online learning market will increase even faster during the self-isolation because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Many schools, colleges, and universities are supposed to close moving the classes online. Except for offering a comprehensive e-learning system to help students incorporate and strengthen their knowledge, we should also care about providing emotional support and maintaining integrity within an online class.
How to deliver e-learning?
Distance learning is made possible thanks to a Learning Management System (LMS), a digital educational platform allowing:
Online courses management;
Course materials distribution;
Collaboration between a teacher and students.
An LMS is a comprehensive web-based system enabling to manage every little aspect of e-learning from user registration to getting test results and submitting an assignment. As a rule, LMS systems are mostly web-based, using mobile apps (there can be a separate app for a teacher, student, and parents) as an additional tool.
A learning management system is a large and complex application that requires many resources to be integrated into an educational process of a school, college, or university. Besides, if you lack these resources, there’s still a solution to deliver e-learning: a website builder for teachers thatis available for everybody.
The learning management system market size is expected to grow to 22.4 billion by 2023:
The design of every learning management system starts from the typical features “starter pack”, without which an average LMS could barely perform its primary functions.
Enrollment. The system should allow students to enroll online, including background information, registration forms, payment integration.
Personal “eStudent” account with the comprehensive information about the courses a student takes/ may take, schedule, teachers, homework, news, etc. The same works for teachers.
Virtual classrooms. The LMS can be integrated with virtual classroom solutions and a calendar to invite, remind, and notify the participants of the course schedule.
Chats, forums, or any other means of communication to ensure a real-time and uninterrupted connection between LMS users.
Online assessment. As tests are an integral part of learning, multiple test-related functions are a must for any learning management system. Built-in test templates (multiple choice answer, drag-and-drop order, true or false/ yes or no, essay, etc.) are a good point to start with the possibility to randomize the questions, set different time frames, store and process the results.
Attendance tracking.
Reports according to the various data sets, with the ability to export and present the information graphically.
Tutorials and templates to teach teachers and students to use the system.
Customization option.
Basic components of learning management systems
Up-to-date LMSs use the latest tech developments to improve the quality of distance learning, engage students more, and meet ever-changing user demand.
Cloud computing
Easy access from any gadget, pay as you go model, and high efficiency are only the obvious advantages of cloud technologies.
Due to the complexity, e-learning systems usually require much hardware and software resources. Many educational institutions can’t afford it, so cloud computing becomes the best solution for them.
Cloud computing allows saving files over the internet instead of managing them on a local storage device. So it’s much easier for teachers to give students (or vice versa) access to these files, the only thing they should have is an internet connection.
Besides, all users of LMS get instant access to the real-time updates made in a system by other participants.
Chatbots
Chatbots can be applied for both solving the challenges of e-education quicker than by phone or email and guiding through the e-learning system use.
In the first case, AI and machine learning based chatbots create the interactive experience during e-learning similar to face-to-face interaction with a teacher. They learn as well as a student does, enhancing the efficiency of the e-education process.
Besides, chatbots offer significant personalization options, as they are able to adapt to a student’s speed of learning without being too pushy.
In a learning environment, bots play the role of guide, explaining and illustrating the principles of a specific LMS to students.
Chatbots may also be built to provide technical support to LMS users. For this purpose, scripted chatbots with answers to frequently asked questions will work out. The option to create a support ticket or contact a real person in case a user can’t find the answer to his/ her questions among the predefined Q&A set is also a good practice.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
The rise of AI and machine learning technology empowers education including integration into e-learning platforms. AI helps teachers and students personalize education, increasing the motivation and efficiency of online learning.
The major features enabled by AI integration:
Tracking students’ behavior. AI allows collecting data on class attendance and assignments submission automatically, identifying the students who’ve faced difficulties while taking their course. This data helps teachers provide adequate support before a student will permanently lose motivation.
Grading. Although AI can’t fully replace the teacher, it may make the time-consuming grading process easier by calculating test results and displaying students’ performance indicators.
Personalization. AI is able to define and adapt to student’s personal learning characteristics, offering him/ her the tasks according to his/ her level of the knowledge thereby solving the inequality problems in a classroom.
Recommendations. Based on student behavior, preferences, and learning statistics, AI may recommend additional resources such as podcasts, movies, books, & more, re-engaging in such a way and generating a deeper interest in a subject.
Mobile learning
According to Statista, the number of smartphone users surpasses 3 billion and will reach 3,5 billion worldwide.
Benefits of using mobile apps for e-learning are obvious:
Instant access to study materials at any place and time. The idea of learning new information on the go is wonderfully seductive taking into account the way we live & work. A student is free to choose the best time to check the course-related information, do his/ her assignment, or reach out to a teacher.
Quick access to real-time information. If any changes are applied, the notification will be sent directly to his / her smartphone.
Better engagement. If you compare textbook learning and learning using a quiz app, for example, the last results in better student engagement and faster learning speed.
Limitless gamification opportunity.
Easy update and deploy of mobile apps for e-learning providers. A mobile app may be a supplement to a learning management system or a stand-alone method of e-education, built in a relatively short time.
Gamification in e-learning
Gamification is about using visual storytelling, game mechanics, and thinking in educational systems to drive engagement & retention of learners. Besides, both web and mobile apps can be gamified for e-learning.
Gamification does not equal playing games, it only takes the game elements to apply in a learning environment to increase student motivation and learning performance. I’ve found two killing examples of “right” gamified applications in e-education that are used now by thousands of students (& their parents) worldwide.
Gamification example
Web:
Math platform Prodigy. The children were given access to MMORPG accounts with the quests in a form of math assignments. Children level characters and craft items while boosting essential math skills.
Change your apprentice appearance
Choose your pet
Battle with opponent
Manage math assignments
Type the correct answer to win
Choose the location to play with friends
Get engaged by the amazing storytelling
Children are highly engaged in learning: they discuss the achievements, share the friend codes, and visit one another in the virtual space.
Prodigy
allows children to stay connected without violating self-isolation instructions.
train math skills.
engages children using appealing storytelling.
communicates the value of education in an unobtrusive manner.
Web & mobile:
Language learning app Duolingo. Although Duolingo has a web version as well, the mobile app is in higher demand, as it gives more flexibility to a learner.
Bite-sized lessons
Mini stories
Theory before the lesson
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Both web- and mobile-based applications can be used to provide an awesome online learning experience to students depending on learning goals.
Learning management systems are a powerful tool to deliver high-quality e-learning to students. Combined with gamified learning apps and the right approach, e-learning can engage students even more than an offline course. Today, when online education goes viral, our main task is to make the most of it, helping students adapt and learn efficiently in the time of uncertainty, coping with mental and emotional loads.
The spread of COVID-19 has forced millions of students and teachers to move their communication online. The schools are closed until further notice and we have to adapt to a new lifestyle. Teachers and administrators are working hard during lockdown trying to keep students on track, shifting to online learning within the shortest time.
Although technology evolution now allows many things we haven’t believed possible, the shift to e-learning doesn’t go as smoothly as we want it to be. Facing the pitfalls of digital learning may be discouraging and frustrating both for teachers and students.
That’s why the Jellyfish.tech team is about to research and discuss the most common virtual learning challenges and the possible ways of addressing them.
The teachers are supposed to move their classes online right away having no additional training and extra budget.
A comprehensive learning management systems usually cost an arm and a leg, so teachers have to use numerous digital tools to deliver e-learning.
They start their day by opening multiple tabs for multiple purposes, switching between them.
They attend virtual school, parents, and student meetings, trying to handle the amount of information we’re facing right now and decide on the teaching strategy.
They should grade the assignments coming from different places.
They stay online 10 hours per day to clean up this mess, set up, streamline the processes making online learning more efficient. And this isn’t the full list of challenges in online teaching.
Solution. Unfortunately, many schools weren’t prepared for moving classes online. In this situation, the burden is put on teachers to adapt themselves and their students to a new way of learning. Honestly, all we can do is to encourage you to stay brave and advise some free tools to organize your workplace.
In case there is no option to use an LMS, we recommend trying Notion to bring all your digital working tools together on one platform. The plans start from free (enough to cover the basic needs) to $4 and $8 (for teams).
With 50+ templates for different spheres, you will be able to organize & streamline the processes quickly and get down to work.
Gadgets shortage & crashing systems
Not every student & teacher has a personal gadget to use for online learning. Many of them are supposed to share the laptops and computers with their parents, sisters/ brothers to stay on track.
Another problem everyone’s faced is a computer crash that usually happens at the most unexpected moment.
Solution. Teachers and students have been mostly given a laptop to use during the quarantine, and no strict time frames are defined for having the assignments done (in case the families should share the gadgets). Following the lead of some countries, lectures may be appearing on TV to make them accessible to a wider audience.
Connectivity
Millions of people around the world are experiencing technical difficulties because of the high usage rate of online learning systems, video streaming software, & other digital tools. The platforms are overloaded: poor quality video and audio, internet problems. Internet connection is either unstable or the current data plan is not enough to cover the progressive e-learning needs. Students in both urban and rural areas are struggling with the “homework gap”. Teachers are trying to manage the bad internet connection during the online lessons.
Solution? Unfortunately, little can be done to resolve the connectivity problem when everyone goes online. Calling your provider and seeking advice can work out in some cases, as well as upgrading your current Internet plan or hoping for 5G coverage. However, the sad truth is we all have to adapt to a slow Internet speed amid the coronavirus lockdown and learn to live with it.
Computer literacy
It’s hard for teachers, students, and parents to start using a learning management system or any other digital tool out of nowhere without additional training. They could be overwhelmed by the amount of data they deal with trying to go digital, as well as frustrated facing the unknown.
Solution. An additional class of computer literacy for both teachers and students is always a good idea. Besides, many digital tool providers offer customer support as well as a large learning base to their users to get armed with tutorials.
Adjusting of online courses to deaf or hard of hearing students
The deaf and hard-of-hearing students were taken from their offline classes with interpreters and put home with poor ability to adjust the remote learning to their needs as well as amplify these adjustments. Provided that online learning is already a kind of challenge for the students, those deaf or hard of hearing facing a double problem multiplying the chances of falling behind.
Solution. Students can be provided with the lesson script, typically made by teachers as supportive material for each lesson. Video transcription is another way to reach out to the deaf or hard of hearing students, automating the process by using voice-to-text applications. Another idea is to choose the motion-picture based material for the lessons, which will keep all students more engaged. Finally, AI-powered personal assistants may become real helpers teaching students with special needs.
Data privacy
From the very beginning of the school shutdown, teachers and students have been connected using multiple digital tools without paying due attention to the amount and nature of the personal data they collect. Reaching the main objective of a quick transition to online learning, we had to neglect our privacy, especially when large e-learning software suppliers offer temporary free subscription plans.
The recent case of Zoom, a remote conference services company that has appeared to store all video conference recordings on storage space without a password, proves we have to thoughtfully approach choosing the digital tools for online learning delivery.
Solution. Finding a balance between a quicker move to online learning and data security prioritization isn’t an easy thing. Although the companies make generous partnership offers to the teachers & students, data privacy advocates recommend using only those products which don’t use students’ data for any purpose beyond the educational one. Getting into a partnership between schools and companies is undesirable without signing a contract with a clear explanation concerning the data they collect & use.
Security
The covid-19 outbreak, as well as any other crisis, is a fertile ground for cyber criminals, unleashing the wave of cyber attacks. Keeping sensitive data from being stolen is a number one priority for digital tools that help deliver e-learning.
