Learning Management System

How to Make a Language Learning App (Make Your Own Duolingo)

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Super Admin Testreveal

Duolingo started out as a language learning app to teach and translate languages in 2011 and has, since, risen to immense popularity with annual revenue of around $140 million. And that too with its free-of-charge service to users till date.

There have been quite a few apps that followed suit, but, maybe it is the timing or there was something lacking, they have not yet been able to reach the same level of popularity.

Why Develop a Language Learning App?

Talking about timing, 2021 can be deemed as the perfect time for entrepreneurs to invest in creating learning apps, considering how there has been an increasing trend among people to learn a new language, in the past few years.

One of the main reasons why entrepreneurs should consider creating language learning apps is obviously the business side of it. There is an expected growth of 18% CAGR in the online learning market between 2019 and 2023. According to estimates, the market growth might exceed the revenue of $25.73 billion by the end of 2027.

The COVID 19 pandemic that turned the world upside down has urged many confined in their homes to pick up learning a foreign language as their new hobby. In the current circumstances, going for online learning seems to be a better option. The availability and convenience these apps offer are some of the reasons that such apps are gaining the interest of users in recent years.

Read Also : How to Create an App Like Byjus ?

Also, the growing use of social media platforms and interactions at the global level has tempted many to learn new languages.

Language learning apps use AI-powered chatbots that help the users have a different experience than those in traditional settings. Also, the technology enables users to gain new knowledge about languages, such as Welsh, Navajo, Gaelic, and Esperanto that do not exist anymore.

Where to Start?

Since Duolingo is the perfect example for a successful language learning app, let us start with knowing a little about the app and how it works.

Duolingo is a free platform to learn languages as well as to crowd source translations, with around 300 million users. Launched in 2011, the app covers around 36 languages and enables users to learn a language from scratch.

The users can join the language courses free of charge; however, there is also a premium subscription available for users, with added benefits.

Duolingo comes with an interesting set of features in order to make the learning process exciting. The training programs are divided into lessons and they are arranged based on complexity. Past the first level that mainly deals with common topics, the remaining levels focus on individual ones.

The lessons come with different exercises, in terms of reading, writing, listening, and translation, meant to help the users to easily learn grammar rules or vocabulary. The training programs are free, enjoyable, and easily accessible to the users—no wonder the app has piqued the interest of millions over the years.

The training programs of Duolingo follow a gaming format with factors, such as levels, rewards, and game currency that allow the users to buy additional features and bonuses from the store.

The app also has options to set daily goals and reminders to assess the regularity of classes. The Stories project of the app that involves interactive tasks allows the users to further develop their skills.

Features

Language learning apps come with a wide variety of features that contribute to making them interesting and easy to use for users. Some of the features that are common for different language learning apps include the following.

User Profile
Choose a preferred language to learn
Exercises to understand the user’s language proficiency level
Language practice and revision
Lessons in the form of video, audio, and textual content
Offline mode to download learning materials
Courses and levels
Push Notifications
Integrate social media to share about achievements
Monitor learning progress
Consult with language experts
Feedback, reviews, and ratings
Invite friends to use the app and earn rewards

Apart from general features, there are some advanced features to be added to the app to reduce its complexity. Also, adding the following features can make the app appealing—one of the deciding factors for users to stay or go for another app.

Social Signup/Login

This feature enables users to sign up or log into the app using their social media accounts, without having to go through the hassle of signing up by entering information, such as username and password.

User Profile

This feature includes the personal information of users, such as age, sex, language to choose and the purpose of choosing it, set daily target. In short, this feature provides a personalized experience to the users.

Rewards

The rewarding system of the app allows users to keep track of their daily achievements and they can be rewarded accordingly. The users can be rewarded on completing their daily tasks.

Online Community

This feature is not an essential requirement but is worth it. The users can make use of this forum-like feature to communicate with each other to converse regarding topics surrounding the different topics and help each other to learn.

Live Video Conferencing

This feature allows the users to directly interact with real teachers/language experts via live-streamed video conferences. This would give the users an exciting experience and make them more confident.

User Interface

A good user interface design grabs the attention of users leading to increased user engagement. By good interface, we mean a design that looks clean and classy, and that allows hassle-free navigation. This can be achieved if you give attention even to the tiniest user requirement.

Vocabulary Learning

Basic vocabulary that enables learning from scratch is a must-have option for language learning apps. The learners are likely to rely on this feature a lot to improve their vocabulary knowledge.

Audio Clips

Language learning is not just about writing and reading. They must be able to even speak the language fluently in the end and this requires lots of hearing practice. Short audio and video clips integrated to the app can be used by users for their daily listening practice.

Chatbot

Multilingual chatbots available 24/7 with voice recognition ability is a must-have feature for language learning. This AI powered-technology can be used for teaching and in enhancing the app’s performance. Adding audio clips can enhance the pronunciation skills of users. Chatbots also enables users to improve their language skills and pronunciation.

Gamification and Animation

Though not a necessary requirement adding gamification elements in an app tends to create a positive impact on the users. This approach is capable of making the language learning process fun and interactive. Another way to gain the attention of users is to add sounds effects and animation to the app.

Competition

Competition is a part of learning process and can be used as a tool to motivate the users. Adding contests to the app on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can keep the users motivated. They would want to compete and win, and in the process achieve their learning goals in a disciplined manner.

One-on-one Tutoring

Learning a new language can be difficult and confusing at times owing to the different rules. In such cases, the one-on-one tutoring feature can be of great help to the users. They can seek assistance from a language instructor to learn.

Read Also : How to Create an App Like Unacademy ?

Language learning apps will have two users—-teachers and students. Therefore, it is important for the apps to have two separate interfaces to suit their needs. The required features from the above-mentioned list can be added to the interface depending on the user.

Teachers

Technology-based learning is effective to a great extent. But still, there are areas that would need human intervention. Real language instructors/experts can guide the learners to fulfill their ultimate goal of learning a new language to the fullest.

Interactive and suitable UI/UX
The interface should include features that facilitate live video conferencing, one-on-one tutoring or something similar to enable student-teacher interaction
Teachers should be able to access the list of subjects in the dashboard
The interface should also include features where the teachers can check assessment and prepare reports

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

Students

The ultimate target of language learning apps will always be the learners. The majority of the features of the app are meant to help them to make use of the learning process to the maximum.

Students can use the app from any device. Therefore, the interface should be web, Android, iOS-friendly
Multimedia and gamification features, though not a necessary requirement, can make language learning more interesting
Features that enable the students to contact their teachers in the form of chat or emails must be included
Features that set daily milestones for the students, which when met, will help them gain access to the next level or be rewarded
They should be able to see the evaluation of their completed tasks and be able to track their progress
Features that help to prioritize the lessons should also be included

Business Model

Now that you have a basic idea about language learning apps, the next thing to know about is different kind of business models that might work for your language learning app.

Subscription

The monthly and yearly subscription models allow users to pay a specific amount of money to gain access to various services of the app.

