Look around and see what kind of platforms consumers are trying to find these days. In this day and age – the most essential actions are carried out through phones, or technology in general. Learning is no longer a privilege and is accessible to everyone with a stable internet connection.
There are companies with customized software solutions ready to provide insights and help upscale your business with the correct product development strategy. There is a lot that goes into creating an e-learning platform apart from the development process.
It is important to see how the market is evolving and what kind of features are most compatible these days. To communicate efficiently with your development partner, you need to understand the dynamics and what goes into the whole decision process.
In this article, we cover the basics – what essentials are needed to create an educational learning platform.
Market Figures
During the pandemic, we saw a massive surge in the use of e-learning platforms such as Khan Academy and Udemy. Figures show us that the total market for educational platforms is worth $315 billion right now and is projected to increase by 20% in the upcoming decade.
In North America alone, the market is valued at $120 billion and there is an exponential trajectory in the process. More stakeholders are joining the ecosystem and are actively working towards uplifting the e-learning sector altogether. It is scalable and this is the ideal time to get into the system and see where your potential platform can stand.
Here are a few more stats. Keep reading!
- 63% of high school students rely on digital learning
- Fortune 500 companies embrace e-learning tools
- Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) play an essential role
- The market for e-learning apps is predicted to reach $80 billion soon
- 43% of American college students find digital learning to be better
- 81% of American college students claimed that their grades increased with digital learning
And there is a lot more to cover. It can be stated that college students, high school kids, middle school children, and even those in kindergarten are more than comfortable with digital learning over conventional methods.
Must-have Features of an e-Learning Platform
Now, as we cover the features it is important to provide a bit of cautionary advice that not every feature will adjust with your particular platform. When you connect with a software development company, it should be assumed that the features will be adjusted according to what your app is trying to achieve.
Every app is unique. Khan Academy has a different business model and goal and so does Coursera. Similar, yes. But at the same time, it is important to acknowledge how different the architecture of both platforms is.
Here is what you can cover on your platform:
- Profile setup: The UX/UI design matters. The user should be able to sign up on the platform in a few minutes and log in through social media or phone.
- Smart search: In an e-learning scenario, the search option should be powerful enough to help users find the right course and provide suggestions accordingly.
- Dashboard: A page where the student can see how far they have progressed and what needs to be done. The courses they are enrolled in and the number of hours spent should also be trackable.
- Course outline: Whenever a user scrolls past a course, the outline should include a detailed takeaway, description, credentials about the instructor, and what the overall learning outcome will be.
- Payment gateways: The user should be able to pay through any kind of digital means for their desired courses almost instantly in a secure way. Be a step ahead and include cryptocurrency as a part of your policies as well.
All of these highlighted features help in crafting the ideal e-learning platform. And every feature adds up to one another. Research, take inspiration, and move forward with your own plan.
Potential Cost Underway
There are designers, developers, project managers, and business strategists ready to help you out. You should know that the final cost of e-learning platforms depends on what kind of features and functions are actually implemented and where the platform is based.
Let us elaborate.
Wages differ worldwide. Consulting a set of developers from an app development company in NYC will end up being relatively more expensive when compared with those in South Asia or the Middle East. But nonetheless, both options are available and it is up to you in terms of comfort.
Are you ok with communicating through a call? Would you like in-house consulting? Ask questions and see what works. The cost will adjust accordingly.
Final Thoughts
It is not necessary for an app to cross thousands of downloads for it to be deemed successful. As long as you know what your niche audience is and their requirements are met – the business strategy is good to go.
You will need to improvise on the way and adjust what features will be added based on feedback but the core goal will remain the same. Take help from a Flutter app development services based company or any other. The aim is to empower students and enable all kinds of users to get accessible education.