Solution. Starting to use an application, we can’t be 100% sure our data will be kept safe. However, it’s still within our power to be careful about the data we disclose on the Internet. We could avoid or at least reduce the risk guided by the simple rules, which remain relevant at any time:
Don’t use suspicious websites and applications;
Don’t follow the suspicious links;
Be attentive when open emails from unknown senders (mission impossible for teachers who receive dozens of emails per day from co-workers, students, or parents);
Update your software regularly.
For those who want to know more, National Cyber Security Alliance has launched the COVID-19 Security Resource Library to help users get up-to-date information concerning privacy and security safely.
Isolation
This rather psychological factor is still highly affecting students’ motivation and learning progress. Being in the classroom, students got used to instant eye-to-eye communication with each other allowing reacting together, sharing the experience, joking, & making non-verbal contact, strengthening social skills. For many students, a classroom has been a kind of sanctuary, which is now taken away. It’s not a surprise most of them feel isolated, scared by the pandemic, parents’ job loss, friends’ disconnection.
Solution. Education is not only about gaining knowledge, it’s also about the interaction between students and teachers. In today’s world, teachers’ responsibility is not only to provide e-learning but support the students, stay connected, and keep the integrity within the classroom as well. Show your students you are open to communication. Keep the lessons simple. Be kind when grading assignments. Find time to discuss students’ concerns about the current world situation during the lesson. Ask each student how you can help. Tell them how you’re dealing with the current situation. We understand how hard it is to encourage the students and how responsible the role of a teacher is. Please keep calm and stay optimistic?
Lack of interaction
During online lectures, it’s hard to keep students engaged without a teacher’s physical presence and face-to-face contact. Moreover, a key concern is connected to science labs (physics, chemistry, etc.), impossible to put into practice without in-person instructions and courses relying mostly on hands-on work (i.e. nursing, art classes).
Solution. There are many ways to engage students during the online lessons: PowerPoint presentations, short videos, quizzes, on-the-go recordings, gamification, bite-size learning… Ensuring constant contact: tracking the progress and giving feedback is another step to keeping each student engaged. Referring to science labs, studentsmay use scientific modeling and simulation applications to gain practical experience.
Besides, maybe the time has come for us to review the classic relations between teachers and students, approaching a “fair trade-off”: the first have knowledge of the subject to share, the second can make the most of gadgets. Why not seek the support of your students? Sincere interest in what students are doing engages them even more than any interactive teaching strategy.
LMS imperfections
Not understanding the psychology of teaching and learning and not understanding how teachers and students really work during LMS creation is one of the cornerstone problems of the industry.
Solution. Building a good LMS is possible only under the guidance and with the help of a learning consultant with teaching experience. Conducting multiple interviews with teachers and students, researching the social, psychological, and personal teaching aspects is a must when working on an LMS creation.
Bottom Line
In-depth research made by the Jellyfish.tech team revealed the major problems in the e-learning system and the possible solutions. We are still determined to help teachers & students around the world adapt to new learning conditions based on our edtech expertise.
The world is changing. Today’s crisis has opened the door to new opportunities:
giving a leading role to students;
achieving new standards of online learning
using gadgets not only for fun, but to get something new by taking online courses, joining the relevant community for the experience exchange, or accessing the free information sources
Together, we’ll be able to get a handle on the mess a shift to e-learning seems to make and find the most efficient approaches to digital learning.
AI in Education: How to Transform Learning Experience
Our intelligence is what makes us human, and AI is an extension of that quality.
Yann LeCun Professor, New York University
Artificial Intelligence is a branch of science producing and studying the machines aimed at the stimulation of human intelligence processes.
The main objective of AI is to optimize the routine processes improving their speed and efficiency (provided it has been implemented and supported properly).
As a result, a number of companies adopting AI continues to grow worldwide.
According to Research and Markets, “The analysts forecast the Artificial Intelligence Market in the US Education Sector to grow at a CAGR of 47.77% during the period 2018-2022.”
AI tools mostly comply with three basic principles:
Learning (acquiring and processing the new experience, creating new behavior models);
Self-correction (refining the algorithmsto ensure the most accurate results);
Reasoning (picking up the specific algorithms to resolve a specific task).
And are presented in four basic forms:
The forms of AI in the first row are incapable of learning from their experience. Source: PwC AI Report
Regarding the big opportunities, AI tools open for every sector including the educational one, the adoption of the technology seems to be one of the most promising ways to transform the organizations.
Global adoption of technology in education is transforming the way we teach and learn. Artificial Intelligence is one of the disruptive techniques to customize the experience of different learning groups, teachers, & tutors.
This is how artificial intelligence tools may be applied to improve study processes:
Personalize education
Artificial intelligence helps find out what a student does and does not know, building a personalized study schedule for each learner considering the knowledge gaps. In such a way, AI tailors studies according to student’s specific needs, increasing their efficiency.
To do it, many companies train their AIs armed by the Knowledge Space Theory to define and represent the knowledge gaps, taking into account the complexity of scientific concepts relations between each other (one can stimulate the learning of another or become a basis for filling in the gap).
This is how it looks like:
Knowledge structure
Family of sets in Knowledge Space Theory
Produce smart content
Digital lessons. Digital learning interfaces with the customization options, digital textbooks, study guides, bite-sized lessons, and much more can be generated with the help of AI.
Information visualization. New ways of perceiving information, such as visualization, simulation, web-based study environments can be powered by AI.
Learning content updates. Besides, AI helps generate and update the content of the lessons keeping the information up-to-date and customizing it for different learning curves.
Contribute to task automation
Administrative tasks simplification: grading, assessing, and replying to students is a time-consuming activity that could be optimized by the teacher using AI.
Do you remember the hints Gmail provides in the messages you compose based on the overview of your current and past messages plus the business vocabulary essentials? It would be great to have such an option on any learning management system or learning platform envisaging the feedback.
AI-powered grading tool could be trained to display the information on the learning progress of each student
Entrusting a set of routine tasks to AI helps teachers make room for something more important: concentrate on grading the assignments impossible to delegate to artificial intelligence, self-education, upgrading the quality of the lessons.
Do tutoring
Continuously evolving personal study programs take into account student’s gaps to fill during individual lessons.
Personal tutoring and support for the students outside of the classroom help learners keep up with the course and keep their parents from struggling to explain algebra to their kids.
AI tutors are great time-savers for the teachers, as they do not need to spend time on extra explaining the challenging topics to students.
With AI-powered chatbots or AI virtual personal assistants, students can avoid being embarrassed asking for additional help in front of their friends.
Ensure access to education for students with special needs
The adoption of innovative AI technologies opens new ways of interacting for students with learning disabilities.
Artificial intelligence tools can be successfully trained to help any group of students with special needs.
Benefits of AI for students
24/7 access to learning
With AI helpers based online, students always have access to learning. They are free to plan their day without being linked to a specific place. They can study on-the-go, at any place and time they want. They can build their schedule based on their most productive hours.
Better engagement
Individualized schedules, custom tasks, interaction with digital technologies, and personal recommendations are the part of the personal approach each student gets using AI. Besides, a personal approach helps students feel special, increasing their engagement, and raising interest in studies in such a way.
Less pressure
Lessons tailored to the needs of different learning groups allow students to stop comparing them to each other. Earlier, a student should have asked a teacher for help in front of the class. Now, it’s enough to type a query using a personal virtual assistant and get an instant explanation.
These opportunities offered by AI tools make personal progress come to the fore, reducing the pressure in the classroom. Less pressure means less stress and more enthusiasm to study.
How to start implementing AI
If you’re considering AI as an option to customize the learning experience, these steps will help you to plan your project.
Identify your needs and AI technologies.
The starting point of implementing any technology is the identification of the pain points this technology can address and resolve. Find the system bottlenecks and research the ways AI offers to optimize these processes.
Determine the strategic objectives of AI transformation in your organization.
Determine your appetite: do you want to be an early adopter or the follower? Which technologies will fit your company best? Are you aware of the AI drawbacks and how are you going to address them? The completion of which business objectives should AI technology contribute to? Based on responses to these questions, you should develop a cost-benefit analysis for AI automation and augmentation.
Make the right culture, talent, and technology meet.
To make the most of the AI tools, you should not only choose the right team to adopt the technology but also create the right environment driven by analytical insights and focused on actionable decisions on all organizational levels.
Smart ways to control the outcome of AI transformation.
Creating an environment for both human beings and AI to work side-by-side, it’s important to ensure the processes transparency and keep pace with the key considerations and metrics of AI adoption. Based on the custom characteristics of your organization and type of AI implemented, decide on the performance indicators to track, security concerns to keep under control, and technical ecosystems to support.
Personalized Learning Made Possible with AI
If you’re keeping up with the global trends, you know: personalization is everywhere. The main advantage of AI is the possibility to train it to perform a long list of tasks, offering in such a way a personalized approach to education. It’s a universal solution to get a set of tools tailored to the specific needs of learners and educators to optimize their routine, increase efficiency, improve accessibility, & scale the processes.
Jellyfish.tech is sure every disruptive technology of today, every buzzword, should be used for society’s good. We are happy to live in the world, where the wildest dreams about the machines helping humans perform everyday tasks may come true. And if earlier we should have paid $$$$$ to integrate Artificial Intelligence in the company’s strategy, now the technology becomes more and more accessible for the wide range of organizations in multiple sectors. You even shouldn’t be an AI expert, as we will take care of every detail.
Want to know how AI can be used in your organization? Let’s discuss it during a free consultation.
How to Improve Usability of a Learning Management System
88% of online users are less likely to return to a website after a bad user experience. Of course, it’s good to have an option to leave and never return on the websites offering a poor UX. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible if we are talking about learning management systems. Teachers and students rarely have a choice, especially today when most of us either study online or use the hybrid learning model. So, adding extra functionality in addition to the basic features of an LMS could really make a difference for your users and attract the new ones.
Not understanding how teachers & students really work while creating a learning management system is one of the main e-learning challenges. The team of Jellyfish.tech has brainstormed how to improve the usability of LMSs, offering small tips & tricks based on our edtech experience.
There are several ways to provide easy access to the learning management system. We could give students personalized access details after entering the university (i.e. universal email including student’s name and surname plus university name) to use as a login to the LMS. Therefore, making it easier to communicate with other students and teachers having the emails based on the same principle). Alternatively, we may implement the login using Facebook, Google, Microsoft account credentials, or Apple ID.
Example of different login options
Social networks integration
The value of social networks is hard to underestimate. The new generation is used to getting all the information and updates from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. To reach a bigger audience, and increase the efficiency of communication between universities/schools and students, we do recommend integrating the learning management system with social networks.
Duplicating university-, college-, or school-wide announcements to the social networks you choose for your educational establishment is a good option to cover a larger audience, increasing the chances of being heard.
Social networks can also become a good helper for future students during high ed admission campaigns, as an alternative to the website-based announcement. Besides, providing the step-by-step admission guide & the possibility to integrate these steps with the Google calendar will get you hundreds of loyal young people. The major part of which would prefer your university/ college other things being equal.
Calendar integration
It would be great to integrate a student’s schedule with the Google calendar or its alternative. The main idea is to set up a series of reminders (notifications) to urge students to start working on the assignment and pass it on time.
Integration of an LMS with an online calendar
Access to a knowledge base
It would be great if a learning management system includes access to online libraries and scientometric databases. Elsevier, Scopus, Springer, Socrates-Impulse… In such a way, students will have free access to all the educational material they need during their studies.