Freemium

In the Freemium (free+premium) business model, the users can access the services that are free of cost and gain access to some advanced features of the app by paying a certain amount.

One-time purchase

Sometimes users would use the app for just one course. You can use the one-time purchase model to allow users to pay for the course alone in the app.

In-app Advertisements

Duolingo has adopted the in-app advertisement model for revenue. Marketers can pay you for publishing their ads in the app.

It is always wise to first provide the app’s services for free and then move to the different premium versions to give access to the content.

Read Also: How Much Does it Cost to Make an Educational App?

Creating the App

Whether it is your own team of developers or a mobile app development company that you hire, they will have to follow few steps through the mobile app development process.

Come up with suitable content

Content is a very important factor when it comes to language learning apps. No matter how great the features and functionalities are, your app tends to lose its credibility among users without powerful content.

For language learning apps, you have to carefully pick the necessary grammar training programs, language sounds, video and audio content, etc.

Duolingo stands out among a large number of language learning apps in the market for its wide variety of content. Content covering almost all aspects of language learning is required to convince the users that your app can guarantee success in learning.

If you look into the history of the Duolingo app, the founders spent an incredible amount of time reading books based on language teaching, with them searching up about 3000 words in Google and translate it to English.

With the data gathered through their efforts, they launched the app’s web version that helped many professional linguists. Later, they added more new languages to the app as more people started showing interest towards it.

Decide on the app development platform

iOS and Android being the two popular platforms out there, it is natural for businesses to go for both. If you are capable of managing both platforms simultaneously and have enough budget, it is absolutely worth giving the users access to the application from different devices using both platforms.

However, if you are just a beginner in the language learning app business with fewer resources and budget, it is safe to launch the app over any one platform at the beginning, where a major portion of your potential audience is likely to be present.

Design UI

Users always love apps with an appealing interface and intuitive navigation. Other factors that attract the users towards an app is the sense of familiarity and ease of use.

That is why it is necessary to do lots of brainstorming and go through several rounds of trial and error before finalizing the design. The key is to keep it clean, pleasant, and unique, with user-friendly navigation to gain the attention of users.

Also, use the apt and familiar icons, and decide on its placement in order to make the browsing experience a memorable one for the users.

Decide the technology stack

The backend has an important role when it comes to the response of an app upon receiving a request. Duolingo app’s backend includes 47 technologies, Objective C, JQuery, Javascript, Nginx, Bootstrap, Amazon Cloudfront, and Amazon S3 to name a few.

You can decide on your app’s technology stack by combining technologies that meet the requirements of the project and that go with the selected platform. Before making the final decision, it is wise to consult with the app development company you hire.

Include advanced technology

In recent years, going by the standards is considered boring. Users always seek something new and interesting, and that is why gamification of apps has been quite a trend these days.

In terms of language learning apps, you can include elements such as bonuses, achievements, and awards, that would retain the users’ interest and get them emotionally involved in the app for a long time.

Chatbots are one of the technologies that have become a norm for the majority of the apps in the market these days. This AI-powered technology can help guide the users to take further actions during the training in case they are lost.

The chatbots will also engage in conversations with the users to identify their preferred foreign language choice and help them to hold conversations in the language.

Other technologies that have to be included in language learning apps include AR/VR, voice recognition, Machine Learning, Cloud Natural Language Processing, and much more.

Including these technologies in the application will simplify the working of the app and, at the same time, makes it interactive and interesting for the users.

How Much Do You Have to Spend?

The cost to develop a language learning app can vary depending on the hired mobile app development company.

There are different factors to be considered, which include

Development team structure
Technology stack
Location
Tech expertise level
Number of app features and their complexity

The app development cost also depends on the number of hours a development team spends on the project and in case the team includes specialists, their rates would be included as well. In terms of location and professional expertise, the estimated cost would range from $25 to $150 per hour of work.

You can make use of the Redbytes App Cost Calculator to calculate the cost for developing a language learning app.

How Much Time Will It Take?

Developing a language learning app takes around 49 weeks to 79 weeks, i.e., 1 to 1.5 years if you consider it in terms of working hours. Therefore, if you have to create a language learning app in your plans, it is better to start at the earliest.

Conclusion

Creating a language learning app has its own difficulties and risks. However, with proper planning and implementation, such difficulties can be easily overcome to create a successful app.

Read Also : 20 Best Apps For Teachers & Educators 2020

If you have decided to invest in creating a language learning app, make sure that you decide on the application format and figure out the necessary details. Also, create a list of app implementation requirements and then hire developers to turn your idea into reality. Last but not the least, proper marketing support and promotion is necessary to ensure the success of your app.

15 Best e-Learning Apps For Business

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Super Admin Testreveal

For a business to grow successfully, proper learning and training is necessary for all the employees on the business strategies is the key. Also keeping them updated on the advanced technologies is important to compete well with other businesses. So it is not surprising that the elearning apps are slowly becoming an integral part of today’s business.

The user friendliness, the easy accessibility, and flexibility in proper coordination are making the use of elearning apps in business so relevant.

Here are a few among the best elearning apps you can try for your business this New Year to keep up the pace of the success rate.

Stepik	Quantic Business Courses	edX
Cursa	Marketing Plan Tutorials	LinkedIn Learning
Entrepreneur Business	LearnVern	Pluralsight
TubeStudy	Coursera	Udemy for Business
eSkillIndia	Moodle	Lynda

1. Stepik

Stepik provides you with the platform which gives you the free online courses ranging from computer science, languages like python to everything related to tech. Stepik has redefined the way of education by enabling the learning enthusiast to get his hands on, on his desired topic with just a touch of a button.

With Stepik mobile app you can now learn from anywhere and anytime. It makes sure that you are aligned with the ongoing video lectures and lets you access the assignments too.

App Features

It lets you download the lectures for your studies even in the offline mode.
You can import the deadlines on the calendar to make sure that you don’t miss meeting it.
It lets you engage with fellow students in the comments section so that your queries are answered in minutes.
It also lets you earn the certificate which you can flaunt on your professional network like LinkedIn.
You can adjust the speed of the video according to your learning speed.

Rating: 4.8/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

2. Quantic Business Courses

Quantic is very proud to tell that, we are the mobile-first business school that offers the online MBA and also the radical Executive MBA, which students can choose as an alternative to the elite campus programs.

It offers fast, focused, and comprehensive business degrees which will boost your career. Quantic is a perfect choice for someone who wants to switch the career or wants to get ahead in the career.

App Features

You can get a variety of courses from Digital Marketing to Venture Capital Funding.
It is aligned with the world’s leading business schools.
It provides you with the sample free introductory lessons.
It provides some amazing animation which makes the learning process even easier.
It provides a free online MBA.

Rating: 4.8/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android, iOS

3. edX

edX is one of the most trusted elearning apps for business. edX has already been a favorite choice for over 20 million learning enthusiasts. Upgrading new skills and enhancing your career has been made easier now with the edX learning platform, you can now get certification in your desired stream and boost your career.

