Mobile learning applications:
types, features & our expertise

Mobile learning applications: types, features & our expertise

Mobile learning stats

the global mobile learning market value in 2022

Global Market Insights

of all iOS apps in the App Store in 2022 were educational (third most popular category)

Statista

Types of mobile learning apps

The mobile learning market currently includes EdTech solutions designed for a variety of educational scenarios. Here are some popular examples:

Language learning apps

    This group includes foreign language learning apps offering online lessons and hands-on training through exercises and tests, along with support tools like online dictionaries.

    Example

    Apps for educators

      Often integrated with learning management systems (LMS), these applications help streamline tutoring workflows and include features for content authoring, task assignment, and learning progress tracking.

      Example

      Corporate training apps

        These are easily scalable EdTech solutions deployed to speed up employee onboarding and foster corporate training while improving staff retention and performance.

        Example

        Course delivery apps

          These apps act as mobile gateways for online course delivery platforms, enabling students to purchase and access eLearning content directly from their smartphones and tablets.

          Example

          Tutoring marketplace apps

            Most tutoring marketplaces integrate their web portals with mobile apps, offering an additional touchpoint between tutors listed on the platform and users interested in one-on-one learning.

            Example

            Campus apps

              These provide didactic and administrative tools, including content sharing, online classes, and lesson scheduling, to complement the learning experience at schools and colleges.

              Example

              Educational apps for kids

                Kids-oriented applications engage young learners with adapted user interfaces and gamified activities specifically designed to improve spelling, math, problem-solving and other skills.

                Example

                Trivia apps

                  These applications enable learners to test and expand their knowledge on a topic of their choice through individual quizzes or by competing against other users in multiplayer challenges.

                  Example

                  Embrace new ways of learning with Itransition's mobile solutions

                  Get in touch

                  Features of mLearning apps

                  mLearning apps can be customized with a set of functionalities selected according to the educational area and end-users your organization intends to target.

                  For teachers

                  Content authoring

                  to assemble learning materials optimized for mobile interfaces via built-in templates and drag-and-drop features

                  Learning content management

                  to store, edit, catalog, and search for educational resources in a unified repository

                  Multi-format content support

                  to use learning materials in different formats, such as videos, slideshows, and PDFs

                  Event calendar

                  to schedule lessons, workshops, and exams depending on learners’ and trainers’ availability

                  Teacher profiles

                  enabling educators to offer their services and share personal information like courses offered and certificates

                  Student management

                  via intuitive dashboards to gather learners’ data, monitor their progress, and provide feedback

                  Automated task & course assignment

                  based on students’ didactic curriculum or trainees’ roles and department

                  Video conferencing system

                  to conduct online lessons, record them for future access, and simulate in-class tasks

                  For learners

                  Signup/login system

                  to create and access a user account, including password setting and registration via Google

                  Course catalog

                  providing descriptions, reviews, and a search engine with filters to find relevant content

                  Content access features

                  to improve accessibility via offline access, mobile/desktop syncing, and multi-device login

                  Voice commands & chatbots

                  enabling interactive tasks, guided activities, and 24/7 technical support

                  Learning content localization

                  and real-time translation and transcription to provide educational services in multiple languages

                  of eLearning activities with challenges, team play, leaderboards, badges, and other game-inspired mechanics

                  Adaptive learning

                  based on the analysis of student performance and interests to personalize training content or tasks

                  Social learning

                  to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration via forums, chats, wikis, and social features (likes, shares, etc.)

                  Microlearning

                  involving bite-sized educational content and quick tasks completed within a short span of time

                  For administrators

                  Admin panel

                  with customizable dashboards to monitor eLearning service delivery and generate reports

                  Role-based access & multitenancy

                  to set up different user roles with access to distinct interfaces and functionality

                  Account management

                  to streamline and automate user registration, account data entry, and course enrollment

                  Ticketing system

                  to process user queries and provide technical support in case of service outages

                  Push notifications & alerts

                  to remind users of upcoming events, course updates, and newly uploaded learning content

                  Monetization options

                  to ensure eLearning service profitability via premium subscriptions, in-app purchases, or ads

                  Payment system

                  with features like shopping cart, checkout, credit card verification, payment processing, and invoicing

                  Cyber security capabilities

                  to safeguard the mobile learning app and users’ personal information from hacking and data loss

                  Data analytics features

                  to monitor learner performance, content usage, user subscriptions, and course sales

                  Advanced technologies for learner engagement

                  Mobile solutions can be equipped with emerging technologies to unlock new learning approaches that wouldn’t be possible with traditional face-to-face interaction.