Video calls with video-to-text converter
How great would it be if both teachers and students shouldn’t go to a third-party service to have a video call? Even better would it be if they get the automatically generated notes after each call! That’s why video conferencing with an in-built voice-to-text converter is among the top features of a good LMS.
The Jellyfish.tech team has experience in adding this functionality to another edtech-related project — an online tutoring marketplace. And yes, it’s not the easiest part of the application to implement. However, it’s still worth it: the video calls with the transcription became one of the “killer” features loved by users.
Incentives
Together, we could choose the best way to encourage your students regarding their age, specialization, and subjects. Here are the most common options:
Kudos (badges) templates and a possibility to tailor them to your students’ needs;
A set of sounds integrated into the system to turn on during the lesson after a brilliant response (i.e. fanfare;
A trophy board with funny students’ photos.
Students’ progress analytics
In-built student analytics is an easy way to see the students’ attendance, monitor their progress, and manage their grades. We can implement the feature in many forms from the dashboard to the grade book, giving a possibility to track students’ progress in one place without switching between the tabs:
Multiple grade display types for different assignments: percentage, letter grades, GPA scale, points, complete/ incomplete can be included.
A graph to display the achievement statistics on a specific assignment.
An individual achievement graph to see the progress of a specific student.
Example of a students’ analytics dashboard
Internal messaging
A possibility for students and teachers to communicate without leaving the learning management system is a good way to keep the focus and avoid distractions. Besides, having all the messages concerning your studies in one place minimizes the risks of missing something important and discovering it in a spam folder a year later.
Example of an internal messaging system
Task tracker
For both students & teachers, it’s hard to set up & track the progress of dozens of tasks. Task tracker is a smart tool to help distribute the study load/workload properly and manage time. For senior students, the task tracker will be a good helper while working on their coursework or dissertation.
Splitting up the large pieces of work into smaller ones, creating the stages of paper completion with the possibility to upload the result for review, setting up the time frames for each stage, and getting the teacher’s feedback right in the task tracker is a good option not to get lost in the study avalanche. With the possibility to list the blockers, preventing students from the completion of any assignment stage right away, the task tracker will become a powerful time management tool.
Teachers, who are now overwhelmed by the number of tasks that should be done and the number of assignments to be reviewed, would be excited to bring all to-dos together in one place.
For younger learners, the simplified version of the task tracker will come in handy with the possibility to check the schedule and add the homework assignments to the dashboard.
Example of task tracker
Mobile compatibility
Guided by the mobile-first approach, every web platform should be visible on mobile devices.
If we’re talking about sophisticated and high-functioning platforms, which is what learning management systems are, adaptive design is not enough. We should either use responsive design to ensure a good user experience or create a separate version for mobile platforms.
To build a mobile version of an LMS, we should conduct usability research based on using similar platforms. We should take into account the differences in the usage of devices, including their basic features and differences in their usage.
It is also important to think about the mobile compatibility of the learning materials (courses, presentations, etc.) uploaded by teachers.
LMS usability for kids
If earlier the schoolchildren had a chance to face the application of the education technologies only in the classroom, now they all study remotely disregarding the age.
It’s evident that the user experience of university learning management systems and school LMS (elementary, middle school). Starting from the designs to the overall system complexity & usability.
Although today’s children have gained significant proficiency in using the Internet & gadgets, we still have to rely on a different approach to usability. Brighter colors, bigger fonts, simpler interface, less reading, and more visual content, a funny helper to guide children through an LMS functionality are the usability features that are on the surface. To dig deeper, user research and usability studies are required.
Wrapping up
The ultimate goal of any product is to solve users’ pain points, which is impossible without ongoing and thorough user research. When it comes to learning management systems, we’re talking about targeting both techies and non-techies (teachers, younger learners); it means constant support, optimization, and simplification of the product adapting to ever-changing user requirements. Working on a learning management system involves a process of continual improvement adding the new features and upgrading the existing ones to make the working routine of teachers & students easier.
In addition, distance learning and mass digitization of education is a good way to start using the Internet & gadgets not for fun only but for gaining knowledge, mastering new skills, and practicing. Good training for school-aged children, their parents, and teachers to learn using technology. A good chance for students to discover the basic principles of self-education. A switch to online learning may become a basis of mutual trust, respect, and experience-sharing for students and teachers, and our task is to help society adapt to the global changes.
E-learning platform development: why embrace e-learning in your organization
The e-learning industry is expanding rapidly over the world. According to a recent report, the e-learning market is expected to reach $457.8 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%.
This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the expanding availability of high-speed Internet connections, the rising popularity of online learning platforms, and the increasing usage of mobile devices.
Aside from that, as a part of an edtech industry, the e-learning market is expected to be fueled by continued growth in the corporate sector, as companies increasingly use e-learning for employee training and development.
Today, there are a variety of e-learning platforms available, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Some of the most popular include Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare. These platforms offer a wide range of courses, from programming to business and design. In this article, we will go over some critical aspects of building an e-learning platform and use one of our online education projects as an illustration of what can be accomplished in this area.
E-learning platforms are web-based applications that allow users to access and interact with learning content and materials.
There are numerous types of e-learning platforms available. Some are designed for use in corporate training programs, while others are more general and can be used for a variety of purposes. Here are a few of the most common types of online learning platforms:
1. Learning Management Systems (LMS): These platforms are designed specifically for managing and delivering online learning programs. They typically include features like course creation and management tools, user tracking and reporting, and integration with other HR systems.
2. Virtual Classroom Software: Such platforms provide a virtual space for instructors and students to interact and collaborate. They often include features like video conferencing, chat, and whiteboard tools.
3. Collaborative Learning Platforms: These kinds of platforms are designed to facilitate collaboration and interaction between learners. They typically include features like forums, chat, and wikis.
4. Social Learning Platforms: These platforms use social media features to facilitate learning. They often include features like blogs, discussion forums, and user-generated content.
5. Content Management Systems (CMS): This type of platform is designed for creating and managing digital learning content. They typically include features like content authoring tools, content management tools, and integration with other learning platforms.
Choosing the right e-learning platform for your needs depends on a number of factors, including the type of learning content you want to deliver, the level of interactivity you require, and your budget.
How to start creating an online learning platform?
As organizations increasingly look to adopt online learning solutions, they are turning to e-learning outsourcing development to help them save time and money. By partnering with an experienced e-learning development company, organizations can get their solutions up and running quickly and efficiently.
When selecting an e-learning development partner, it is important to choose a company with a proven track record in delivering quality edtech solutions. The company should also have a robust development process so that you can be confident that your product will be delivered on time and on budget.
Overall, the development of e-learning platforms is a complex process, involving the creation of digital content, the design and construction of the platform itself, and the integration of various technologies. However, the rewards of building a successful e-learning platform are well worth the effort — well-designed software can provide learners with a rich and engaging learning experience and can give educators a powerful tool for delivering their courses.
When creating an e-learning platform, there are several factors to consider.
The first step is to identify the users’ needs and requirements. What information do they require? What features and tools must they be able to use? What level of interactivity and engagement are they looking for?
Once the users’ needs have been identified, the next step is to choose the appropriate technology.
The third step is to develop the platform. This includes designing the interface, creating the content, and testing the platform to ensure that it is user-friendly and functional.
After the platform has been established, it is crucial to promote it to users. Social media, word-of-mouth marketing, and communications efforts can all be used to achieve this.
Therefore, by identifying the needs of the users and selecting the right technology, businesses and educational institutions can greatly leverage e-learning web development and achieve their strategic goals.
Benefits of custom e-learning platform development
Custom e-learning development can be a challenge, but it can also be a very rewarding experience. Today, it has almost become a must for businesses: for instance, more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies regularly and extensively use e-learning.
The process of custom e-learning development involves creating a learning program that is tailored to the specific needs of a particular organization or individual. This process typically begins with a needs assessment, which is used to identify the specific learning goals and objectives that need to be addressed.
Once these goals and objectives have been identified, a custom online learning solution can be designed and developed. This solution can include a variety of different elements, such as instructional content, assessment tools, and learning activities.
Jellyfish.tech offers a free consultation with our edtech development team that can assist you in determining the best way to develop and deliver your content, and how to integrate it with your existing learning management system. Our team has extensive experience in designing and developing e-learning platforms and can advise you on the latest trends and technologies.
Whatever your reasons, an e-learning website can be a great way to achieve your business goals.
Some benefits of an online learning platform include:
Reaching a global audience
Thanks to the internet, organizations can reach a global audience with their e-learning platforms. In fact, many businesses are taking advantage of this opportunity by creating online training that is accessible anywhere in the world. The ability of companies to offer online learning programs has made it easier for employees to learn new skills or improve existing ones without having to leave their home office. This is especially important for companies that want their teams to be able to collaborate effectively while they are working remotely.
In general, custom e-learning development is a great way to promote your product or service to a wider audience, and it can also help you to build a more diverse customer base.
Providing a more flexible learning environment
First of all, e-learning can be used to train employees and make sure they are ready for new positions and tasks. It also allows your employees to access information from anywhere and anytime without having to stop working.
Typically, an e-learning website gives you the ability to offer a wide range of courses and learning materials, which can be tailored to the needs of your audience. The platform also allows learners to track their progress and ensure that they are receiving the best possible education. This way, online learning increases employee engagement because it provides them with greater control over their learning experience than they would have in a traditional classroom setting.
Cutting business expenses
E-learning web development can save you on costs associated with traditional classroom instruction, such as renting space, buying materials, and hiring instructors.
Expenses can also be reduced by using e-learning software for all aspects of training, including onboarding new hires, training current employees, and providing ongoing training for employees who need to keep up with changes in their jobs. Employees will also appreciate having access to their company’s learning resources at any time, making it easier for them to learn new skills and stay current on changes within the company or industry they work in. Besides this, 42% of organizations report that e-learning has significantly increased their revenue.
E-learning is a tool that can be used to help organizations get an edge in the market. When it comes to implementing online learning options, this means that the organization will be able to provide their employees with a better quality of education and training, which in turn will allow them to become more productive and efficient.
This is especially true when an organization’s goal is to provide its employees with the most up-to-date information on a particular subject or industry. E-learning allows for this because it offers the ability for employees to learn at their own pace, which can help them stay focused on what they need to learn instead of trying to cram everything into one sitting.
Our expertise: edtech marketplace development
The Jellyfish.tech team has worked on an online education project which has risen in popularity during the pandemic. The team has done several pieces of research in the e-learning industry, guided by the best UX practices.
The delivered platform connects learners and experts in a single environment. The end goal is to enable these experts to make money by chatting with people and helping them solve problems using their expert knowledge and advice. This is a great way for people to monetize their skills and experience, and it also provides a valuable service to those who need help with specific issues. The platform is easy to use and provides a great service for both experts and those who need their expertise.
Here are some features that our edtech application has:
Verification system
Obtaining an expert status is impossible without uploading education certificates and undergoing verification to demonstrate credibility.
The support team manually verifies each user who claims to be an expert, reviewing their certificate(s) and work experience to confirm their status. As a result, students can be confident that they are communicating only with experts.
Internal messaging with a built-in billing
To purchase credits ($1 equals one credit) for expert consultations via chat or video calls, a student makes a deposit.
This system’s usage of WebSockets technology enables users to receive notifications of new chat messages, chat requests, video call confirmations, etc. pretty promptly.