The courses offered by edX are over 2000, which includes web development, data science, business management and etc.

App Features

It conducts exams to test your knowledge after completing every course.
It includes courses for high school students as well as working professionals.
Experts teaching the course are the experts from the world’s top universities.
It gives you the provision to try the course for free.

Rating: 4.6/5

Downloads: 5,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

4. Cursa

Learning by watching the videos makes the process easier and smooth, Cursa learning is undoubtedly one of the most sophisticated elearning apps for business to study a variety of subjects. Get certification after successfully completing each course and enhance your career.

Cursa also gives you the option to save the videos of your desired classes and lets you watch them whenever you want.

App Features

You can sign up for free in Cursa.
You can easily switch to the night view mode.
The courses ranging from Health, Management studies and etc.
It also offers text courses for the ones who like reading the notes.
It has the bookmark feature in the text course to ensure your resume to the same page.

Rating: 4.6/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

5. Advertising & Marketing Plan Tutorials & Strategy

If you are a marketing enthusiast who is still starting the career or have enough experience and want to upgrade yourself, Advertising & Marketing Plan Tutorials & Strategy is the one-stop solution for you. Learning marketing is now made easier by just watching the videos.

The courses range from Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Paid advertising, etc. You can now start your online business by just watching the videos and following the notes.

App Features

The app focuses on both offline and online marketing.
The explanation given in the app is simple and easily understandable.
The video quality of the app is engaging enough to hold the viewers on screen.
It gives a good explanation of the fundamentals of marketing and advertising.

Rating: 4.6/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android, iOS

Read Also : 20 Best Apps For Teachers & Educators 2021

6. LinkedIn Learning

There is no doubt that LinkedIn is one of the most trusted and sophisticated professional elearning apps for business present in current times. LinkedIn lets you grow your skills which keeps you ahead of your competition.

It provides you over 16000+ courses all of which belong to a high standard and quality content. LinkedIn’s unique feature of providing bit size crisp video courses is something that makes it unique from its competition.

App Features

It gives you a personalized course recommendation.
It lets you save courses and watch them later.
It provides you certificates which you can share on LinkedIn.
It gives you access to a premium LinkedIn feature.
You can now download the courses and watch them later.

Rating: 4.5/5

Downloads: 5,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

7. Entrepreneur Business Ideas

Learning online is the new normal and Entrepreneur Business Ideas learning app is doing its best to produce more entrepreneurs by giving them the right guidance. This app contains articles that give you insights on how to begin planning any business.

This app consists of 20,000 business plans which will for sure encourage entrepreneurs to pick up any idea and make it big by taking the guidance from the app.

App Features

It gives you the articles of new business ideas.
It has an inbuilt tool that helps you create a small business plan.
You can always get in touch with the experienced entrepreneurs for guidance through our app.
It also tells you the best business idea amongst the plethora.

Rating: 4.5/5

Downloads: 500,000+

Download: Android

8. LearnVern – Learn Free Full Courses + Certificate

LearnVern provides you 100 percent free tutorials that are taught in Hindi. Once you complete the course it also lets you get connected with the employers as well. The courses range from computer languages to subjects of mechanical and civil.

It has been trusted by millions of students across India and Bangladesh. This app has different courses for freshers as well as experienced professionals.

App Features

It lets you connect with employers and help you land your dream job.
Upon finishing the course you will be awarded the certificate.
It is absolutely free of cost.
The app is super easy to navigate even for the rookies.

Rating: 4.5/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android

9. Pluralsight

Learning technology skills are redefined with the Pluralsight E-Learning app. Find online video courses from software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, IT Ops, data analysis, AI and machine learning, and many more, around 7000+ in total.

Pluralsight also lets you download the contents, and certification prep too. And you can also bookmark courses of choice and it will be automatically sync in all devices.

App Features

It has organized content that lets you learn without the hassle and reach your goals faster.
You can tune in to most demanded conferences like Microsoft Insight.
It lets you do the learning check to ensure your learning goals are met.
It has simple and easy to use user interface.

Rating: 4.4/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

10. TubeStudy

Learning is now fun with TableStudy, you now get access to thousands of videos on your favorite courses which are taught by the professionals who are best in the industry. What’s more amazing about this app is, it is absolutely free!

You can find courses ranging from different types of programming languages, cooking, drawing and etc.

App Features

This app also provides learning different languages like French, German and etc.
It is absolutely free of cost.
They publish the updates on google play regularly.
It has a simple and easy to use interface.

Rating: 4.4/5

Downloads: 500,000+

Download: Android

11. Coursera

You can now learn your favorite subjects and take desired courses from anywhere and anytime on Coursera. It gives you more than 2000 courses and the specialization is developed by some of the best colleges and universities in the world.

You can now boost up your career by taking a course in this app and earning a certificate.

App Features

The courses include different programming languages, Art, design, etc.
You can join Coursera, free of cost.
The specializations of the courses are developed by over 140+ best colleges.
It lets you download the video and watch it in the offline mode.

Rating: 4.3/5

Downloads: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

12. Udemy for Business

Udemy for Business helps you learn top-rated content courses in your desired stream anytime from anywhere. Udemy makes sure that you are equipped with the fresh and the best content to keep you ahead in the race.

The courses have been taught by the most experienced professionals, industry leaders from across the globe.

App Features

It lets you choose your own pace by giving different speed options.
You can interact with lecturers through live Q & A.
You can download the lesson and watch it offline.
It gives you the fresh content of that particular industry.

Rating: 4.2/5

Downloads: 500,000+

Download: Android, iOS

13. eSkillIndia

Skilling and upskilling yourself is now easy with eSkillIndia learning app. It is an initiative by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). You can find a plethora of courses in various industries in this app.

eSkillIndia gives you the catalog of the complete courses offered by them. The courses range from Management to Electronics and etc.

App Features

You can access the courses in English, Hindi, and different regional languages.
You can adjust the speed of the courses at your convenience.
It just takes 1 minute for the registration process.
It has both free as well as paid courses.
It has a very friendly navigation app and simple to use interface.

Rating: 3.9/5

Downloads: 100,000+

Download: Android

14. Moodle

Leaning online has become a new trend and most of all the need for an hour. Moodle makes the process of online education easier, simpler, and at the same time impactful as well. You can now access a variety of courses with just a tap of a button.

Since the official mode app only works with the Moodle sites, making sure it has been correctly configured is necessary.

App Features

It gives you the notification of the events.
It lets you upload the images, videos and etc. from your mobile.
It lets you access the courses even in the offline mode.
It lets you view your course grades.

Rating: 3.6/5

Downloads: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

15. Lynda

You can now access the plethora of wonderful online courses from Lynda which gives you the best content from across the world. The most exciting part is that it is now LinkedIn Learning.

It lets you learn the skills which are on-demand so that you can be ahead of the race in the industry. The courses have been taught by expert faculty.

App Features

It gives you the personalized course recommendation.
You can download the course and watch it offline.
The video tutorials include captions to make learning even easier.
You can create your own training plan.

