How To Develop Mobile App For Schools, Universities & Colleges?

2020 has been ‘the’ year that changed the world in a million ways, and when we talk business, it has impacted EVERY industry. Even education has not remained unaffected, but owing to the evolution of smartphones and mobile applications, the pandemic did affect the way learning and teaching took place but could not ruin it. This led to the rise of school mobile apps for learning. And who knows that this might be a much better way of learning and soon become “the new normal”. After all, advanced technology has bridged the gap between learners and teachers.

Also, with this plethora of educational apps, learning has changed tremendously, becoming far easier, simpler, and more engaging both for the students and the teachers. The best part is that the students or the teachers don’t have to be in one place together as the apps can easily be accessed from anywhere and at any time.

Looking at the ever-increasing prominence of e-learning apps and the many benefits of accessing digital education, this whole education market has become very lucrative for app developers as well as entrepreneurs.

In case you are looking to enter into this business niche by developing an education app, then this article has got you covered.

Market Statistics Concerning e-Learning & Education Apps

As per Statista, 43% of the US students find digital learning technologies very helpful to do homework, while 36% of the students state it has been helpful in organizing their schedules. Another survey stated that 81 percent of the students felt that with the help of Digital learning, it was possible to boost their grades.

Presently, there are approximately 20 million students, staff members, and faculty members who use Educational Apps launched by Google. There are more than 400 universities that use YouTubeEdu to post lectures as well as full online courses. In fact, right now, educational apps are the third most famous app on the Apple App Store, and they take a share of 8.5 percent.

Worldwide Mobile Education App Downloads 2017 – 2020

What Should A School App Be Like?

Now, the most basic requirement of any school is to have a smooth, compatible, secure, and reliable communication platform. In the times of pandemic, it has become a kind of necessity for schools and educational institutions to offer this kind of platform to the teachers, students, and the administration so that the proceedings can take place in a smooth manner. It allows the school, faculties, parents, and students to be in touch with one another and, at the same time, allows them to send updates when required.

Having a great app makes communication speedy, efficient, and transparent for the organization. At the same time, an app that is based on user understanding and also covers the entire academic lifestyle of all students is a necessity for educational institutions today. Hence, try to create a school mobile app that best suits your needs, is profitable, and, at the same time, is easier to maintain.

Types Of School & Education Mobile Apps

• Language Learning & Teaching App
• Online Tuition Apps
• School Fee Management App
• Student Attendance Management App
• Exam Preparation & Mock Tests App
• Quizzes and Puzzle App
• Audio & Video Lessons App
• ERP Software For Managing Schools, Colleges & Universities

Popular School Mobile Apps

Among the most successful school apps, a few are:

1. Teno

This app offers instant and smooth communication and boosts parent involvement by marking attendance via the app and also enables uploading it online for the parents and administration. With the app, there is no requirement for any sort of worksheets as here the homework is allotted and the app also updates the parents regarding it. With automated correction functionality and results to be obtained via the app, the app makes things easier for the teachers as well. There is also a feature for online diary that keeps students’ records and other information. At the same time, it allows the school admin to share marks with parents. Also, the app enables online fee payment that again saves a lot of hassle.

2. Atcovation

This is a user-friendly school management app that is available both on mobile and desktop. The app is easy to use, supports the latest functionalities, and caters to the needs of schools, parents and teachers. Like, it offers several options to mark attendance this makes even a monotonous task quick & simple. It allows teachers to assign homework to students and share pictures and videos with parents. At the same time, it promotes the teacher-parent engagement by effectively and speedily conveying crucial updates & news, such as a sports event or parent-teacher meet. Meanwhile, the app’s best feature for teachers is its analytics dashboard, where information is provided in a graphical manner for better analysis and students’ progress are again easy to track from anywhere and at any time.

3. School Plus

In this, the app allows to create Student Profiles containing all details about the Students, such as photo, address, contact number, class, and teacher-parent details. It allows marking daily attendance by teachers and it can be viewed by parents as well. School Plus is an app that is available for both mobile and desktop and helpfully saves a lot of time of the users by offering templates for quick & easy content creation. It displays all about the tests, exam results, fee details, attendance, class timetables. Here the parents can be constantly notified & updated regarding the scholastic activities of their kids.

4. Hello Parent

This app, known for fostering brand building, facilitates the parents to view timetables, attendance and make fee payment online. No need to visit schools during these unsafe times, and make easy payments while sitting at home. The app sends automated fee reminders, and passes other important information through emails and SMSs.

5. Myly App

This app again publishes the timetable and fee can be managed easily as here it as online fee payment option. It allows its teachers to create MCQ based questions on-the-go, while the tests can be attempted by the students online. This way students’ performance can be analyzed in a few simple steps. It allows the School and the teachers to schedule exam and publish the results online. With all of these features, the app comes out as the best app for the schools & parents.

Next comes how the School app can be monetized in order to make it lucrative.

Monetization Strategies For School App

These apps can be monetized in many ways allowing the makers to earn more, such as:

1. Freemium

This is one of the most popular monetization methods that allows the app to earn more. In freemium, the basic version of the app is offered free of cost and then the premium version is offered at a certain price. Through the Freemium version, the target audience is captivated by the premium app version.

