Top User Experience Design Strategies: 7 Ways To Increase Your App Downloads
"We are too cool for traditional learning!"
Learning is no more linear and text-based. Technology is making teachers expand learning beyond boundaries In order to increase student engagement. There are eLearning apps, courses, online videos, AR apps, VR, etc. that are popular among young students and Millennials. And this has escalated the eLearning industry to be of worth $165 billion!
But why am I telling you this?
First, to enter the market, it’s important to understand how EdTech or educational industry is performing. And yes, they are doing exceptional! eLearning or education apps are 3rd most popular in top categories of the app store. So, it’s clear that many startups are entering the industry to invest.
But if you too are willing to enter, how will you differentiate your USP? Well, by implementing your education app idea in the best possible way. Your aim should be to engage students in doing their tasks and being better at studies - and a great User Experience (UX) can separate you from the mass.
In this write-up, I will reveal the UX design practices that have not only worked for me but can be used for any eLearning app idea. These strategies will help get the most of any student’s attention, engagement and will definitely boost the app downloads.
What’s Driving The Success Of eLearning Apps?
Before you know the UX secrets to design your education app though, understand the reason why eLearning apps are on a boom. TBH, there are several factors which are propelling eLearning. Let’s find those.
1. Traditional School Learning Is No Longer Worth It
The cost of schooling is on the rise. And that’s proportional to the number of students enrolling in a particular class. And that’s where learning faces a severe blow. There’s no guarantee that every child is getting the exact amount attention needed for his complete growth. And considering the college education, an average graduate has a debt of near about 6 figures to earn a 4 years degree. He or she could have easily invested that amount somewhere else to earn better ROI! So, what’s the point?
How are eLearning apps solving it? Apps are cheap. Period.
There are technologies that make learning interactive, fun and engaging - without spending thousands. I will get at it later in the article.
2. Millennials Want To Learn On The Go
Traditional lectures and classes don’t facilitate learning on the go. There has to be a predetermined time for the learning. Though there are few video courses getting off the ground these days, an easy reach is needed that lets the user access the learning materials. Traditional learning is not easy to share within a short time span. Also, multi-user access is not possible. In short, there are hell numbers of roadblocks in the traditional learning methods.
How are educational apps making learning feasible anywhere everywhere? eLearning is asynchronous. You can literally take your studies anywhere you want. In addition to that, everyone can have their own comfortable time to read and learn.
Tips To Help You Create User Engagement
Now that you know educations apps are definitely a problem solver, and hence a good investment, let’s explore what drives user engagement. And what makes the app user stick to it.
1. Plan Your UX Understanding The User Psychology
Before you jumpstart, it is important that you have a solid plan of action. Designing the digital strategy for your product without any prior planning leads to waste of time. While you are planning the aesthetic beauty of your education app, start with sketching the idea you have. To achieve the initial idea of your UX, you need to know what keeps the audience engaged.
For instance, users have this knack to remember unfinished task than completed tasks. Think of how you can implement this idea into your eLearning app design. Another user experience strategy is creating habit-forming products. People tend to give more attention to a product that engages them. It becomes their habit. Well, the idea is to design the solution of a problem that makes user habituated with it.
2. Don’t Guesswork With Your Ideas - Assuming Is A Bad Investment
One of the biggest mistakes is assuming the user will know what you are thinking about. That’s not how you plan your UX. Think that your user is completely unaware of how to use your product. You might think the design interface is ‘obvious’, but it can be completely new to the user, right?
The best way to do is by distinguishing information that is absolutely important and something that can be ignored. Omit superfluous texts or learning materials that do not help. Provide the right information that let the user use the app.
3. Follow Consistency Throughout The App
Do not re-invent everything while developing eLearning apps. Keep the design and navigation consistent, and this will ensure ease of usage. If you place the next button at the top right corner of your eLearning app, keep it there for every page. If the correct answer pops up a green signal, don’t try to change it to the next question or learning module. Consistency is your strongest weapon to make User Experience top notch.
You can also follow a basic navigation framework like:
- Sign up for a learning course/module.
- Provide general instructions to explain the app.
- Introduce the course, game, puzzle, or learning module.
- Make the objective of the course clear.
- Break the main content of your eLearning app into lessons, assessments, and a summary.
- Add extra resources that may help the course material.
- Check the final result, and exit the eLearning app.
4. Gamification In UX To Increase User Engagement
Gamification can be easily mistaken for game design. But when I am talking about gamification in education app, I am talking about exerting game mechanics in a non-gaming environment. Confused?
For instance, ‘challenges’ are common in eLearning apps and that can be done using gamification. It will make the user connect to the app. You can implement daily or weekly challenges with rewards to encourage user check back again and again. Another way of adding a gamified version of your app is by adding points, that measure the player’s success.
5. Put Progress Indicators At Every Step
Gaming or eLearning, users love to know what’s waiting for them in the process. Whether it’s a curriculum, puzzle, or any learning module, provide progressive indicators at every stage. These indicators not only keep learners focused on their course but also it makes them complete their course study timeline.
So, while designing your courses, allow students to keep a tab over:
- How much time is consumed?
- A countdown to complete the course/game.
- How much of the study course is left?
This will actually motivate them not only to finish the task but also finish it on time.
6. It’s All About Responsiveness - Make Learning Feasible On The Go
Mobile and tablets are the "go-to" devices for Millennials today. We are in a world where we need instant access to information - anywhere and anytime. So, why made learning any different?
While designing eLearning courses, think of responsiveness. Make your content available on desktop, mobile, and tablets equally accessible. While designing the eLearning app, tweak it for people to access through laptops without disrupting the flow. A web app version of your eLearning app will be enough for those who are actually spending more time on their laptop than mobile. Design your app to be responsive. This will make your user find your app easy to use - always. And hence, more downloads for you.
7. There Is Something To Learn From Popular Elearning Apps
Design inspirations are everywhere. Take Duolingo for example. They have one of the simplest and easiest UX to use which makes it loved by the mass.
So, take inspiration from leading apps and web apps. It will not only keep your design consistent but it will ensure that you are moving ahead towards the right direction. To figure out which design inspiration will work for your eLearning app model, find out what is the engaging factor in each of the apps. There are few basic principles that make a user stick to any app or website. For instance, how the user will navigate, or how will their open a course, etc. Think of those before you proceed.
The Bottomline
eLearning apps need a general flow that makes the user use it until the end. And learn something new. So, keep the general flow in mind while designing the app. Follow a simple course structure for the app you are creating, and this will help you design stellar user interaction.
Also, take inspirations from sources like UX Booth, Creative Blog, etc. Keep testing your idea and gain feedback, as feedbacks are important for improvement. And in no time you will have a chunk of users for your eLearning app!