Rating: 3.5/5

Downloads: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

Read Also : 15 Best Elearning Apps For Kids 2021

Closing Thoughts

Giving a tough fight to the competitors is the key to stand up high in your business and improve the reach of your product to a large user base. Well trained employees who are comprehensively coordinated to handle the business become really important to register your business in this competitive market.

The elearning apps for business are truly a handy option and an inexpensive alternative to heavily charged training programs by experts. With such amazing apps, all what the officials have to do is to introduce the app to the team and may be set up an account.

However, the way you use these elearning apps to train your employees is really important and it depends on the type of business you handle.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

How to Build an eLearning Platform Like Coursera

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Super Admin Testreveal

Forbes magazine reported that the eLearning industry is estimated to reach a whopping USD 325 billion by 2025. With the success of platforms like Coursera, a lot of entrepreneurs are encouraged to create an elearning app with some really unique concepts, features and functionalities.

Coursera was a combination of a billion dollar idea supported by a reliable and stable platform. Let’s deep dive into the story to create your own elearning app like Coursera and its development cost.

What Is the Background of Coursera?

Prior to benchmarking your eLearning app against an established business, it is important that you are aware of its history and pathway to success.

The story of Coursera began with two Stanford Professors from the Computer Science department way back in 2012. They were inspired by the range of online programs being offered by Stanford.

Incidentally, when they launched the Coursera platform, Stanford was the first university of its stature to offer course content. The platform evolved with the founders offering more specialised content that was aimed at drawing a larger student base.

Since then, the rise has been meteoric and there has been no looking back. Unquestionably, they’ve done something right. Therefore, let’s take a look at what really distinguishes Coursera from its competitors:

Its advanced technology provides a world-class learning experience
Dynamic and competitive pricing policy for their courses with options of free modules
Its rating system is a benchmark to evaluate educator expertise and content quality on an ongoing basis
Multi-lingual educational content gives students the opportunity to learn from experts from across the globe
A dedicated course creation toolkit that enables the quick formulation of free and premium courses
A network of global educators and instructors who are keen to share their knowledge and experience

This information can certainly help in building your platform’s foundation. Draw on the strengths and weaknesses to come up with your own one-of-a-kind idea. But before that, look at Coursera app features, steps to create, and, of course, the development cost that can act as your guide.

Define Your Niche

Think about the courses that you intend to offer even before you have started to create the Coursera app. It is best to concentrate on subject areas that are popular. This can help in quick revenue generate for the platform.

Some common areas that you can focus on are:

Business and Entrepreneurship
Marketing and Sales
Finance
Health
Fitness
Arts and Crafts
Education
Personal Development
Computer and Technologies

What Are the Essential Features of an e-Learning Platform?

For any first time venture, experts recommend choosing an MVP model for your app that should be integrated with the core features and functionalities. You can keep adding new features as the platform gains in popularity.

Now, time to take a more detailed look at the eLearning platform features.

#1. User Registration

All eLearning apps must have a user registration process before students can start their learning experience. The common ways that the majority of applications adopt these days is using phone number/email id with a password combination.

Many platforms also choose to integrate quick registrations through social media handles like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

However, the registration system should have all the necessary algorithms in the backend to authenticate the credentials easily. Plus, it should be secure for users to share their personal information.

#2. Profile Management

The platform needs to have dedicated sections for both students and teachers to manage their profiles.

For Student Profile Management, the information that needs to be gathered include:

User info
Enrolments
A list of active and completed courses
Information about earned certificates/credits/points
History of purchases and transactions
Wishlist
Profile settings

On the other hand, instructors and teachers who are registered on the eLearning platform should be allowed to build their profiles with similar information such as:

Info page (with information about degree or establishment they represent)
List of added courses

#3. Search Filters

All eLearning platforms will comprise of a catalogue of courses. For sites like Coursera that hosts hundreds of programs, prospective learners should have access to a tool to look up information that they need.

Common search tools that should be integrated are:

Search bars enabled with keywords
Filters such as level, price, language, rates, etc.
Categories
Popular program or recommended courses

#4. Categories and Subcategories

As the number of courses increase, you need to ensure that they are divided into categories and subcategories. This can be done by engineers using special algorithms that can organise the programs in a consistent manner.

Major categories can include:

Liberal arts / Humanities
Natural Sciences
Engineering
Computational Sciences
Languages
Business
Self-development

Advanced categorisation should be able to match courses to the learner’s interests.

#5. Featured Courses

It can be overwhelming for prospective learners on how to start searching for programs. In fact, many are unsure of what they wish to pursue even after they have landed on the platform.

A Featured Courses section basically highlights a block of trending programs on the site’s main page. This list can help users get started on their search for programs.

Read Also : How to Create an App Like Byjus ?

#6. Tag New Courses

Apart from Features Courses, another way to discover new programs is by enabling a tagging system. Students can tag their friends to the relevant fields of courses which makes it easier for the word to get around.

Alternatively, newly launched programs can be made visible to registered students on their respective home pages or on the recommendation list.

#7. Recommendations

Course Recommendations is an innovative feature to help learners discover new programs that they probably did not think of before. The algorithm assesses key information about the user’s views and interests and generates insights to recommend course suggestions based on:

Courses based on your recent activity
Because you viewed X
Most popular in X
Most popular courses
Most popular certificates
Trendy courses

#8. Course Page

The course page highlights the complete outlines of the program in question. Generally, the page captures the following information:

Brief description
Information about its creator
Usage instructions
Syllabus
The list of topics and materials
Start and end dates
Ratings, and reviews

The course page also shares information on the kind of activities that the students will be expected to participate and how the course will be delivered. Typically, most courses will have:

Pre-recorded videos, podcasts, recordings
Subtitles
Interactive textbooks
Quizzes
Tools for peer-reviewed assignments
Chatting with classmates and mentors
Discussion forums

The information on rewards, grades and the certification system will also be shared on this page.

#9. Course Enrolment

Once the learners have selected the courses, they should be able to access them without any restrictions. The process for this is to register on the site, add the course to the shopping cart and then pay for it.

Select courses come with a free trial period post which the users will have to make a payment to access the remaining content. Clearing payment will enrol the student for the selected programs and add them to their user profile.

#10. Payment Methods

Most eLearning platforms will have paid courses enlisted. Hence, it just makes sense to have a secure payment gateway integrated with the platform. Other than collecting course fees, the instructors would need to be paid too. Therefore, the process is two-way.

Some secure payment methods that are popular on eLearning sites are:

Debit/credit cards
PayPal
Stripe or Braintree

#11. Dashboard

The platform needs a feature through which both teachers and students can monitor and track their progress during the delivery of the course.

For instance, students can view the number of active and enrolled programs, the status of completion, number of hours spent on the program, and more.

Teachers, on the other hand, can also view the number of programs added to their delivery list, enrolled students per class, ratings, traffic, their earnings, and more. All of this can be done via the dashboard.