                  Many mobile applications use one or more branches of AI, such as machine learning, to probe students’ behavioral patterns, NLP to power virtual tutors or generate training content, and computer vision to facilitate gamified tasks requiring interactions with objects.

                  Artificial intelligence

                  Image title: DuoLearn’s AI-powered virtual tutors
                  Image source: youtube.com

                  Equipped with AR or VR features, mLearning apps can generate immersive 3D simulations, enabling your students to interact in virtual scenarios or augment the surrounding environment with information overlays.
                  AR & VR

                  Image title: SkyView’s AR-based stargazing feature
                  Image source: space.com — SkyView stargazing app review: locate stars and planets with your smartphone

                  You can enhance your mobile app with analytical functionalities or integrate it with external data analytics software to monitor student performance and tailor learning paths and educational content to their current skills and desired outcomes.
                  Education analytics

                  Image title: Moodle’s learning analytics dashboard
                  Image source: docs.moodle.org — Analytics

                  Our mLearning services

                  At Itransition, you will find the tech stack and holistic expertise to shape a ready-to-go mLearning app from the ground up according to your requirements.

                  Our mLearning services
                  • Market research and competitor analysis
                  • Budgeting and feasibility assessment
                  • Selection of an optimal tech stack
                  • Software architecture design
                  • Post-release user training and support
                  • App Store and Google Play launch roadmap
                  • UI/UX design and prototyping
                  • Front-end and back-end mobile development
                  • Software integrations with LMS, CRM, and other software
                  • End-to-end application testing
                  • Software monitoring and troubleshooting
                  • Functional and performance enhancements
                  • Code refactoring to improve maintainability
                  • Adjustments to changing tech environments

                  Create your mLearning app with Itransition's guidance

                  Book a consultation

                  mLearning app cost factors

                  The investment to build an mLearning app from scratch can range widely based on multiple factors. For a more detailed budget estimate, you can consult a team of EdTech experts early in your development journey.

                  App design & functionality

                  including software architecture, modules and features, user interface, and software integrations

                  User base

                  referring to both the number of users who will access the app and potential UX/UI customizations for distinct user roles

                  Hosting environment

                  where the mLearning app will be deployed (shared hosting, dedicated server, VPS, or cloud)

                  Mobile operating system

                  namely Android and iOS, and respective app marketplace, along with the native, hybrid, or cross-platform nature of the app

                  Tech stack

                  to build the app, such as development frameworks and programming languages, cloud-based services, hardware, and third-party tools

                  Data management

                  covering data cleansing, annotation, transformation, storage, and migration, and modeling, particularly important for AI-powered apps

                  Development team composition

                  (project manager, business analyst, designers, developers, QA engineers, etc.) in line with the project’s complexity

                  Post-release expenses

                  for user training and support, ongoing app maintenance, regular updates, and modernization efforts

                  The benefits of mLearning applications

                  For organizations

                  • Expanded customer and potential audience reach
                  • Ongoing learner performance tracking
                  • Easier communication between learners and educators
                  • Training cost-efficiency compared to in-person sessions
                  • Higher completion rates via microlearning

                  For students

                  • Personalized user experience
                  • Anytime, anywhere access to learning resources
                  • Superior student engagement via gamification
                  • Self-paced learning progress
                  • Synergy with device features like touchscreen or cameras

                  mLearning considerations

                  Concerns

                  Recommendations

                  Content & UX/UI design

                  mLearning content and UX/UI design choices should take into account the peculiarities of mobile devices and their operating systems, along with the needs of your target users. Simply repurposing desktop- and web-oriented content without properly adapting it will lead to inconsistencies and poor mobile learning experience.

                  mLearning content and UX/UI design choices should take into account the peculiarities of mobile devices and their operating systems, along with the needs of your target users. Simply repurposing desktop- and web-oriented content without properly adapting it will lead to inconsistencies and poor mobile learning experience.