Video calls
Chat with an expert allows video calling and the option to share the screen, in the case that a student needs in-depth assistance.
We’ve implemented the video to text convert tool for the convenience of both experts and students alike: your video conference speech can be automatically converted to text.
Chat with an expert with a voice-to-text mode on
Chatbot
A chatbot could supplement or perhaps fully replace a human onboarding a new user by explaining the features and functionality of the system and how to use them. With the help of chatbots, pop-ups, and tooltips, your employees will be able to spend less time on mundane tasks like onboarding a new employee and more time on strategic initiatives.
Knowledge base
We have made the structure of our knowledge base similar to the wiki functionality found on Wikipedia. Users can easily navigate through the platform to find answers to frequently asked questions, check out terms and conditions, and learn more about our company and products. This wiki-inspired structure makes it easy for users to find the information they need when they need it.
Integrations
Today’s applications do not operate in a vacuum; to provide the optimal user experience, we must create integrations with the daily services our clients utilize.
Following a brief discussion, we’ve chosen to integrate with:
Online calendars (Google, Calendly) to provide the ability to schedule calls, chats, make reminders, select the due date for tasks, etc.
Online storage (Google, Dropbox).
Social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook) to facilitate social sharing.
Real-time statistics dashboard
Dashboard to keep up with the platform’s statistics
Jellyfish.tech’s development team built a real-time dashboard with graphs and charts to display the platform’s user base’s quantitative data.
The dashboard is used to monitor things like the number of experts online, their ratings, the percentage of successful students, the most popular courses, and so on. The statistics dashboard was developed using d3.js and other data visualization frameworks in conjunction with Angular.
Taskboard
We have designed a simplistic task tracker that is useful for both experts and novices. The board used to add current tasks, modify their statuses (to-do, in-progress, completed), and set due dates and reminders.
Mobile application
This is how expert and learner profile looks like on the mobile app
We were able to launch an MVP of our mobile app in just five weeks and iteratively improve it thereafter.
When choosing our MVP development service, you focus on launching a product with only the essential features. This significantly reduces development time and costs. And because you’re getting the product out there quickly, you’re able to get feedback from users and see what features they actually need and want. This helps you avoid adding features that are unnecessary and simply add to the development costs.
Content management
To facilitate on-platform content administration, we implemented fundamental CMS features.
The ability to construct, administer, and distribute all types of tests, as well as add the articles or upload any supplemental materials, such as scientific works, manuals, and source materials, is a valuable tool for experts.
For students, this means being able to download and view files sent by subject matter experts and taking exams without ever having to leave the site.
Gamification
Gamification components assist both learners and specialists to remain motivated and boost platform loyalty. It was not our primary objective to gamify the platform, but minor game mechanics details relieve user stress and make them laugh:
Funny badges and levels for experts and learners;
Incentives for a good job;
Personalization allows users to express themselves.
Jellyfish.tech’s online education marketplace was ahead of its time when it was first developed, but the pandemic only served to increase the platform’s popularity.
Since our software is built on a modular framework, we can easily implement new features in response to user feedback and industry developments. It’s possible to use this model in any area.
This endeavor demonstrates that education need not be complicated, that an e-learning program may be user-friendly, and that students can easily interact with subject-matter experts.
Signs your organization needs an e-learning platform
E-learning is one of the most cost-effective ways to train your staff. Yet, it can be difficult to manage if you are using more than one platform. If you’re looking to centralize your online learning and make it easier for your team, you need an e-learning development service that allows you to manage all of your courses in one place.
Here are some signs that your organization needs to create an online learning platform:
1. You have a large team that needs training on multiple topics.
When your team is large and needs training on multiple topics, it can be difficult to keep track of which employees have been trained in what areas. You want to make sure that each employee has the knowledge they need to do their job well, but it can be hard to know who’s up-to-date on current trends and best practices — especially when you’re managing a large team.
2. You have multiple departments or divisions within the company that need separate training programs.
This is a common challenge. If you have different departments or divisions within your company that need separate training programs, then it’s important to keep in mind that the design of these programs should reflect the unique needs of each group.
For example, if you have a sales team and an operations team within your company, it might make sense for the sales team to receive training on how to conduct cold calls and close deals while the operations team is learning about inventory management. This way, both groups can get what they need from their training program without having to worry about competing with one another for resources or attention from their manager.
3. Your currently available full-time training options cannot meet demand.
As your company grows, your training needs will change. In many cases, the current full-time training options available to you will not meet demand. An e-learning platform can provide a more flexible and cost-effective way to train employees, as well as reduce the number of time workers spend away from their teams and customers.
4. You don’t have a streamlined system in place to oversee company-wide training sessions.
Not having a streamlined system to oversee company-wide training sessions means that you are missing out on an enormous opportunity to engage your employees and improve their performance. Therefore, to enhance the way your team works together and make sure they are all on the same page, you need to implement an e-learning platform.
5. Constantly evolving methods and tools at work that necessitate prompt dissemination to staff.
When your organization is constantly evolving, it is a must to keep pace with new methods and tools. This means that staff needs to be trained on new information as soon as it is available. An e-learning software allows disseminating the new information quickly, which makes sure that everyone is always up-to-date about what is going on in their work environment.
6. You have budget constraints.
It’s a simple fact: if you have a limited budget, you’re going to want to use it wisely. And that means finding ways to cut costs on things that aren’t essential, like high-cost training programs or expensive equipment. An online learning platform is a great way to do that — it can save your company money by cutting out the cost of travel, accommodations, and other expenses associated with traditional training methods.
Online educational platforms also provide flexibility, letting companies train employees at times when they’re most likely to be available, rather than forcing them into a set schedule that does not work for everyone’s schedule. This lets employees take time off when they need it without making their employer pay more money for them being away from work.
Challenges in the development of e-learning platform
There are many challenges that come with building an online educational platform. For one, it is important to have a robust and user-friendly website that can handle a large volume of traffic. Additionally, the platform must be able to support a variety of different media types (e.g. videos, images, text), and be accessible on a variety of devices (e.g. computers, tablets, smartphones).
Another challenge is ensuring that the content on the platform is of high quality and engaging for users. This can be a challenge because it is often difficult to find quality content that is also appropriate for a wide range of users. Additionally, the content must be updated regularly to keep users coming back to the platform.
Finally, it is important to consider the cost of building and maintaining an online learning platform. This can be a significant challenge, especially for start-ups and small businesses. There are a number of ways to offset the cost of building an online educational platform, but it is important to consider all of the options before making a decision.
Cost of e-learning development
The cost of online learning platform development is not just the cost of developing the product itself, but also the cost of developing a strategy that will grow your business. The more you invest in e-learning, the more you can expect to see an increase in profits. This is because online learning helps your employees become more efficient at their jobs and helps them learn new skills.
The cost of developing an e-learning platform can vary depending on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of the platform, the features and functionality required, and the team of developers working on the project. Generally speaking, the cost of developing an online learning solution can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
Finally, the cost of developing an e-learning platform can also vary depending on the specific needs of the client. For example, a company that requires a very custom and specific platform will likely pay more for development than an enterprise that is looking for a more basic platform.
Conclusion: leveraging e-learning development services
Clearly, e-learning is not a fad, but rather a contemporary method for organizing the educational process. Future interest in this form of education will continue to grow, and the advancement of digital technologies will spur the introduction of new tools. People desire to acquire knowledge rapidly and engagingly, at a convenient location and on their timetable.
Creating online training materials is a very time-consuming task. In order to reduce the time spent on such tasks, it is a good idea to outsource this job to a team of e-learning development experts.
As an e-learning development company, Jellyfish.tech has a team of experts who have the required knowledge and experience to build interactive online training courses for your business. They have access to advanced online course-building tools and can also create unique online educational content for your business. Our e-learning development services can help your business increase its ROI on training and meet your training needs in an affordable, time-efficient manner.
Unlock a World of New Possibilities With Effective E-learning App Development
E-learning software has already revolutionized the way we see education. It offers a wide range of benefits for students or employees needing new knowledge, as well as for businesses and educational organizations looking for more efficient tools. For learners, these apps provide a convenient way to access training materials anytime and anywhere, even with no connection. This means that users can learn on their own time and at their own pace. E-learning apps also give students access to video tutorials, quizzes, training simulations, and other interactive elements that make learning more engaging and effective.
For educational institutions, choosing an e-learning tool as an option for their students is a faster way to deliver knowledge, which even leads to better information retention rates. It is also a win-win strategy for businesses. More and more enterprises are eager to invest in e-learning app development because sharing training materials via such apps requires fewer resources from both employers and their staff.
Today, we will discuss best practices for developing an engaging e-learning mobile app and its benefits for your business. We will also share details about our experience in this area to help you decide on specific requirements for your future custom-made edtech tool and discover ways to implement them.
What Do Users Look For in E-learning Mobile Apps in 2023?
E-learning app development gives organizations an opportunity to create content that captures the attention of learners. Through creative designs, animations and videos, developers can craft an experience that is not only engaging but also encourages lifelong learning by rewarding users for completing courses or tasks.
Propelled by the ever-increasing need for remote training tools and accelerating digital transformation of business, the market for e-learning software maintains steady growth. According to Straits Research, it is expected to reach USD 645 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 13%. One of the central roles here is also played by the greater adoption of mobile and IoT technologies that contribute to better connectivity and flexibility for remote workers and students.
So what are some of the most successful strategies to follow for creating edtech mobile software in 2023?
1. Enabling microlearning
This technique essentially means breaking large topics into more manageable modules. This makes it easier for a learner to stay focused in a modern dynamic environment that is oversaturated with information and distractions. Microlearning is built upon spaced repetition — a method that implies providing a person with the same content several times with adequate spaces between lessons.
Such a technique improves long-term comprehension rates and facilitates better engagement with e-learning software. For example, EdApp has proven that microlearning increased the completion rates for one of their modules from 15% to nearly 90%. Moreover, it works even better with on-demand design, when users can identify the spaces between repetitive lessons for themselves. This way, microlearning allows for customization of the studying process and leads to better results, even if a person spends minimum time on a training topic at a time.
2. Focusing on adaptive learning experience
Continuing the topic of customizing the flow of studying, it is important to mention that adaptive learning is at the very core of successful e-learning app development. Do you remember the times when you visited lectures and knew everything that a teacher was telling you about? Or even a worse scenario — when there was a huge gap between your current level of knowledge and the topic that was being discussed during a lesson? To avoid these situations, applications built with an adaptive learning approach in mind use a learner’s preferences, algorithms, and AI to provide them with tailored material that satisfies their unique needs.
Based on adaptive learning, edtech apps can also identify areas where students are struggling to provide them with targeted instructions exactly when they are most needed. All in all, this approach is proven to increase motivation and engagement by creating a more personalized experience than traditional broad-based methods.
3. Building a planned learning journey
This is vital for businesses, as continuous learning is one of the keys to a company’s success. Creating a planned learning journey means building a development plan for an employee that is based on the business strategy. It helps to align personal development goals of a team member with the objectives of an enterprise, fostering leadership and motivation.
Edtech apps that help plan the learning journey can also track the employee’s progress over time, provide different rewards and motivational messages and select relevant content to increase engagement. An excellent idea for such solutions is to include virtual coworking and content co-creation spaces where teams can work together online.
