Mobile Learning or m-learning has brought about an uprising in the e-learning ecosphere, from educational institutions to coaching centres – every organization is adopting mobile learning platforms to engage students better and effectively.

The World is getting smaller! No, don’t worry the size of the actual earth is not decreasing but here we are talking about how close all of us have become with advancements in technology. All this would not have been possible without a smartphone and to be more precise, due to various applications present inside it. These applications i.e. apps are very useful like for example: from e-news to digital games and from photography to music etc. 

Customized Learning Apps help an individual reach their knowledge and development goals.

Custom mobile apps: Advancement in learning

Learning has become very easy and convenient with the use of custom mobile apps. In this blog, we will be discussing whether these apps are a good choice for learning or not, their features and how you can access them.

Mobile learning apps have both pros and cons when they are used for learning purposes. We will take a hypothetical case of a student to ease the explanation. Let’s assume the name of the student as Ravi who is preparing for the IIT-JEE exam. Firstly, we will discuss some of the pros which come with Custom learning apps: 

• Offline accessible: Most of the custom learning apps come with a feature of offline usage. Now let’s say Ravi wants to see a particular video lesson present on the app he is using. So, to access the lesson later for revision purposes he will download that video in offline storage. This will not only save his device’s battery but also prevents excess internet usage
• Regular updates: Ravi will get regular updates on the app like new study material, new videos, more questions etc. Learning mobile apps to remain in competition with other similar apps, always offer regular updates which is an additional advantage.
• Speed and Performance: There are rare chances for Ravi to face any kind of lag in his device while using mobile apps. Learning mobile apps are quite fast and efficient when compared with other mediums that are meant for similar use because they use inbuilt technologies like camera, microphone etc. and there is no need for additional input technology.
• User Friendly: This is the main benefit of using custom mobile apps for learning. Ravi can get access to a personalized space for himself where he can choose what to learn, how to learn and when to learn. Moreover, Ravi need not worry about anything as many apps of this range also offer the facility of regular reminders in the form of mobile notifications so that no lesson/test is missed.

Now, let us understand some of the pros associated with Custom learning apps. They are: 

• More and more space: If Ravi is having no memory in his phone then he won’t be able to download and use that app. Moreover, some apps are too big to handle and require too much space to run the device.
• Cost ineffective: Let’s say Ravi wants to install an app A for his study purpose. Now that app A is worth 500 Bucks on the store and Ravi is having only 200 bucks and hence he can’t download that app. Now either he has to wait for 300 bucks or drop the idea of using that particular app even if it is an excellent app and can boost his preparation. This is a very big disadvantage associated with Custom apps. Moreover, some apps not only require money for download purposes, but they also demand a handsome amount of money for their subscription processes which is financially draining sometimes. 
• Trust Issues: Suppose Ravi has opted for an app that is paid and he has completed the payment. Still, he did not get the desired service or the features that the app promised. Now he has no idea what to do. Many times, it happens that random apps deny services after payment so one must check the app’s reviews and should go for trusted ones only. However, if by mistake you get stuck with any such app which is not providing services as promised earlier, you must contact their service team and still if you get no response, you must contact the responsible legal authorities and inform them of the matter.

While choosing a custom app for learning, you must keep the following things in mind: 

• What are the contents provided by the app?
• Is there any provision for demo usage of the app for a few days?
• You must compare at least 3-4 apps before finalizing one.
• Most importantly, is that app suitable according to your device’s software?

Key Takeaways

The use of custom mobile apps for learning is increasing day by day. However, the user should consider the above factors along with advantages and disadvantages before finalizing any otherwise that particular app can be lethal to your finances and privacy also. 

Also published on Medium.