#12. Course-making & Editing Page

The course creation and editing features are relevant only to the instructors in the case of eLearning platforms. These tools make it convenient for teachers to build programs by inserting the following:

Course structure
Add materials
Exercises
Links to additional resources such as pdfs, videos, audio files, etc.

The editing tool helps teachers make changes to the courses or remove them from the delivery list when necessary.

#13. Advanced Video Player

For learners, video delivery of lectures today is one of the key sources of information. Hence, it makes sense to have the required backend architecture to support the bandwidth of an advanced video player on the platform.

Apart from being intuitive and slick, the player should be able to perform the following:

Play and pause video at will
Control playback speed
View subtitles
Control video resolution

The video player should be able to adapt to varying bandwidths of internet connectivity. In fact, the option to change video resolution will help learners to watch the video even if the network is slow.

#14. Implementing Gamification

Coursera has recently started using gamification functionality on the platform to minimise dropout rates. The popular mechanisms that they have tried out are:

Introduced community events such as writing competitions and contributor tournaments
Build a community thread by uploading useful study materials and responding to queries
Learners receive ratings and in turn, allows them to seek assistance from fellow users
Dynamic leader boards to capture information on top contributors and active learners
Highlighting badges for accomplishing program goals in the community thread
Rewards in the form of online money

#15. Rating and Reviews

A credible feedback system is an essential feature of any eLearning platform. It helps build trust among learners. By soliciting user opinion on key parameters that is later formulated into a rating and review structure is a useful strategy to have on board.

This can act as a motivating factor and drive new users to enrol for programs listed on the platform.

#16. Support

When developing an eLearning platform, it is vital to have a support feature in place especially with the number of courses increasing and a higher number of students enrolling for them.

They may have a lot of questions which needs to be attended to or else you are at the risk of leaving them frustrated.

Ideally, using machine learning technologies makes sense here as it has the ability to track student activities to zero in on individuals who require greater support services.

This can be done via a system of automated emails that can resolve problems related to the course. Plus, having chatbots to respond to routine queries can minimise pressure on real-time agents.

#17. Blog

Having a blog on any eLearning platform is a must. This is where students to go learn more about their selected programs, industry news, facts and figures, job possibilities, and more. The blog can also be effectively used as a digital marketing tool to draw in more traffic to the site.

#18. Multilingual Content

By allowing multilingual content on the platform ensures exposure to a greater number of students and teachers. By not restricting course delivery in a single language enables more students from around the globe to reach their learning goals.

To streamline the process, a filter can be added that allows students to look up instructors by the preferred language of communication.

#19. Notifications and Reminders

Push notifications are a great feature to share news, update, events, course ratings, reviews and recommendations with your audience base.

You can also circulate changes to terms and conditions, modifications in the course syllabus, fee structures with the relevant students if needed.

#20. Admin Panel

With all the features sorted out, the last functionality which is a must have for your eLearning platform is the Admin Panel. Be it managing content, users, teachers, courses and programs, the website, generating reports and insights all happens via this single dashboard.

Even marketing activities such as sharing push notifications, newsletters and more take place via the Admin Panel.

Read Also : How to Create an App Like Unacademy ?

How to Choose The Development Approach?

There are two ways in which you can develop an eLearning platform like Coursera. You can either opt for a ready-made solution from the marketplace or go walk the journey of building it from scratch.

Let’s understand the pros and cons of using these individual approaches.

#1. Ready-made Products

When you create a platform like Coursera app, you want to enter the market as quickly as possible. A number of open source software such as Joomla and Moodle provide readymade solutions that come in-built with basic student management functionalities.

That said, there is a limitation to the number of plugins that you can integrate or personalise the features to suit business needs. Even adding unique or specific functionalities on these open source tools can be difficult to achieve.

#2. Custom Software Development

If budget is not a constraint, then you would probably be inclined to develop custom software for your eLearning platform. This allows you to incorporate a greater number of unique features and functionalities in the application that caters only to the needs of your target audience.

That said, a custom software development, although perfect for a platform like Coursera can be a long drawn process.

What Is the Technology Stack for Creating Platform Like Coursera?

Coursera has been developed using custom designed software. The following technologies have been used to create the same:

#1. Back-end Development

PHP was used initially for the first lines of coding. As the platform evolved and the engineering team became more experienced, the developers went with Python and Go. The final choice rested with Scala in combination with the Play framework that is still in use to this day.

Coursera manages its relational databases using MySQL and Amazon Relational Database Service. Nginx was used as a Web Server and Amazon S3 as the cloud storage option.

#2. Front-end Development

JavaScript, ReactJS, and Bootstrap are some of the client-side technologies that Coursera used to develop the front-end.

#3. Third-party tools and Integrations

Jira, Slack, G Suite are some of the popular collaboration and productivity applications used on the Coursera platform. Amazon CloudSearch and Elastic Search are options to integrate Search and Analytics. Other third-party tools may include Trello, Dropbox, Slack, Salesforce, Zendesk, etc.

While this can serve as your basic guideline, it is recommended that you go with the tech stack that caters to your business needs. This can be done in consultation with your development team.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

What Should be The Team Constitution to Create A Coursera App ?

With your planning phase over, it is time to get together a team to develop your eLearning platform. This is not a project that any one individual can execute on their own as different stages will require specialists with a variety of technical knowledge and expertise.

The best option is to hire a team of qualified developers. The team constitution can look something like this:

Project manager: 1
UI/UX designers: 2 to 3
Team leaders: 3 to 4
Programmers: 5 to 6
Quality analysts: 2 to 3

How Much Does It Cost to Create an App Like Coursera ?

Keeping in the mind the feature list, tech stack, and team of technical experts discussed, the estimated cost to create an eLearning app like Coursera is estimated to be anywhere between USD 76,500 to USD 1,03,000.

Other factors that can influence the budget are the type of application you wish to develop and how many platforms that you would consider deploying it.

Along with the location of your development team and the number of hours spent on the development process also contribute to it.

The estimated timeline that may be required to build a Coursera clone platform may look somewhat like this:

Technical implementation: 40 to 55 hours
UI and UX design: 350 hours
Front and Back-end process: 450 hours
Testing-: 80 hours

The average hourly rates of developers who are specialists in developing eLearning applications are:

USA: $100 to $200 per hour
United Kingdom: $60 to $150 per hour
Western Europe: $80 to $190 per hour
Eastern Europe: $40 to $100 per hour
India: $30 to $55 per hour

Do bear in mind that this is just an estimate and the actual cost will depend on features you plan on adding in the application along with the other parameters already discussed.

Read Also : 20 Best Apps For Teachers & Educators 2020

Summing up

No doubt, Coursera is considered one of the world’s leading eLearning service providers. Hence, to create an app like Coursera is a smart business decision.

That said, you have to do more than just create a clone product. Integrate the idea with unique concepts, features and functionalities that will give you an equal chance of success in this extremely competitive industry.