                  mLearning app design should enable faster interactions and entice users who access educational services on the go and may have a limited attention span. This includes drawing on gamification to foster engagement, along with microlearning to split learning paths into "digestible" units. To address the limited screen size of portable devices, maximize readability by prioritizing essential information while reducing redundant visual elements. Perform usability and compatibility tests to detect UI/UX design mistakes and ensure the app’s interface is intuitive and responsive across various platforms and devices. Design applications in adherence to the SCORM specification, enabling them to synchronize with other compliant solutions, such as an LMS, and helping instructors track learners’ progress and interactions from different systems.

                  Native vs hybrid or cross-platform

                  While native mLearning apps are built to run on specific operating systems like Android and iOS, hybrid apps and cross-platform apps can be developed with a common codebase for different mobile platforms and deployed through various stores. Selecting one of these models should be approached with due caution as it will define both the tech stack to be used and the app’s functionality.

                  While native mLearning apps are built to run on specific operating systems like Android and iOS, hybrid apps and cross-platform apps can be developed with a common codebase for different mobile platforms and deployed through various stores. Selecting one of these models should be approached with due caution as it will define both the tech stack to be used and the app’s functionality.

                  Since native apps are designed with mobile platforms’ requirements in mind, they typically ensure a smoother and more aesthetically pleasing UI/UX, along with superior performance and responsiveness. This will be an advantage if you plan to include advanced and interactive features like gamification and VR. Also, native apps can work in offline mode once installed, fostering eLearning service accessibility. If your company prioritizes easier development and maintenance, you may find hybrid and cross-platform solutions more appealing since they use a single codebase, unlike language-specific native apps. Furthermore, distribution via multiple app stores can improve customer reach.

                  Security & compliance

                  mLearning apps typically collect and process users’ personal information. This data should be managed according to relevant legislation and protected from hacking and leaks to avoid losing credibility and incurring fines.

                  mLearning apps typically collect and process users’ personal information. This data should be managed according to relevant legislation and protected from hacking and leaks to avoid losing credibility and incurring fines.

                  Make sure your mobile learning solution is designed in strict compliance with major data management standards and regulations, including GDPR and PCI DSS. Equip the mLearning app with cybersecurity features like identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, user activity monitoring, encrypted data exchange, and dynamic data masking. Perform penetration tests and security code reviews to identify flaws or vulnerabilities that could compromise the safety of your app and user data. Keep in mind that native apps are generally considered the safest option. In fact, they have access to platform-specific, built-in security features and don’t suffer from web-related vulnerabilities affecting cross-platform and hybrid apps, such as JavaScript injection.

                  A growing eLearning trend deserving its own place

                  Embracing users’ evolving habits and emerging tech trends, mLearning apps empower students with highly adaptive, “anytime, anywhere” training experiences while representing a valuable business opportunity for EdTech companies and educational organizations. At the same time, adopters shouldn’t consider these applications as a mere extension for other education-oriented software, but instead as a separate learning tool requiring a secure, mobile-first design. Rely on Itransition’s IT expertise to develop effective mLearning solutions that will leverage modern smartphones’ capabilities and suit the needs of your audience.

                  eLearning portals

                  Service

                  eLearning portals

                  Here is your guide to eLearning portals' features, potential returns, and development by Itransition. Book a consultation to discuss your project.

                  LMS for the casino industry

                  Case study

                  LMS for the casino industry

                  Read how Itransition developed a SCORM-compliant multi-tenant LMS system, equipped with process automation and customization options.

                  Corporate learning portal for PayPal

                  Case study

                  Corporate learning portal for PayPal

                  This is how Itransition delivered a platform-based new hire training portal for PayPal, helping to reduce the learning curve for newcomers.

                  Rethinking workforce training with corporate eLearning

                  Insights

                  Rethinking workforce training with corporate eLearning

                  Let's discuss corporate eLearning's payoffs, key software solutions, latest tech trends, and implementation tips.

                  Custom conference management software for an educational society

                  Case study

                  Custom conference management software for an educational society

                  Learn how Itransition delivered a suite of custom conference management software and enriched it with bespoke modules automating event organization.