4. Adoption of AI
AI is already being used in many applications as a tool for improving the efficacy of e-learning. By using natural language processing (NLP) technologies, it can help create more engaging content that speaks to learners in their own language. AI-powered digital assistants or chatbots provide constant support for users of edtech software, which gives them relevant feedback whenever they choose to engage in their learning process.
Moreover, AI can be used in such software applications to detect the tonality and sentiment of user interactions with the content. This helps to receive insight into how students feel about their learning experience and how they respond to course material and activities. By detecting subtle changes in tone or sentiment, AI can also serve as a valuable tool to adjust course materials accordingly and ensure that learners remain engaged throughout their journey.
5. Incorporating VR/AR technology
With the help of Virtual and Augmented Reality, learners can be immersed in a simulation-based training experience and get the feeling of a real-life scenario. With a VR headset on, users can learn different movements that would be required in a real situation to improve precision and build muscle memory (e.g. for high-risk procedures like surgeries). On the other hand, AR serves to add elements that overlay a live view through the camera of your device. This technology is a great way to visualize complex objects and learn how to interact with them (e.g. to build a vehicle or any other machine).
VR/AR brings a gamification element to e-learning which makes it far more interactive and efficient. They offer practical ways to learn a topic, so one lesson with software powered by these technologies can be more efficient than dozens of traditional instructions.
6. Ensuring seamless mobile learning
Mobility is crucial for modern learners, it is a new norm. As for one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology, Ericsson, by 2028, the average monthly mobile data usage per smartphone is projected to reach 55 GB in North America, 54 GB in South Asia, and 52 GB in Western Europe. Caused by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spike in mobile data consumption will be further accelerated by the adoption of 5G technology. This gives us a clear understanding that however complex a software application is, it has to be optimized for mobile usage.
In terms of corporate education, mobile learning is a perfect option to reach remote workers, employees that are always on the go, and those who want to continue studying in their free time. Regardless of the device at hand (PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones), a learner is provided with the same quality of content across all of them.
Even though there are many aspects to consider during the development of a mobile edtech solution, an experienced team will always help you power your application with the most efficient technologies.
Which Tasks Can Your Business Solve With E-learning Mobile App Development?
There are many signs your company needs a custom-made application for training employees. For example, if your business has an advanced organizational structure and each department needs a separate training course to cover all workflows and tools, universal third-party edtech tools may not meet all your requirements. One more reason to consider the development of a unique e-learning application is the constant introduction of innovations. If you upgrade your procedures on a regular basis and often incorporate new technologies and software solutions to streamline your business processes, your team will benefit from a customizable and scalable edtech platform that can keep up with your demands.
Let’s discuss the goals your organization can achieve with successful e-learning application development.
Increased productivity
One of the top benefits of using e-learning apps for businesses lies in better productivity. By deploying mobile e-learning tools, businesses can reduce the amount of time spent in traditional training sessions, allowing employees to spend more time on their actual tasks instead. Additionally, with e-learning, the team is able to access the same training course from any device. This flexibility increases productivity as learners no longer need to be tied down to a physical location to study. Moreover, because the content is readily available online, it eliminates the need for physical materials like books and manuals, which become rudimental and inconvenient in the modern digital world and require additional resources.
Reduced training costs
E-learning apps are often much cheaper to develop and implement than traditional training methods, which presuppose creating a separate course to teach employees any new topic. With such solutions, there is no need to involve external coaches or lecturers and acquire additional learning materials. This way, e-learning app development can save businesses a lot of expenses and bring higher ROI in the long run, while being even more efficient than training in a classroom-like environment.
E-learning mobile software is also great for businesses looking to train their employees with the latest industry knowledge or skillset, as everything the team needs to have access to cutting-edge knowledge is just an internet connection.
Another way that these applications decrease corporate training costs is by saving on business trips. By providing employees with on-demand training materials through an app, enterprises can eliminate travel expenses associated with bringing instructors onsite or vice versa — sending their team members to other facilities for educational conferences and lectures. This type of training reduces time away from work and allows employees to achieve great results whether they are at their workplace or at the comfort of their homes.
Improved employee retention
This may not be the most obvious but definitely a crucial benefit of incorporating a mobile e-learning app into your business training process. Flexibility as well as opportunities for personal and professional development have become paramount for a modern-day employee. By investing in convenient ways for a team to acquire new hard and soft skills, a company actually shows that it is interested in the professional growth of its staff, revealing their true potential and helping on their career journey.
Therefore, adopting edtech software contributes to improving the motivation, engagement, and job satisfaction of employees, so they are more likely to value their position at the company. Moreover, many e-learning mobile solutions give teams access to shared spaces for collaboration. This helps to foster a healthy corporate culture, build communication within and across departments, as well as maintain great team spirit. All by providing a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices.
Scalability of training solutions
As your business and team grow, more employees will require access to diverse learning materials. In case you choose to develop a custom-made e-learning application for your team, you will not have to worry about spending more on expanding your subscription and service package. Such edtech solutions have great potential for customization and scalability, so the number of users can be increased without additional investment.
Even after the modules of your new e-learning mobile application are built, there is still an opportunity to add new functionality and features, for example, language options. So when your company opens a facility in another country, your new employees will be provided with relevant training tools and materials adapted for them.
Useful Features of the Most Successful Educational Apps for Businesses
It is always a great approach to learn from the best in the industry. Let’s look at the top players in the market of mobile apps for corporate training and go over their key features to know what to bet on during e-learning app development.
Google Classroom is the ultimate edtech tool for businesses. This platform and its mobile application, available for iOS and Android, help its users create, organize and manage virtual learning activities with ease. The classroom is linked to a Google account, so any changes on either device are saved on both desktop versions of the platform and its mobile app. With Google Classroom, you can assign tasks and monitor the progress of your team from anywhere in the world. You can create online tests, quizzes, and videos to help employees stay engaged with their learning. The platform also allows you to provide quick feedback, which supports an interactive learning environment.
Why is Google Classroom on our list?
Sends notifications to keep up to date with the team’s progress;
Allows discussions to foster collaboration and feedback;
Automatically creates a schedule of planned learning activities in your Google Calendar;
Meets education standards for security and privacy.
If you are looking for an e-learning app that fits your business needs, considering Stepik is a great idea. Its interface makes it easy for users to create courses, add content, and track the progress of learners in real-time. With Stepik, businesses can create engaging and interactive learning experiences for their employees with just a few clicks. Innovative features of this application also allow companies to measure the success of their learning programs and adjust them as needed.
Why is Stepik on our list?
Provides users with access to a library of over 15 million pieces of educational content from top universities and other sources;
Enables integrations with other learning management systems, so enterprises can use it along with other tools for corporate training;
Lets users download lectures to study offline;
Provides certificates for completing courses.
EdX is one of the most popular e-learning platforms available today, and for a good reason. With edX, businesses can access a wealth of high-quality course content from some of the world’s best universities and colleges. Its mobile app allows learners to stream or download video content on their Android or iOS devices. Courses on EdX cover a wide range of topics, including business, computer science, data science, and more. And with new materials being added all the time, there’s always something new to learn. Best of all, edX is accredited by many major organizations, so you can be sure that your employees are getting the best education.
Why is EdX on our list?
Lets learners study bachelor and master-level courses to progress in their careers;
Allows managers to track learner progress in real time;
Enables teams to align learning programs with business goals;
The majority of courses are self-paced and can begin at any time.
Cursais another excellent e-learning platform and mobile application that offers a wide range of courses. Like edX, it comprises lectures from one of the best educational institutions on a variety of topics. However, one of the things that set Cursa apart is its focus on language learning. This app is free and offers learning materials and tools of different formats to keep its users engaged and focused (videos, discussion forums, articles, text courses, exercises, and more).
Why is Cursa on our list?
Offers text format of courses for those who comprehend written materials better than videos;
User-friendly and pleasant UI;
Has a News Feed feature, where the app suggests courses and articles in categories related to those preferred by a user and recommends the best teachers.
Coursera is one of the most popular e-learning platforms available today. Its mobile app is also a piece of cake to use, hence the rating of 4.7/5 on Google Play and 4.8/5 on App Store. It offers a variety of educational materials provided by experts in their field from the world’s leading universities and companies. This app allows users to acquire job-relevant competencies and earn career credentials.
Why is Coursera on our list?
Provides skill assessment and gap analysis;
Contains in-course short evaluations of learner comprehension and knowledge retention;
Allows students to download videos to study even without an internet connection;
Offers interactive content for improved engagement and motivation.
LinkedIn Learningis a trusted and sophisticated edtech application for businesses. With professionally curated courses, it provides learners with valuable skills to get ahead of the competition. One of the distinguishing features of LinkedIn Learning is that this platform serves new information in crisp bite-sized videos, so even the busiest of us find it easy to grasp educational material.
Why is LinkedIn Learning on our list?
Provides personalized recommendations on training courses;
Offers certificates upon completion of courses that users can then share on their LinkedIn profiles;
Enables organizations to determine the impact of learning by tracking their employees’ progress in closing skill gaps.
Last but not least, Udemy for Businessalso gives access to top-rated educational content to upgrade your knowledge in desired areas of business. Highly rated on both App Store and Google Play, its mobile application offers numerous ways for learners to study in modern fast-paced environments.
Why is Udemy for Business on our list?
Provides various options for e-learning experience (Mini Player and Background Player to multitask while studying, as well as the opportunity to watch video courses on TV via Chromecast);
Enables setting reminders for learning sessions;
Offers optimal learning experience with the ability to take quizzes or practice exams on a user’s smartphone.
After analyzing these top-notch e-learning mobile apps, we come to the conclusion that there are several common features that contribute to their success. This is why it is worth paying attention to them and considering implementing them in your future educational platform. Here are some of the features that can bring maximum benefits for meeting the learning needs of your employees:
Make it possible to save and download training materials for offline use.
Enable synchronization of your e-learning mobile app with scheduling assistants and calendars of your team.
Make sure that there is a functionality for sending notifications and reminders to track the processes and keep up with the optimal pace of learning.
Pay attention to personalization options, so everybody can study on their own time.
Encourage learners with in-app rewards after the completion of a module or course (additional points, badges, and other gamification elements);
Ensure that your employees can earn certificates after passing final tests on knowledge comprehension, so they can share their achievements with colleagues, include them in their CVs and show them on their social media profiles.
Would you like to receive expert e-learning app development services to create an interactive platform that can also be featured on the list of leaders? Then leave us a message and the team of Jellyfish.tech will be happy to help you bring your idea to life.
Success Story: Customized E-learning Application Development
As a reliable e-learning mobile app development company, Jellyfish.tech has several edtech projects in its portfolio. Let us share the practical insights we received in the process.
Creating an edtech marketplace
For this project, we selected a team of 2 frontend and 2 backend developers, a project manager, and a QA engineer. The client’s goal was to connect learners and experts on an interactive edtech platform via video calls and text chats.
Our team has created a marketplace where experts in various fields offer their tutoring services, connect with students in a few clicks and get paid for their online consultations. We created the MVP of this platform’s mobile application in just 5 weeks. Due to its modular nature, our specialists were able to further expand the marketplace’s functionality on an iterative basis.
By using d3.js in conjunction with Angular and other visualization technologies, we developed an insightful dashboard that allows learners to see up-to-date platform statistics on the best tutors in their desired area of study, their ratings, and the number of students. To monitor the learning process, our team designed a user-friendly task tracker.With its help, users can create and manage assignments, set deadlines and reminders, as well as mark tasks with different statuses (to-do, in progress, completed).