15 Best Kids Learning Apps For Android & iOS

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Super Admin Testreveal

In the new world of digital revolution, kids no longer need to completely depend on the conventional ways of learning. Almost all countries are calling for online education in these tough covid days and kids learning apps are a great choice to boost their learning.

The use of games for educational purposes has emerged as a new trend in today’s learning arena and these amazing apps have a lot to offer

Parents and teachers are always looking for creative ways to help the kids to learn the tough subjects with ease. Unlike chalkboards, textbooks and whiteboards, these mobile apps are designed to add gamification, fun and excitement to kids’ learning phase.

However, choosing the right app matters a lot as it moulds the way a kid approaches a subject.

Here we have shortlisted some of the best kids learning apps available for different platforms.

Epic	BYJU’S	Elevate
ABC Kids	Khan Academy Kids	Lingokids
Educational Games for Kids	YouTube Kids	Math Kids
Kindergarten Kids Learning	Puzzle Kids	ABC PreSchool Kids
Kids Brain Trainer	Prodigy Math Game	Colors for Kids

1. Epic!: Kids’ Books, Audio Books, Videos & eBooks

This is an amazing digital library designed for kids of age 12 and under that offers access to over 40,000 high-quality books for kids, reading quizzes and learning videos. This unlimited reading and learning platform can be taken anywhere on the go.

App Features

Kids can explore their interests in a fun, safe, kid-friendly environment
There are no ads or in-app purchases
Offers personalized book recommendations for each child based on their reading levels and interests
Allows to create a maximum of four individual, customized child profiles
User can access the app from Android, iOS or any Web browser

Ratings: 4.6

Installs: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

2. BYJU’S – The Learning App

This is the largest learning platform for school students across the globe with 42 million registered users. Students between classes 4th-12^th can master Math and Science through comprehensive learning programs and innovative activities.

App Features

Learn through engaging video lessons and personalized learning journeys
Free live classes by expert teachers for classes 4-12
Chapter wise tests are customized to the learning requirement of every student
Different modules offer revision and practice sessions to perfect their understanding of concepts
93% parents reported an increase in their kids’ grades after using the app

Ratings: 4.5

Installs: 50,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

3. Elevate – Brain Training Games

This is an amazing app that works as a brain training program which improves attention, processing speed, memory, speaking skills, math skills, and more. Kids can play games and improve their critical cognitive skills that boost productivity and enhance self-confidence.

App Features

35+ brain games for critical cognitive skills like focus, memory, processing, math, precision, and comprehension
Parents can check kid’s progress through detailed performance tracking
Personalized training programs are designed to adjust over time to maximize results.
Offers a 7-day free trial as well as a free version

Ratings: 4.5

Installs: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

4. ABC Kids – Tracing & Phonics

This is a fun, free, and simple kids learning app designed to learn phonics and trace letters of the alphabet. Adults can enter the Teacher Mode to look at report cards, or toggle tracing and phonics games to better facilitate learning.

App Features

Includes ABC tracing games, phonics pairing and letter matching
Smart interface helps kids to focus on phonics and letters
Uppercase and lowercase letters to trace, listen to, and match
Involves no third party ads or in-app purchases

Ratings: 4.4

Installs: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

5. Khan Academy Kids: Free educational games & books

This award-winning app features thousands of educational activities, songs, books, and games for toddlers, kindergarteners, preschoolers, and first graders. The app is designed with adaptive learning path to customize their experience and help them to master different skills.

App Features

Platform for kids to learn reading, language, writing, math and social-emotional development
Kids can read books on their own or follow along with recorded audio narration
Open-ended activities and games encourage creativity and self-expression
Adaptive learning path allows each child to learn at their own pace
App is completely free with no ads and no subscriptions

Ratings: 4.4

Installs: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

Read Also : 20 Best Free Apps For Toddlers 2020

6. Lingokids – The playlearning™ app in English

This is a cool learning app designed for students from 2 to 8 years of age to help them learn English in a fun and playful way. It offers a safe learning environment which is free from distractions and ads.

App Features

Kids can learn with content that adapts to their age and English level.
No previous knowledge or English studies are required to learn with Lingokids
Parents mode let the adults to check the kids’ progress
Offline Mode allows to download the activities to device and learn without an internet connection

Ratings: 4.4

Installs: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

7. Educational Games for Kids

This is one of the best kids learning apps for Android users designed to help kids to learn alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, months of the year, days of the week, space, planets of our solar system, and much more.

App Features

Flashcards are designed to study new words easily
Introduces solar system for kids in a fun way
Games are designed to train memory and improve pronunciation
Kids are taught to learn real English and recognize letters

Ratings: 4.4

Installs: 5,000,000+

Download: Android

8. YouTube Kids

This is an amazing video app made just for kids to offer a more contained environment for learning that lets them to explore their areas of interests in simple and fun ways. The app is designed with a mix of automated filters to ensure a kid friendly ambience and assure a safer online experience for them.

App Features

Parents can limit screen time to help encourage their transition from watching to doing.
Allows creation of up to eight kid profiles, each with their own viewing preferences and video recommendations
“Approved Content Only” mode can be enabled to handpick the videos, channels and/or collections
Includes family-friendly videos on diverse topics to igniting the kids’ inner creativity and playfulness

Ratings: 4.3

Installs: 100,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

9. Math Kids – Add, Subtract, Count, and Learn

$math kids$

This is a free learning game designed to teach young kids numbers and mathematics. Kids can get engaged with several mini-games and interesting puzzles to better their math skills and learn the basics of counting, addition, and subtraction.

App Features

Games are designed to improve their sorting, and logical skills along with early mathematics
Parents can customize game modes to increase or decrease the difficulty
Kids can learn while playing these cool games which helps them to recall information easily
Quiz section puts the child’s math and addition skills to the test

Ratings: 4.3

Installs: 5,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

10. Kindergarten Kids Learning: Fun Educational Games

This is a fun kids learning app that helps kids to learn alphabet, numbers, counting, tracing, shapes, rhymes, coloring, interactive charts, & body parts. It features attractive and colourful designs and pictures designed particularly for young kids.

App Features

Offers color books with many colouring pages and pictures, and stickers
Can learn alphabet letters with charts and interactive fun quizzes
Attractive and interactive charts are available for learning vegetables, fruits, sports, professions, animals, numbers, solar system, planet and stars
Kids can learn to write and trace ABC and numbers with alphabet tracing for English, Spanish, Hindi and numbers.

Ratings: 4.3

Installs: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

11. Puzzle Kids – Animals Shapes and Jigsaw Puzzles

This is a creative app that helps to build your kid’s logic skills and enable them to recognize shapes and patterns. The app features mini-game that challenges the kids to solve jigsaw puzzles, locate and manipulate shapes, and recognize how shapes fit into a larger picture.