2. Free Trial or Demo

In this traditional method, app access is allowed for free for a limited period of time. The free app allows users to access all the app for a limited amount of time, and then they are asked to buy the subscription after a certain time if they like your app. With a free trial, the app has a chance to gain popularity, and then there are many apps that allow to run the app it even without buying the paid version.

3. Advertisements

This one is the most effective and the easiest monetization model. However, it can only start once your app has reached a vast number of audiences. Once the app platform has gained prominence, this monetization strategy can be put to good use. However, there are times when this model ends up disturbing the app users by disrupting something that user is doing with an app. This break of concentration is often disliked by the users and puts the app in a negative light. Hence, to put this strategy to use, it is vital to initiate a thorough research and only show the relevant advertisements.

4. Paid download

This monetization strategy can be implemented only when the app owner thinks that the app has the potential and they think the app is certain to gain popularity. This model works best for businesses which has a good reputation and enjoy a myriad of loyal clients. This way they can confidently launch the paid app version in the market directly.

What Are The Benefits Of Developing A School Mobile App?

The benefits of developing a School mobile app are many and are for all the app users, such as:

Benefits For School

A school app allows for a school to create a brand name on a larger level as they get a chance to make their presence on big platforms like Google. Admission inquiries can be posted on the app and this increases the admission growth. There can be online fee payment which would be fast and on time and the app can constantly remind parents of the due date. Besides that, there is a convenience of having Students & Staff attendance on app, and the school can also schedule events & activities on the app.

Benefits For Staff

The app allows staff like teachers to take class attendance via app and allows them to send remarks to the particular student directly on the app. Teachers and other staff can receive parents’ inquiries about their kids directly and the teachers can also add results of the students’ for respective exams subject-wise. Staff is able to receive as well as send instant notification to school, students, or parents, and the app allows the staff to edit/update their profile information. At the same time, daily logs concerning working hours can be managed and staff can assign tasks & assignments to kids via the app.

Benefits For Parents

With the help of the app, parents are able to track the kids’ attendance & test results, lest there are any, and they can receive their kids’ exam schedule and marks in the app itself. Parents can also receive school events details & information and receive instant information from schools via push notifications. The app also allows the parents to check their kids’ bus/transportation in real-time via GPS.

General Features to Add In A School Management Mobile App

Parents/Teachers Panel

• Sign-Up via Email
• Updates about student performance
• Download notes
• View upcoming school events
• Access attendance records and results
• Pay online fees
• Download Assignments
• Access school calendar & diary dates
• Push notifications about upcoming exams

Students Panel

• Secure Sign-Up
• View study tips
• Locate school events
• View School Newsletters and e-magazine
• View and submit homework
• View course information and books related to it
• Push messages & instant alerts for exams
• Submit attendance

School Admin Panel

• Send Notes and study material to parents
• Answer parents query
• Send students reports
• Generate reports
• Assign teachers and courses
• Manage fees
• Create and manage events

Advanced Features Of School & Education Apps

Social Log-in/Signup

To access the app, the users need to login/signup into the app, and this can be made easy and simple by allowing logging in and signing up via social media accounts. Here the users won’t require filling in long details to signup or enter login details each time to enter into the app.

Push Notifications

An essential feature for any app, it allows the app to send real-time updates to the users, thus they can be informed about any activity related to the app.

In-Chat

This functionality promotes user interaction within the app.

Payment Integration

When a payment system is integrated into the app, it enables its users to make easy payments, via PayPal, e-Wallets, Debit/Credit Cards, and NetBanking.

Database

This is an important feature in the app useful for storing media or other documents on the app via a database server.

Gamification

Most educational apps consist of AR & VR-based games. Which makes it easier for the kids to learn, as usually, the text-based courses don’t interest the kids.

Video & Sounds

When the educational content is offered in video or audio format, it sticks more to the brain. Hence it is advised to integrated the school apps with videos and sounds.

Video Sessions

Having Video Session feature allows for live tutorials and live interaction with their mentor. This way their doubts can be cleared easily and on time. At the same time, it is suggested to ask learners to offer their feedback on how the session benefitted them, so as to find how they can further improve the experience.

Offline Mode

It is kind of vital that the app offers offline mode, hence allowing students to download the lessons for times when they might face the issue of low or no internet connectivity. This will also increase user engagement with the app.

Offer Mock Tests

Tests are important part of learning and often students like to check how prepared they are for the actual exams and here mock tests can very much help.