We also powered this edtech marketplace with the following features:
Integrations with online calendars, secure data storage (Google, Dropbox), and social networks;
Gamification elements enable learners to earn badges and level up on the platform;
Fundamental CMS functionality that allows tutors to supplement their tasks with additional materials (videos, manuals, articles) and students to download this content;
Video-to-text converter to facilitate video instructions.
Due to the user-friendly interface and implementation of innovative technology relevant to e-learning, this software solution has become a flourishing platform for remote education. Learn more details about this project here.
Aspects to Consider When Choosing an E-learning App Development Company
There are thousands of teams offering services for custom e-learning app development. However, because of the fact that this industry is on the rise, there are numerous options to implement the same modules and functionality, so you need to be sure that your idea is in good hands. Having your needs in mind, we have put together a concise list of possible questions to discuss during the meetings with your potential developers.
Relevant experience of the team
If your development contractor already has previous experience with similar software products, they will be aware of the advantages and drawbacks of particular technologies that are used to build customized edtech solutions. This means that the team will be able to provide you with reasonable recommendations and create an application that works for your specific needs.
Development cost
Some e-learning app development companies may encourage you to implement as many features as possible in your future edtech platform. Without respect to your budget needs and without considering whether a specific functionality will be useful for your business or not. This is why it is important to have at least an approximate list of requirements for your project and stick to it, especially if your business is a small or midsize enterprise that may not need a complex e-learning solution. At first, your development partner can create a basic version of your application and then upgrade and expand it with new features if you are satisfied with their services. After all, that is the beauty of custom-made software products.
Possible risks
In case you have any doubts or concerns about developing your own e-learning app, it is always best to communicate them to your potential partner and ask for their feedback. A reliable team will help you avoid common pitfalls in the development process and inform you about some risks that may still be present. An experienced provider of development services will also tell you about practical ways to deal with those risks in the future.
The Cost of E-learning App Development Services
It is no secret that custom development of e-learning software requires a significant investment. But what exactly goes into the cost of building an app?
First, there is the cost of the actual development itself. This includes the budget for hiring the team (developers, designers, project managers and testers), as well as the price of using the necessary tech stack. Then you also have to invest in hosting and maintaining the app. This can encompass server and bandwidth costs, along with other ongoing maintenance expenses. Of course, the budget for e-learning app development mainly depends on:
The complexity of the functionality that needs to be implemented;
The size, composition, and location of the development team;
Platforms for which you want to release your e-learning application;
The quality of UI/UX design;
The technologies used for development.
If your budget is limited, a company with relevant expertise in building e-learning solutions is your go-to option to lower the cost. Contact us for a transparent estimation of resources that will be required for your edtech project to make an informed decision.
Summing Up
Developing an effective e-learning application requires a well-thought-out strategy that takes into account both user needs and business goals. By focusing on providing a quality product with interactive content and intuitive features, you will be able to create a pleasing learning experience for your employees or students that will motivate them to become lifelong learners.
Jellyfish.tech is a team of professionals that shares your passion for new knowledge. Our developers have the relevant expertise and skillsets to create an engaging e-learning application for your organization to pave your road to business innovation and growth. Let’s get in touch and make it happen together.
Educational App Development: Driving Innovation in EdTech
The global education landscape is evolving rapidly, with technology playing an increasingly significant role in shaping the way we learn. At the forefront of this transformation are educational apps, which have become indispensable tools for students, teachers, and institutions worldwide. In this in-depth article, we will delve into the world of educational app creation, exploring its essential aspects, and discussing how to create engaging and effective learning experiences for users. From understanding the cost of creating an educational app to finding the right company to bring your idea to life, this comprehensive guide will provide valuable insights for anyone interested in this exciting field.
👉 Before we begin, if you are interested in custom educational app development services, visit this pageto learn more about how Jellyfish.tech can help you create a cutting-edge educational app. 🚀
The Importance of Educational Apps
Educational apps have revolutionized the way we access and consume information, making learning more engaging, interactive, and personalized. By harnessing the power of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, educational apps cater to diverse learning needs, styles, and preferences, enabling users to learn at their own pace and convenience. In today’s fast-paced and digital world, developing educational apps for mobile devices has emerged as a vital strategy for organizations looking to make a mark in the edtech industry.
Types of Educational Apps
There is a wide range of educational apps available in the market, catering to various learning needs and preferences. Some of the most popular types include:
Language Learning Apps: These apps help users learn new languages through interactive lessons, quizzes, and games.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Apps: These apps focus on improving users’ understanding of STEM subjects through simulations, problem-solving exercises, and multimedia content.
Early Childhood Education Apps: Designed for young children, these apps facilitate the development of essential cognitive, motor, and social skills through fun and engaging activities.
Exam Preparation Apps: These apps help students prepare for various examinations, providing study materials, practice questions, and personalized learning plans.
Professional Development Apps: Targeting working professionals, these apps offer courses, certifications, and resources to enhance career prospects and job-related skills.
Special Education Apps: These apps cater to individuals with special needs, providing accessible learning experiences tailored to their unique requirements.
Learning Management System (LMS) Apps: These apps help educators and institutions manage, deliver, and track learning content and student progress.
Key Factors to Consider in Educational Mobile App Development
Developing an educational mobile app requires careful planning and consideration of various factors that can impact the app’s success and effectiveness in delivering educational content. Here are some key factors to consider when embarking on educational mobile app development:
Purpose and Target Audience
Before starting the development process, clearly define the purpose of your educational app and identify the target audience. Determine whether the app is designed to teach a specific subject, develop a skill, or facilitate collaboration among learners. Understanding the specific needs and preferences of your target audience is crucial for creating an app that caters to their unique requirements and learning styles.
Engaging and Interactive Content
One of the most critical factors for a successful educational app is the quality of the content. Ensure that the content is engaging, informative, and interactive, making it easier for users to grasp concepts and retain information. Incorporate multimedia elements, such as videos, images, and animations, to create a rich and immersive learning experience. Interactive quizzes, simulations, and gamification can also enhance user engagement and motivation.
Personalized Learning Experience
A personalized learning experience is crucial for catering to the diverse needs of learners, as it allows users to progress at their own pace and focuses on their specific learning goals. Implement features that enable personalized learning paths, such as adaptive learning algorithms, progress tracking, and customized feedback. Offering a tailored learning experience can significantly improve user satisfaction and educational outcomes.
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
An intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing interface is essential for an educational app, as it directly impacts user engagement and satisfaction. Design your app’s UI and UX with the target audience in mind, ensuring that it is easy to navigate and accessible to users with different abilities. Prioritize clarity, readability, and consistency in design elements, such as fonts, colors, and icons.
Platform Compatibility and Responsiveness
To reach a broader audience and maximize the app’s potential, ensure that it is compatible with multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, and web browsers. The app should also be responsive, meaning it can adapt to various screen sizes and orientations to provide an optimal user experience across different devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Security and Privacy
Protecting users’ data and privacy is a critical aspect of educational mobile app development. Implement appropriate security measures, such as secure authentication, data encryption, and regular security audits, to safeguard users’ personal information and ensure compliance with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Integration with Other Platforms
Consider integrating your educational app with other platforms and tools commonly used by learners and educators. For instance, integration with learning management systems (LMS), social media platforms, or cloud storage services can enhance the app’s functionality and provide additional value to users.
Scalability and Performance
As your educational app gains popularity and attracts more users, it’s essential to ensure that it can scale and maintain optimal performance. Design your app’s architecture to handle increased user traffic and content, and optimize performance through regular monitoring and updates.
Regular Updates and Support
An educational app’s success is not only determined by its initial launch but also by its ability to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of its users. Plan for regular updates to address user feedback, fix bugs, and add new features or content. Additionally, provide ongoing support to users through help documentation, tutorials, and customer service channels.
Considering these key factors during the educational mobile app development process can significantly impact the app’s success and effectiveness. By focusing on the target audience’s needs, delivering engaging and personalized content, ensuring a seamless user experience.
How to Create an Educational App: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating an educational app can be a rewarding and profitable venture, as the demand for high-quality educational tools continues to grow. In this step-by-step guide, we will explore the process of creating an educational app, from idea conception to launching it in the market.
1. Define Your App’s Purpose and Target Audience
Before you start building your app, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of its purpose and target audience. Ask yourself the following questions:
What is the primary goal of your app? Is it to teach a specific subject, help users develop a skill, or provide a platform for learning and collaboration?
Who is your target audience? Are you targeting preschoolers, K-12 students, college students, or adult learners?
What are the specific needs and preferences of your target audience?
Defining your app’s purpose and target audience will help you make informed decisions throughout the app development process.
2. Conduct Market Research
Market research is crucial for understanding the current state of the educational app market, identifying your competitors, and discovering potential opportunities for your app. Analyze existing educational apps in your niche, taking note of their features, pricing, user feedback, and overall success. This research will help you identify gaps in the market and tailor your app to meet the needs of your target audience.
3. Choose a Monetization Model
Deciding on a monetization model early in the development process is essential for creating a sustainable and profitable app. There are several monetization models to consider:
Freemium: Offer a basic version of your app for free, with additional features, content, or functionality available through in-app purchases or subscriptions.
Paid Apps: Charge users a one-time fee to download and use your app.
In-app Advertising: Generate revenue by displaying ads within your app.
Sponsorships and Partnerships: Partner with other companies or organizations to generate revenue through co-branding or sponsored content.
4. Plan Your App’s Features and Functionality
Based on your app’s purpose, target audience, and market research, make a list of features and functionalities that will set your app apart from the competition. Keep in mind that a simple, user-friendly interface and engaging, interactive content are essential for a successful educational app. Features to consider include:
Interactive lessons or quizzes
Gamification elements, such as badges or leaderboards
Progress tracking and analytics
Collaboration tools, such as chat or forums
Personalized learning paths
Integration with other platforms, such as learning management systems
5. Design Your App’s User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
A well-designed UI and UX are crucial for the success of any app, especially educational ones. Work with a professional designer or use design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD to create an intuitive, visually appealing, and easy-to-use interface. Keep the following guidelines in mind:
Use clear, easy-to-read fonts and high-contrast colors for better readability
Implement a consistent design language throughout the app
Use familiar UI elements, such as buttons and navigation menus
Make sure your app is accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities
6. Develop Your App
Once you have planned your app’s features and designed its UI/UX, it’s time to start developing the app. You can choose to develop the app in-house or outsource the development to a professional app development company. When developing your app, consider the following:
Choose the right development platform, such as iOS, Android, or cross-platform
Use appropriate programming languages and frameworks, such as Swift for iOS, Java or Kotlin for Android, or React Native for cross-platform development
Ensure your app is optimized for various devices and screen sizes
Implement proper security measures, such as data encryption and secure authentication, to protect users’ data and privacy
Test your app thoroughly during development to identify and fix any bugs or issues
7. Test Your App
Before launching your educational app, it’s crucial to conduct thorough testing to ensure it functions correctly, provides a smooth user experience, and meets the needs of your target audience. Testing should include:
Functional testing: Verify that all features and functionalities work as intended
Usability testing: Test the app with real users to identify any issues with the user interface and user experience
Compatibility testing: Ensure the app works correctly across various devices, operating systems, and screen sizes
Security testing: Identify and address any potential security vulnerabilities
Performance testing: Optimize the app’s performance, such as loading times and responsiveness
Gather feedback from testers and make any necessary improvements to your app based on their input.