App Features

Colorful interface is designed to help kids manipulate on-screen objects
Challenges the problem solving and logic skills through fun games
Kids can improve concentration and cognitive skills
Stickers and toys can be earned as rewards
Offers a clever and colorful learning experience that makes kids crave for more

Ratings: 4.3

Installs: 10,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

12. ABC PreSchool Kids Tracing & Phonics Learning Game

This is a comprehensive learning app that is designed for toddlers to learn basic tracing starting from lines and phonics. The fun and educational activities enable them to effortlessly trace the numbers 1 to 10, letters of the alphabet ABCs and shapes & colours.

App Features

Comprehensive options to learn and play with over 650+ worksheets
Kids tracing games teaches alphabet reading and writing numbers
Have fun phonics song animations from A to Z
Offers over 350+ images to colour, paint, draw, or doodle
Familiarise with sounds with audio for each letter and number

Ratings: 4.1

Installs: 5,000,000+

Download: Android

13. Kids Brain Trainer (Preschool)

This is a fun and exciting kids learning app that features a set of brain exercises for preschool kids, toddlers and babies. With colourful and educational themes, kids can enhance their visual-motor skills and eye-hand coordination.

App Features

Kids can easily navigate between puzzles
App is designed with high-quality pictures and images
Kids are engaged and entertained with joyful stickers, awards and cheerful background music
Designed with rich animations, pronunciations, sound effects, and interactivity to encourage speed repetitive learning

Ratings: 4.2

Installs: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

14. Prodigy Math Game

This is an amazing game based application that is designed to transform education which is loved by over 50 million students and a million teachers across the globe. Kids can have a unique learning experience through engaging, effective and interactive math games.

App Features

Content is tailored to every player’s strengths and weaknesses
1,400 available skills give students the chance to learn more and keep growing
Kids can go on quests and play with friends while learning new skills
Parents can monitor child’s understanding and progress, set goals and give rewards to encourage them

Ratings: 4.2

Installs: 1,000,000+

Download: Android, iOS

15. Colors for Kids, Toddlers, Babies – Learning Game

This is a fun and simple educational game for kids aged 2-5 years old that introduces basic colours. The features of the app help them to build associations with different objects such as fruit, animals and others.

App Features

Learn colours in many languages including English, Spanish, Russian, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Chinese and Vietnamese
3 mini educational games to play and learn colours
Colour games are designed to train fine motor skills, memory, attentiveness, perseverance and curiosity
Kids can come across a lot of new objects and words and thus broaden vocabulary and outlook

Ratings: 4

Installs: 10,000,000+

Download: Android

Read Also : 18 Best Apps For Teachers & Educators 2020

Conclusion

Modern day kids learning apps are booming with amazing creativity and potential to enhance the learning arena of kids. Specially tailored apps for kids are designed to help them master the difficult subjects effortlessly without the feel of actual learning.

The endless options of fun, games and creativity in fact invoke the interest of learning among kids and they crave for more.

The advanced learning means and methods introduced through these awesome apps help kids to grow up smarter and brighter and boost their creativity and cognitive skills.

Parents and teachers would love to have one or a few of such efficient apps installed on the device that will truly transform the way kids approach learning

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

Why Education Apps are the Future of Learning

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Super Admin Testreveal

The traditional art of learning has witnessed a huge change with the introduction of technology. The old system restricted new changes in the modes and methods of teaching and there was no questioning the supreme authority of teachers.

Modern day teachers are facilitators rather than authoritarians. Also the student status has changed from that of passive listeners to active contributors of self development.

This change in view towards imparting education was accompanied in the last few years by research and growth of the education app development industry.

There are thousands of apps being developed and launched in order to provide assistance to formal education in schools and colleges.

What awaits Education?

We cannot just predict the future of education and learning from plain guesses or draw non-objective conclusions. Education as we know it today had very humble beginnings.

Our reservoir of knowledge in every stream was the result of our predecessors’ continuous effort to innovate and discover.

Later, at least in several countries this process came to a halt, and the only meaning that the word education carried with it for a lot of people became memorizing and retaining what had been memorized.

Read also : Best Educational Apps For Kids

There was no need for innovations or individuality in learning. Curiosity and critical thinking were only required limitedly.

Education app development is a highly demanding task in itself. They should be appropriate to the age group and should match with the curriculum and the needs of each individual child.

So it is important that you contact the right Educational app development company to deliver your apps that will cater to your specific educational needs.

Taking Educational apps to the Future

Nowadays, majority of students in developed countries are smartphone owners. Mobile devices have drifted from luxury items list to essential items list.

It will not be a wonder when in the future, education will be commonly provided through an electronic only medium. Each student will have their own device which is either owned or provided by their institution.

As of now, educational app learning is not intended to be an educational method in itself but rather it is supposed to complement the existing ways. Students can take advantage of learning at their convenience with these apps.

Self-teaching and anytime-learning are all positives of learning with apps. The way students learn is diverse and mobile apps provide this flexibility.

Role of Teachers and Parents

Teachers, parents and students should be aware of the changing trends in the industry. The major ones emerging now is going cloud and being social.

Smart devices with educational apps installed on them have the potential to replace notebooks and textbooks. It will altogether change the prevalent concepts of classrooms and the ways students are taught.

Students and teachers can locate themselves locally or globally and be a member of the same school or university.

Educational apps provide many benefits to students which include convenience and fun elements while learning. As mobile devices overtake computers, could these apps be the future of learning?

Everything is available in a Single Device

In virtual methods, children are expected to start learning when they feel at any time in the day as the notes would be available on the app and you need not have to wait for a class or lecture.

Educational apps promote self-learning as they are handy and provides a wider range of information on a single device.

Organised Learning

Before, learning was documented via paper, extensive files etc. Educational apps, however, allow learning in a smart and systematic way. Files are saved online in an organised manner and are easily accessible for learners.

Apps provide enhanced learning experience for the students as compared to the regular classes. This enables them to take more interest in all the subjects, even the ones which they found boring earlier.

Beneficial For all Users

While educational apps are beneficial to children, parents and teachers can also get benefited from these apps. Teachers can use apps to organise their teaching plans to make classes more interactive. Apps are easy to alter and update, essentially giving users more time to spend on learning.

With the use of cloud technology, information can be stored and retrieved universally. Teachers can share learning aids such as pictures, PDFs, videos, podcasts etc.

Online which can be accessed from the student’s smartphone or tablet. They can also grade their student’s assignments and projects likewise.

Education app development holds to be the future in education, where students can learn from anywhere and teachers can teach from anywhere.

Overall, educational apps have certainly improved self-learning, as they are convenient, easy and provide a range of different learning styles, in and out of the classroom. So, definitely education apps can move on to be the future of learning in coming years.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

‘Virtuali-Tee’-An Augmented Reality App to Learn About Body’s Internal Organs

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Super Admin Testreveal

Ed Barton, the CEO of Curiscope has discovered a new app called ‘Virtuali-Tee’, an educational app that works with augmented reality to learn about internal organs inside the body.

This eye-opening experiment is not carried out through various specimens and skeletons but into his own body.