Development Process of Mobile Apps for Schools

• Define the purpose and goals of the app: Start by defining what you want the app to achieve and the specific goals you want to meet. For example, you may want the app to improve communication between parents, teachers, and students or provide access to important school information and updates.
• Conduct research: Research the needs and preferences of your target audience, as well as the features and functionalities of similar apps. This can help you determine what characteristics to include, how to structure the app, and what design elements to use.
• Plan the app’s structure and features: Based on your research, create a detailed plan for the app’s design and features. This includes defining the main sections of the app, the user interface, and any additional features, such as push notifications or in-app messaging.
• Develop a prototype: Use a prototyping tool to create a working prototype of the app. This allows you to test the app’s functionality and user experience and make any necessary adjustments before moving on to complete development.
• Develop the app: Once the prototype is complete, work with a development team to build the full version of the app. This involves coding, testing, and debugging the app to ensure it is stable and functional.
• Test and refine: Test the app thoroughly to identify any bugs or glitches and make refinements as needed. You may want to conduct beta testing with a small group of users before launching the app to the broader public.
• Launch the app: Once the app is ready, launch it on the app store or other distribution channels. This involves creating app store listings, marketing the app to your target audience, and ensuring it is compliant with any relevant regulations or guidelines.
• Maintain and update: After the app is launched, continue to monitor and maintain it to ensure it remains functional and up-to-date. This may involve releasing regular updates with new features or bug fixes, responding to user feedback, and addressing any issues that arise over time.

Remember, the specific development process may vary depending on the size and complexity of the app, as well as the development platform and technologies used. However, this general process provides a good starting point for school mobile app development.

Required Team Structure For Developing A School App

Once the research work is done regarding how you really want your app to be, it is now time to decide on the development team for you app. Now, first it is important to decide whether you want the app for a single platform, i.e., Android or iOS, or both the platforms. As, accordingly one can make a decision on the development team. As to get the app developed for both the platforms, two different development teams would be required, one would be Android app development team and second would be iOS App Development team.

Also, to get the app developed, one needs to look for a good app development firm for education app development and ensures that it has a highly skilled and experienced set of app development team consisting of:

• Project Manager
• A team of Android developers
• A team of iOS developers
• Back-end Developers
• UX/UI Designers
• Quality Analysts

Challenges and Considerations for School Mobile App Development

• Security and Privacy Concerns: Security is a top concern for any mobile app, especially those that deal with sensitive information such as student data. The app must be designed to ensure the privacy and security of student and teacher data and comply with all relevant data privacy regulations.
• Compatibility with Various Mobile Devices and Operating Systems: The app should be compatible with a range of mobile devices and operating systems to ensure that it can be accessed by as many users as possible.
• Integration with Existing School Systems and Databases: The app should be integrated with the school’s existing systems and databases to provide real-time access to important information such as student attendance, grades, and schedules.
• Ongoing Maintenance and Updates: The app should be regularly maintained and updated with new features and improvements to ensure that it remains relevant and useful.
• User Interface and Experience: The app should be designed in such a way that it is easy to use and understand for students, parents, and teachers. It should have a simple and intuitive user interface that allows users to navigate through the app easily.

How Much It Costs To Create A School Mobile App?

There are several factors that decide the cost of a School mobile app development, depends on and here we have discussed a few of them, such as:

Hourly Rates of App Development Company

The app’s cost depends on the number of hours spent on developing it. Meanwhile, the hourly rates differs from country to country and the rates are higher in the countries of Europe, USA, and comparatively a lot less in India. Thus, if you choose to get an app developed by an Indian app development company it is going to cost a lot less.

Number of Platforms

Another factor on which the development cost of an app depends on is the platforms and devices, as mentioned above. More platforms means more development teams, and it means double the cost with each development team.

Features

An app created with basic functionalities and without the integration of third-party APIs tend to cost a lot less than the app developed with advanced features and third-party APIs integrated.

UX/UI Design

There are a number of stages an app design process goes through, like Prototyping, wireframing, development and testing, etc. An app with complex design structure costs more and app with simple design costs less.

Backend Integration & Testing

When an app is integrated with third-party service for enhanced performance and has more functionalities integrated, the cost increases simultaneously. And then the testing by the development team to find the bugs and errors again adds to the development cost of an app.

Maintenance

Once the app has been developed, it still requires continuous revisions, bug-fixing, version updates, enhancements, code optimization, and for all this it is necessary to keep certain budget aside, which is generally one-fifth of app’s original development cost.

Hence, to create an app for a single platform with basic functionalities, the cost can be anywhere around $25000-$35000, while an app with advanced features and third-party APIs integrations can cost anywhere around $50000-$70000.

How Can EmizenTech Help You in School Mobile App Development?

EmizenTech is a known app development company with expertise in different education app development using the latest backend and front-end technology. We have been operating in the IT industry for more than a decade and have developed hundreds of apps in this journey. The biggest advantage of hiring us for your school app development is that you get everything under one roof. At the same time, be it app development, website development, or any kind of software development, we offer all kind of services. Having worked in the industry for such a long time, we are now familiar with the key areas where cost can be saved for clients without compromising with the quality of software.

Conclusion

In today’s technology-driven world, mobile apps have become an indispensable part of our daily lives, including the education sector. School mobile apps have revolutionized the way students, parents, and teachers communicate and learn. With benefits such as improved communication, easy access to study materials, and real-time updates on student performance, school mobile apps have become a must-have for modern educational institutions.

EmizenTech is a leading mobile app development company that can help schools and educational institutions leverage the power of mobile technology to improve their teaching and learning experience. Their team of expert developers has vast experience in building customized school mobile apps that cater to the specific needs of each institution. Connect with our app experts and start your app development journey!