8. Prepare for Launch
As you approach the launch date, there are several tasks to complete to ensure a successful app launch:
Create a compelling app store listing, including a descriptive title, detailed description, screenshots, and a promotional video if possible
Set up a website or landing page for your app, providing additional information, user support, and marketing materials
Develop a marketing plan, including social media promotion, email marketing, influencer outreach, and press releases
Plan for app updates and ongoing maintenance, such as bug fixes, feature improvements, and new content
9. Launch Your App
Once your app is tested, refined, and ready for launch, submit it to the appropriate app stores, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Be prepared to address any issues or bugs that users may encounter during the initial launch period.
10. Monitor and Improve Your App
After launching your app, it’s essential to monitor its performance, gather user feedback, and make improvements as needed. Track app downloads, user ratings, and reviews to identify any areas for improvement. Regularly update your app with new features, content, and bug fixes to keep users engaged and maintain a high-quality educational experience.
The Best Practices in Educational App Development
Developing an educational app that stands out in the crowded marketplace and provides a meaningful learning experience to users requires adhering to best practices. In this chapter, we’ll explore some of the best practices in educational app development, drawing from expert insights and authority sources in the EdTech industry.
Focus on the Core Learning Objectives
When designing an educational app, it is essential to prioritize the core learning objectives and ensure that the app’s features and functionalities align with these goals. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes that educational technologies should be designed to support well-defined learning objectives and promote active cognitive processing for effective learning.
Implement Evidence-Based Learning Principles
Incorporating evidence-based learning principles into your app’s design can significantly improve its educational value. For instance, the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning suggests that combining text, images, and audio can enhance users’ understanding and retention of information. Integrating these principles can help create a more effective and engaging learning experience for users.
Design for Accessibility
A successful educational app must cater to users with diverse needs, including those with disabilities. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide recommendations for designing accessible digital content, such as using clear, easy-to-read fonts, high-contrast colors, and alternative text for images. Implementing accessibility features ensures that your app is inclusive and usable by a wider range of learners.
Promote Active Learning
Active learning is an essential component of effective education, as it encourages learners to engage with the content and think critically. The National Research Council highlights that educational technologies should be designed to promote active learning through features such as interactive quizzes, simulations, and collaboration tools. Incorporating these elements in your app can foster deeper understanding and knowledge retention.
Leverage Gamification Techniques
Gamification, the process of incorporating game-like elements into non-gaming contexts, has been proven to boost motivation and engagement in educational settings. Elements such as leaderboards, badges, and progress tracking can encourage users to persist in their learning and make the experience more enjoyable.
Provide Feedback and Assessment
Effective learning requires timely feedback and assessment to help learners gauge their progress and identify areas for improvement. The APA recommends that educational technologies should provide opportunities for learners to receive feedback on their performance and guide them in refining their understanding. Incorporating features such as quizzes with instant feedback, progress tracking, and analytics can help users monitor their learning and make necessary adjustments.
Ensure Data Privacy and Security
With increasing concerns about data privacy and security, educational app developers must prioritize these aspects during the development process. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) are examples of regulations that govern data privacy in educational settings. Following these guidelines and implementing robust security measures can help protect users’ personal information and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
Test and Iterate
Continuous testing and iteration are essential for refining your educational app and ensuring that it meets users’ needs. Conduct usability testing with real users, gather feedback, and make improvements based on their input. Regular updates and improvements can help maintain user engagement and satisfaction while addressing any issues that arise over time.
Following best practices in educational app development can significantly improve the app’s effectiveness, user experience, and overall success. By focusing on core learning objectives, incorporating evidence-based learning principles, designing for accessibility, promoting active learning, leveraging gamification, providing feedback and assessment, ensuring data privacy and security, and continually testing and iterating, you can create an educational app that makes a positive impact on learners’ lives.
How to Choose the Right Company for Developing Educational Apps
Selecting the right company for your project is crucial for its success. Here are some factors to consider when making your choice:
Portfolio and Experience: Examine the company’s portfolio to assess its expertise in the field. Look for projects similar to your app idea and consider their success in the market.
Technical Skills and Resources: Ensure the company has a skilled team of developers, designers, and other professionals who can handle your project’s requirements.
Communication and Collaboration: Choose a company that maintains open communication, keeps you informed about the project’s progress, and values your input.
Project Timeline and Cost: Evaluate the company’s ability to deliver the project on time and within your budget.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Research customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the company’s reputation and client satisfaction.
We are one of such reputable companies, which specializes in custom app development for the education sector. Jellyfish has a proven track record in the edtech industry, with successful case studies such as the Education Marketplace and SciDash. To learn more about those case studies read the next chapter.
Case Studies: Jellyfish.tech’s Success in Educational App Development
Jellyfish.tech has a proven track record in educational app development, as evidenced by our successful projects in the edtech space. Here are two notable case studies:
Education Marketplace
Our team developed a comprehensive education marketplace platform, offering a range of online courses, workshops, and resources for students and professionals. This platform connects learners with educators and institutions, providing a seamless learning experience.
Key features of the Education Marketplace project include:
A user-friendly interface that makes navigation and course discovery easy and efficient.
A robust search functionality, enabling users to find relevant courses based on their preferences and needs.
A secure payment system, ensuring a safe and hassle-free transaction process.
Integrated communication tools, facilitating interaction between learners and educators.
This project involved the development of both a web application and a mobile app, demonstrating our expertise in multi-platform educational app development. Learn more at https://jellyfish.tech/cases/education-marketplace/.
SciDash
In the SciDash project, we created a powerful scientific data management platform that helps researchers and institutions manage, store, and share their research data. This innovative solution addresses the challenges faced by the scientific community in organizing, accessing, and collaborating on research data.
Some of the standout features of the SciDash platform include:
A secure, cloud-based data storage system, providing easy access to research data from anywhere and at any time.
A flexible data organization system, allowing users to categorize, tag, and filter their data for quick retrieval.
Collaboration tools, enabling researchers to work together on projects, share data, and exchange ideas.
Integration with popular third-party tools and services, offering users a seamless and efficient research data management experience.
The SciDash case study demonstrates Jellyfish.tech’s proficiency in developing cutting-edge technology solutions that cater to specific industry needs, in this case, addressing the challenges faced by the scientific community. Learn more at https://jellyfish.tech/cases/scidash/.
Cost of Creating Educational Apps: Factors Affecting the Budget
The cost of creating an educational app can vary significantly depending on various factors, but the average cost for EdTech app development typically ranges from $30,000 to $150,000, as reported by Reinvently, a mobile app development agency. This cost range takes into account factors such as app complexity, design, platform selection, and third-party integrations. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the factors affecting the budget for educational app development to help you better understand the expenses involved in creating an app tailored to your specific needs.
App Complexity and Functionality
One of the primary factors affecting the cost of app development is the complexity and the number of features included in the app. A basic app with limited features, such as flashcards or simple quizzes, will be less expensive to develop than an app with more advanced features like interactive lessons, gamification elements, or personalized learning paths. The more complex the app, the more time and resources it will require for development, which directly impacts the overall cost.
Platform Selection
The choice of platforms on which your app will be available also influences the cost of development. Developing an app for a single platform (either iOS or Android) will typically be less expensive than creating a cross-platform app compatible with both operating systems. Cross-platform development requires additional resources, tools, and expertise, which can increase the overall cost.
Design and User Experience
The design and user experience of your app play a significant role in its success and also impact the development cost. Customized designs, animations, and high-quality visuals can enhance the user experience but also require more time and effort from designers, resulting in higher costs. On the other hand, using pre-built templates or simpler designs may be more cost-effective but might not provide the same level of user engagement and satisfaction.
Integration with Third-Party Services
If your educational app requires integration with third-party services, such as learning management systems, payment gateways, or social media platforms, the cost of development will likely increase. Integrating these services can be time-consuming and may require additional resources or specialized expertise, which can add to the overall cost.
App Maintenance and Updates
The cost of creating an educational app doesn’t end with its launch. Regular updates, bug fixes, and new features are essential to maintaining a high-quality app that meets users’ evolving needs. The ongoing costs of app maintenance and updates should be factored into your budget. Additionally, the more complex your app, the more expensive it will be to maintain and update.
Marketing and Promotion
Developing an educational app is just the beginning. To ensure its success, you’ll need to invest in marketing and promotion. The cost of marketing can vary widely depending on the strategies you choose, such as social media advertising, email campaigns, influencer partnerships, or public relations efforts. Be sure to allocate a portion of your budget for marketing to help your app gain visibility and attract users.
In-house vs. Outsourced Development
Finally, the cost of developing an educational app will depend on whether you choose to develop the app in-house or outsource the development to a professional app development company. In-house development can provide more control over the process but may require hiring or training developers, designers, and other team members, which can be costly. Outsourcing app development can save on some costs, but it’s essential to carefully select a reliable and experienced development company to ensure quality results.
The Future of the Field
The world of educational app development will continue to evolve, driven by emerging technologies and changing user preferences. Some key trends to watch for include:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): AI and ML will enable more personalized and adaptive learning experiences, tailoring content to individual users’ needs.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): VR and AR will create immersive learning environments, enhancing user engagement and knowledge retention.
Blockchain Technology: Blockchain can help verify and secure academic credentials, streamlining admissions and recruitment processes.
Learning Analytics: The use of data-driven insights will help educators, learners, and institutions make informed decisions, improving learning outcomes.
Internet of Things (IoT): IoT devices can facilitate real-time data collection, enabling more effective monitoring and assessment of learners’ progress.
Personalized Learning: As technology advances, personalized learning experiences will become more sophisticated, taking into account individual learning styles, preferences, and performance.
Collaborative Learning: Educational apps will increasingly promote collaborative learning experiences, connecting students and educators globally and fostering a sense of community.
Accessibility and Inclusivity: The development of more accessible and inclusive educational apps will cater to a broader range of users, including individuals with disabilities and diverse learning needs.
Conclusion
The educational app development landscape is dynamic and rapidly growing, with immense potential to transform the way we learn and acquire knowledge. By understanding the intricacies of educational mobile app development and partnering with a reputable company, you can create an engaging, effective, and successful learning app that caters to your target audience’s needs.
Embarking on an educational app development journey requires thorough research, planning, and execution. However, the rewards are immense, as you contribute to the future of learning and make a lasting impact on the lives of learners worldwide.
Are you ready to bring your educational app idea to life? 👉 Get in touch with us for custom educational app development services and let our team of experts help you create the perfect learning solution for your target audience. Our experience in the edtech industry, combined with our dedication to delivering high-quality results, make us the ideal partner for your educational app development project. Don’t wait – explore the world of educational app development today and empower the future of learning.
How to Choose a Custom EdTech Software Company: A Guide to the Top 10 🚀
Introduction
In the age of digital transformation, the education sector has not been left behind. The rise of educational technology, or EdTech, has revolutionized the way we teach and learn. As a Senior Software Engineer with extensive experience in the education technology (EdTech) sector, I have seen firsthand how digital transformation can revolutionize the learning experience. When it comes to implementing such transformative changes, one critical decision is whether to opt for custom EdTech software or a ready-to-use solution. I’ll explore why working with a custom EdTech software company is often a superior choice. Choosing a custom EdTech software company is a crucial decision that can greatly impact the educational outcomes of your institution. With numerous players in the market, finding the right fit can be daunting. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this process effectively. At the end, we will explore some of the top companies that are making a significant impact in this space.