Read Also
Apps for Commuter Convenience Introduced in Thane, WB by Transport Departments

The AR-based app works using the camera of a smartphone and allows the technology to digitally view the body and show organs such as the stomach, heart and lungs. As the device is moved from one side to another the 3D realistic model also moves. This app can help users look into their own anatomy.

Barton and his co-workers at Curiscope raised almost 75,000 British pounds to make this project a reality.

The app allows the users to tap on a particular organ and get a video description of the things viewed.

The app costs around 20-24 British pounds and works on both Android and iOS devices. It can be downloaded for free, but the app only works with the accompanying of blue, green or red T-shirts.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

12 Common Features of Good Learning Apps for Kids

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Super Admin Testreveal

There are more people in the world who own a mobile phone than there are people who own a toothbrush. A two year old knows how to hold an iPhone properly and how to lock/unlock it. Mobile apps became the most successful innovation in the field of mobile technology and creative minds found its implementation in the field of education as well.

As learning app are getting in demand, new ones are flooding all the major digital stores everyday. Any parent or concerned teacher could easily be confused about choosing one. Hence, there is much importance in acquiring the skill needed for selecting the proper learning app for your kid and this skill depends greatly on understanding the common features of good learning apps.

The most important thing that an educational app for kids should have is the fun factor. Kids should be able to accomplish tasks and learning activities without even realizing that they are learning a thing or two! Even when it seems that an app is engaging in nature and your kid wants to use it again, one cannot conclude that the app could be educative. Being attractive and being educative are two totally different concepts.

This infographic lists 12 features every good learning apps for kids should possess.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

10 Common Features of Good Learning Apps for Kids

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Super Admin Testreveal

There are so many apps to choose from in the educational app category for children on all major app stores. Still, possibility is high that all your efforts may turn out unrewarding in the end. So, it is imperative that you should have a better knowledge on what makes the difference between a truly educational app and something that is just an eye candy. Here, we discuss about the features that every best learning apps for kids share in common.

Meet the State Standards: The learning apps for kids should focus on the state’s curriculum standards. For this, advice from teachers should be sought while developing the app.
Simple UX and Easy Navigation: The user interface should be simple. It should be designed and structured so as to make navigation easy for children.
Use Illustrations, Speech and Music: Children learn better if they are provided with enough examples and illustrations. For e.g., when teaching them simple operations like addition and couting, you can provide them with illustrations of the same. Apps can include music to keep them entertained, but a mute button should be provided in case they are needed. Additionally, speech should be offered in apps that target children who haven’t learned to read yet.
Short Activities at a Time: Learning activities should not be too time consuming, since kid’s tend to lose their concentration when a certain activity takes too much time and is confusing. There shouldn’t be elaborate learning procedures. All activities should be well-explained, short, simple, and directly related with the concept to be learned.
Set Goals that Aid Learning Naturally: Apps should promote activities that aid learning naturally. Your learning goal shouldn’t be too apparent to the children. This will make the activity seem monotonous and repetitive. Kids tend to like apps providing entertaining activities more than apps calling them to do memorizing activities. Apps should promote acquirement of qualities such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity etc.
Complexity should be Fit for the Learner’s Age and Cognitive Development: The concept and activities of learning apps for kids should be apt for the cognitive ability of the target audience. If an app is designed for children of an age range, then there should be options that will allow adults to select the right level for their children. More advanced levels can be chosen as the child progress with their learning. Also, if the chosen level is too easy for a child, then he or she will lose interest in the activity very soon. There should be something exciting and challenging for them to do in every activity.
Apps should Promote Social Involvement: The learning process is enhanced, when there is the right amount of social involvement. Parents, teachers, and peer groups should interact with the children in their activities to give them support and competition.
Locked Menus and Settings: Kid’s apps should be devoid of any unwanted distractions that take the focus away from the set goals. There shouldn’t be any popups, advertisements, links, social media, or similar distractions coming in between an activity. Everything should be locked and access should be given only for grown-ups.
Linear Advancement: The advancement of any activity should be made in a linear fashion to ensure flow. There shouldn’t be too many choices given. This will result in the kid’s loosing attention from the central activity.
Track Progress: There should be a well defined grading mechanism in place to check the kid’s learning progress. Feedback should not be restricted to positive ones alone. It is also not advisable to be too harsh on them or discouraging, when they are wrong. Negative feedbacks should be so designed that they will motivate the kids to keep on trying.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List

5 Smart Tips for Parents to Buy Learning Apps for Kids

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Super Admin Testreveal

ITunes and Play Store along with other major app stores categorise thousands of apps under the section, learning apps for kids. As a parent, you could be mesmerized by the wide choice of educational apps that are available in these digital stores. But, have you ever had a second thought about whether you are going to spend money on something that could be valuable for your kid’s educational needs?

This article will give you a fine idea on what has to be your considerations and not as a responsible parent, while selecting the same.

1. Minimalistic Distractions

Parents readily find it satisfactory and relaxing to choose an app that offers too much gameplay or noisy stuff thinking that these kind of apps could keep their children interested for long.

Although learning apps for kids should have a sufficient amount of entertainment value, it will be unwise to include too much distractions in them. Unwanted elements could keep your kids very far from reaching the goal. The best tactics will be to provide entertainment in an amount as much as would be necessary to keep them on track.

2. Avoid Inappropriate Content

Not many parents will give enough attention into checking whether the app content is appropriate for the age, individual ability, and cognitive development of the child. It is unfortunate that there is no regulatory systems that are in effect, which monitors the quality of the educational apps at present. As a result, anybody could make claims and is not required to answer to an authority. So, the responsibility to choose beneficial learning apps for kids lies in the hands of the parents and teachers alone.

It is advised that the apps should be checked properly to ensure it being fit for use by children. As children often imitate what they see and hear, it is very important that the apps should be devoid of violence or other kinds of information that may spoil your child.

3. Choose Apps that Encourage Social Involvement

Guidance is always part of the learning process. Choose apps that promote a good amount of parental interaction and team play. Your child will learn more when there is competition and support from peer groups.

4. Say No to Apps that Try to Market to Your Child

We are all happy with free for use stuffs. But, never take that approach with your child’s learning. What comes for free, has got its disadvantages.

Almost all of the ‘free’ and ‘lite’ apps that are available in the market do make efforts to market to your child. Offering in-app s, advertising for attractive paid apps, and restricting part of the content only for premium users are common marketing strategies used.

5. Look for Ratings and Reviews

Taking advice from teachers, parents, child psychologists, and interaction specialists is a crucial step during the educational app development process. This is because a lot of factors like content appropriateness, psychological influence of the content, average learning pace at the age etc. are to be considered before deciding the information that should go into an app.

So the parents should not blindly fall for the promises and claims given in the app’s description. Instead, they should check if the app has succeeded in building trust among the public. Each should be based on the popularity of the app. Look for brands that are already established in the field.

Though learning is something that is not detachable from one’s childhood, too much emphasis on the matter is also not good for a child’s overall progress and development. At times, children should be allowed to enjoy non-educational content too.

Also Check : Latest Updated Educational Apps Directory List