The Importance of a Mobile App in Online Learning

The Importance of a Mobile App in Online Learning
21Jan, 2021

There is seemingly a mobile app for everything these days from stocks and shares, organization and ordering food, it’s like there’s no end to the multitude of amazing apps available. While many aspects of our lives have very well-developed apps some are sorely missing them. The importance of a mobile app in online learning can’t be understated and now would be a great time to invest for:

  • Education
  • Connection
  • Information

E-learning for example has become a major part of apps since 2020. Last year saw the beginning of a worldwide pandemic and the closure of educational establishments such as schools, universities, and libraries were necessary. What wasn’t necessary though was how much students of all ages have suffered since these closures.

E-Learning in 2021

It might go without saying but education as part of an online learning app should be the core part of the experience for users. Most people constantly have their phones with them and 91% of people now choose to use their mobile device over their laptop or desktop PC.

Offering a core learning experience as part of an app just as you would with a PC program would provide a more accessible and user-friendly educational platform for all demographics. Schools, for example, could use online learning apps as homework supplements, universities might provide key course information while an organization could outline training requirements.

Established subject-specific procedures and educational practices are changing all the time so additional course materials and interactive learning tools can all be provided to course attendees, and performance can be boosted by providing access to the most recent and up to date information.

Because more than 50% of app users make in-app purchases, any extra materials can be easily monetized through e-Commerce means.

Collaborative Learning

The mobile phone was of course invented as a means of communication and connection and not much has changed. Sure, the invention of the Smartphone opened up all kinds of new and exciting possibilities for mobile devices but the core usage is the same; connection.

In these isolated times, we simply can’t huddle together in classrooms and be subject to one-on-one learning or peer-based educational participation. Implementing group communication tools as part of an online learning app could facilitate a virtual classroom environment where learning new skills are key to an individual’s or a group’s needs.

Collaborative learning has been shown to significantly increase results in the areas of knowledge retention, oral communication, and self-management; all vital skills for personal, academic, and professional success. One study found that having a group perform synchronous activity significantly increased performance results.

As an added benefit, using an online learning tool to connect with others can help with feelings of loneliness or depression. A recent survey conducted among 640 undergraduate students found increased levels of depression during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Fear of the illness itself, compounded by elevated anxiety, stress, and misinformation about Covid contributed to heightened depression levels. Many students have been left in a vacuum, not knowing what is going to happen with their respective courses, and being forced to isolate themselves has made it even worse.

Human interaction through e-learning apps and video communication platforms such as Teams and Skype have played a vital role in keeping people connected to each other. More importantly, they have allowed some classes and workplace focus groups, meetings, and training to continue almost as normal.

Systems like these can be linked to online learning apps, providing easy to use communication and interactivity methods for all those involved.

Staying Abreast of a Situation

One of the most basic but more functional aspects of an online learning app would be for the conveyance of information. Recent data have reported that millennials check their phones up to 150 times per day on average either for social media interaction, search engine use, or personal information.

Releasing lightning-fast information is vital for any organization to manage crises, inform of changes to schedules or confirm appointments, etc. Through a well-designed UI with an emphasis on UX, a good app could provide all the necessary functions for dealing with emerging situations.

Situations may arise where course management becomes a priority. Amendments to a particular syllabus for example could be quickly distributed in order to prepare any students for changes as and when they arise.

Making use of an app’s connectivity could also help with course enrolment, attendance tracking, and personal reports, not only in educational establishments but for professional development as well. Managers or tutors, for example, could attach real-time notes to an attendee’s personal profile informing them of any areas where they can improve since many people value quick and easily accessible information as part of their personal growth plans and goal-setting agendas.

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