Understanding EdTech
The Rise of EdTech
EdTech, a blend of ‘education’ and ‘technology’, refers to software designed to enhance teacher-led learning in classrooms and improve students’ education outcomes. The last decade has witnessed a remarkable rise in EdTech, revolutionizing how education is delivered and consumed. This surge in technology adoption has been further accelerated by the global pandemic, as institutions turned to digital solutions to continue education.
Understanding the Differences
Custom EdTech Software
Custom EdTech software is designed and developed to meet the specific requirements of your institution. It involves a close partnership with a software development company, ensuring the final product aligns perfectly with your unique needs.
Ready-to-Use EdTech Software
On the other hand, ready-to-use software is a pre-packaged solution offering standard features intended to cater to a wide array of institutions.
Why Choose Custom EdTech Software?
Tailored Solution
Custom software provides a tailored solution that aligns with your unique educational objectives and operational requirements. This customization can enhance the user experience, improve learning outcomes, and streamline administrative tasks.
Scalability
With custom software, scalability is built into the solution. As your institution grows, the software can be adjusted to accommodate increasing numbers of users and evolving needs.
Flexibility and Control
A custom solution gives you greater control over your software, including its features, functionality, and user interface. This flexibility allows for ongoing enhancements and modifications to meet changing educational trends.
Superior Integration Capabilities
Custom software can seamlessly integrate with your existing systems and applications, reducing the need for manual data transfers and enhancing data consistency and integrity.
Enhanced Support and Maintenance
Custom software developers often provide comprehensive support and maintenance, ensuring your software continues to perform optimally and any issues are quickly resolved.
The Pitfalls of Ready-to-Use Solutions
Lack of Customization
Ready-to-use solutions often fall short in meeting specific institutional needs due to their lack of customization. They are designed to cater to a broad market, and hence may not align perfectly with your unique requirements.
Limited Scalability
Such solutions may not scale seamlessly as your institution grows. Adding users or new features can lead to performance issues, and these systems may not handle large-scale growth efficiently.
Integration Challenges
Ready-to-use software may not integrate easily with your existing systems, leading to isolated data silos and manual, error-prone data transfer processes.
Generic Support
The support offered by ready-to-use software providers is often generic and may not provide the level of service required to address your specific issues promptly.
Understanding Cost Implications
An important aspect to consider when comparing custom and ready-to-use EdTech software is the cost. While the initial cost of custom software development might appear higher, it is critical to consider the long-term value it provides.
Cost of Custom EdTech Software
The cost of developing custom EdTech software is largely dependent on your specific requirements, such as the complexity of the solution, the number of features, and the technology used. A simple custom solution might start from around $30,000, while a more complex system could cost upwards of $200,000. This initial investment can be substantial, but it should be viewed as a long-term investment into a solution that is designed to perfectly meet your institution’s needs and can scale with your growth.
Moreover, with a custom solution, you own the software. This means you won’t be locked into ongoing licensing fees, which can accumulate over time. Typically, you will have a maintenance and support agreement with your developer, which can range from 15% to 20% of the original development cost per year. This ensures your software remains up-to-date, and any issues are swiftly addressed. However, with proper development, support is only necessary for updating technology versions used and optimizing performance in case of increased product load (e.g., traffic growth), without the need to add new functionality. In this case, such costs will be almost zero.
Cost of Ready-To-Use EdTech Software
Ready-to-use EdTech software is often priced based on a licensing model, with costs depending on the number of users and the features included. For a small to medium-sized institution, this might range from $10 to $50 per user per month, or $120 to $600 per user per year. So for an institution with 1,000 students, the annual cost would range from $120,000 to $600,000.
Moreover, these costs can increase over time. As your institution grows, adding more users will increase your licensing costs. Additionally, adding new features or functionality often involves purchasing additional modules or upgrading to a more expensive plan.
Key Features to Look for in Custom EdTech Software
Customizability
As we learned, one of the crucial features of custom EdTech software is its ability to be tailored to your specific needs. This includes functionality, interface, and user experience.
Scalability
Again, scalability ensures that the software can grow with your institution, accommodating an increasing number of users without sacrificing performance.
Security
Security is paramount, especially considering the sensitive nature of educational data. Ensure the software follows best practices for data encryption, user authentication, and privacy regulations.
User-friendliness
An intuitive, user-friendly interface enhances the overall user experience, increasing engagement and adoption rates among students and educators.
How to Choose a Custom EdTech Software Company
Assess Your Needs
Start by clearly defining your needs. What challenges are you trying to address? What features are critical for your institution? This initial assessment provides a solid foundation for your search.
Research Potential Companies
Next, research potential companies. Look for firms specializing in custom EdTech software. A company’s portfolio can provide insight into its style, the complexity of projects they’ve handled, and its expertise in the sector.
Check Reviews and Testimonials
Client testimonials and online reviews can give you an idea of the company’s reliability, quality of work, and customer service.
Evaluate Their Expertise and Experience
Assess their expertise in the EdTech industry. Do they understand the unique challenges of educational institutions? Do they stay updated with the latest trends in EdTech?
Assess Their Customer Support
Adequate customer support is crucial. Will they provide training for your staff? How quickly do they respond to issues?
10 Best Custom EdTech Software Companies
Here, we present the ten best custom EdTech software companies that have made significant contributions to advancing educational technology.
Jellyfish.tech specializes in creating bespoke software for EdTech and has a team of skilled developers who can work on projects of any scale or complexity. Except for the typical e-learning features, the team is capable of developing any unique custom functionality for your product to stand out from the crowd.
Explore the Jellyfish.tech’s latest case studies in EdTech:
The Jellyfish.tech team has built a marketplace, where an expert could do tutoring get paid for the consultation, and learners could have a video call or a chat with an expert in a few clicks. Its modular architecture allows for adding and updating key functionality, keeping pace with the world’s trends. This project is about the simplicity of online education, an understandable and user-friendly interface, and the most relevant features of e-learning.
The professor from the University of Arizona required a platform to manage his libraries for testing the scientific models he was working on. For that, there has been built an output table with the possibility to test different scientific models and visualize the results. The dashboard is responsible for the validation of scientific models against experimental data. It helps understand how accurate the model is using the Python framework SciUnit and the extensible NeuronUnit library for neuron testing.
Riseapps is a custom LMS development company helping EdTech startups, eLearning providers, and education technology vendors deliver corporate training, academic learning, and commercial use. With a track record of eight years, they offer custom software development, development team augmentation, product re-engineering and support, and product consulting and audit.
Geniusee Education Software Development expertise, strengthened by the powerful AWS partnership and certified practices, might help you to create custom e-learning software. They have extensive expertise in creating all types of educational platforms and learning management systems depending on your demand: Business training software, Academic software, and Self-education software. In addition, Geniuesee provides a variety of education software development solutions: Learning Management System, Mobile Learning, Educational Platforms, Corporate Learning, School Management Software.
For over 10 years in the field of development and providing solutions of any type and complexity, they have created dozens of education software for schools, courses, training companies, and serious institutions. They provide Educational Platforms, Authoring Systems, Tutorial Software, Simulation Programs, Special Needs Software.
Waverley delivers full-cycle education software development for custom e-learning: design and architecture, front-end and back-end feature development, quality assurance, maintenance, and support. They claim 30 years of experience in software development and a 90% of probability that they have expertise in your technology stack.
Binariks transforms education with custom education software development services for educators, corporations, and the mass market. They have such custom e-learning solutions as language learning apps, technologies for K-12, LMS, educational apps for kids, classroom simulators, massive open online courses (MOOC), e-learning platforms for business.
INOXOFT has realized diverse educational solutions for a variety of countries across the globe. They can provide you with: large technology expertise, data safety and clear code, flexible and responsible team, excellent delivery and an individual approach for clients and projects.
Evne Developers provide full-cycle development of educational platforms, LMS, virtual classrooms, and learning apps built with cutting-edge technology and lean design principles. Having 60+ EdTech products in their portfolio, they claim they might help businesses improve students’ engagement and digitize the learning process.
Fingent tailors such custom education software solutions as AI-assisted content, immersive learning with AR and VR, automated administrative tasks, LMS, and blockchain solutions. They claim that for eight years they remain a trusted partner, committed to project success and providing their clients full support and security throughout the development process.
With over a decade’s experience in the industry, Tkxel provides a large variety of solutions: Educational Games & Simulations, LMS, Mobile Learning Apps, Online Tutoring & Mentoring platform, Communication & Collaboration Tools, E-Assessment & Testing Platforms, VR / AR Applications, Adaptive Learning Platforms, Educational Data Management & Analytics Software, and Classroom Management Software.
Conclusion
Making the decision to leverage the power of EdTech in your institution is the first step in a transformative journey that can lead to enhanced educational outcomes and streamlined operations. In this comprehensive guide, we’ve explored why choosing a custom EdTech software company often offers superior advantages over opting for a ready-to-use solution.
Custom EdTech software offers unique advantages such as tailored solutions, scalability, flexibility, superior integration capabilities, and enhanced support and maintenance, making it an ideal choice for institutions aiming to perfectly align their technology with their unique needs.
Although the initial cost of a custom solution can be higher than a ready-to-use solution, we’ve explored how the long-term value, lack of recurring licensing fees, and scalability often result in greater cost-effectiveness in the long run.
Choosing the right custom EdTech software company requires careful consideration. By assessing your needs, researching potential companies, checking reviews, evaluating their expertise, and assessing their customer support, you can find a partner who will truly understand and cater to your unique needs.
In the ever-evolving world of EdTech, having a software solution that can grow and adapt with you is invaluable. By choosing to work with a custom EdTech software company, you’re investing in a future-proof solution that is tailored to the specific needs of your institution, enhancing the learning experience for your students and simplifying processes for your educators and administrators.
Finally, remember that the right partner is out there. Companies like Jellyfish.tech not only have experience in custom EdTech software development but are also committed to providing solutions that are as unique as the institutions they serve. By taking the time to make a thoughtful decision now, you can ensure a bright and innovative future for your educational institution.
FAQs
1. What is custom EdTech software?
Custom EdTech software refers to educational technology solutions that are tailor-made to suit the specific needs of an institution or learning program.
2. What is the difference between custom EdTech software and ready-to-use software?
Custom EdTech software is designed and developed to meet the specific requirements of an institution. It involves a close partnership with a software development company, ensuring the final product aligns with the unique needs of the institution. Ready-to-use software, on the other hand, is a pre-packaged solution offering standard features that are meant to cater to a wide array of institutions.
3. Why should I choose custom EdTech software over ready-to-use software?
Custom EdTech software offers several benefits over ready-to-use software, including a tailored solution that aligns with your unique educational objectives, scalability, flexibility, superior integration capabilities, and enhanced support and maintenance.
4. How much does it cost to develop custom EdTech software?
The cost of developing custom EdTech software depends on your specific requirements, such as the complexity of the solution, the number of features, and the technology used. A simple custom solution might start from around $30,000, while a more complex system could cost upwards of $200,000. This initial investment can be substantial, but it should be viewed as a long-term investment.
5. How do I choose a custom EdTech software company?
Choosing a custom EdTech software company involves assessing your needs, researching potential companies, checking reviews and testimonials, evaluating their expertise and experience, and assessing their customer support. Companies like Jellyfish.tech specialize in custom EdTech software and are equipped to provide solutions tailored to your specific needs.
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