Mobile Educational Apps (Task 1)

Kahoot

A well-liked game-based learning platform called Kahoot! has been used by educational
institutions including schools as an instructional technology tool. Johan Brand, Jamie
Brooker, and Morten Versvik introduced it in Norway in 2013. With the help of the platform,
teachers may design and alter interactive presentations, polls, and quizzes, transforming
academic material into a game. These games can be played by students on PCs, tablets, or
mobile phones.

Potential

Engagement and Motivation

By utilising the social and competitive aspects of games, Kahoot! helps students find
studying interesting and inspiring. It captures students' attention and promotes active
involvement by transforming conventional classroom exercises into interactive games.

Active Learning
Students actively interact with the course material by taking part in discussions and quizzes.
This kind of active learning can improve knowledge and memory of the material.

Personalization and Originality

Teachers are able to design personalised tests based on their own curriculum. Moreover,
Kahoot! promotes creativity and group learning by letting instructors and students make their
own tests.

Challenges

Device Access
In order to engage in Kahoot! activities, students must have access to computers, tablets, or
other internet-enabled devices. If all students don't have access to these gadgets, there may
be a technological gap and some students may not be able to learn.

Data Privacy
In order to offer its services, Kahoot! needs to collect user data. When using the platform,
educators must make sure that data privacy laws are followed and that the appropriate
permissions are obtained, particularly when working with students who are underage.

Diversity of Learning Styles

Although Kahoot! works well for a lot of students, not every student may benefit from it. The
fast-paced, competitive atmosphere that Kahoot! offers may not be suitable for all students,
which could result in uneven learning outcomes and engagement.
Duolingo

Popular language-learning website Duolingo provides free interactive language lessons.

Severin Hacker and Luis von Ahn developed it in 2011. The platform aims to provide free
and universal access to education. Duolingo offers a diverse array of language courses to
accommodate students with varying degrees of proficiency.

Potential

Accessibility
Anyone with an internet connection can use the Duolingo website and mobile app, making
language learning available to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds worldwide.

Progress tracking
Using the app, users can monitor their learning progress and identify areas for improvement
as well as their accomplishments. This form of feedback keeps students motivated and
laser-focused on their language learning objectives.

Community Learning
Through social features and discussion forums, Duolingo provides a feeling of community.
Users can engage with other learners, ask questions, and discuss language-related
subjects, fostering a positive learning environment.

Challenges

Limited Depth for Advanced Learners

Although Duolingo is great for novices and intermediate language learners, advanced
language learners may find it to be lacking in the necessary depth. It's possible that
sophisticated vocabulary and grammar won't be covered as much as in traditional language
classes.

Overemphasis on Gamification
Although gamification is a very effective tool for motivation, students may get more
interested in levelling up and collecting points than in actually learning the language. This
may result in a cursory comprehension of the language rather than in-depth understanding.

Lack of Personalised Instruction

Duolingo provides a large user base with standardised lessons. It might not be able to offer
the same degree of individualised instruction and feedback that a human teacher could,
particularly when it comes to addressing unique language nuances and learning challenges.
Google Classroom

One popular learning management system created by Google is called Google Classroom.
Its purpose was to facilitate paperless assignment creation, distribution, and grading for
teachers. Google Classroom gives teachers a digital platform to manage their classroom and
help with student communication by integrating with other Google services like Google Docs,
Sheets, and Slides.

Potential

Centralised Platform: Teachers can create and arrange discussions, quizzes, and
assignments using Google Classroom, which acts as a central hub. The learning process is
streamlined when students have access to all of their course materials in one location.

Seamless Integration: Students and teachers can work together in real-time on documents,
spreadsheets, and presentations thanks to its seamless integration with Google's
productivity tools. This encourages teamwork and improves the educational process as a
whole.

Effective Feedback: Teachers can help students improve by giving prompt, detailed
feedback on their assignments. The platform also makes peer review simple, which
promotes student learning from one another.

Challenges

Technical Problems
Google Classroom is prone to technical hiccups, server failures, and other IT-related issues,
just like any other online platform. These problems have the potential to impede learning and
irritate students as well as teachers.

Learning Curve
Using Google Classroom's features and settings may be difficult for some educators,
particularly those who are not familiar with digital tools. In order to tackle this challenge,
adequate training and continuous assistance are necessary.

Content Management
It can be very difficult to keep track of a lot of digital assignments and resources. Careful
planning and management abilities are needed to arrange and structure content in Google
Classroom in an efficient manner.
ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a platform for teachers, students, and parents to communicate using

educational technology. It was established in 2011 by Sam Chaudhary and Liam Don with
the goal of fostering positive behaviour, improving communication, and building a sense of
community among parents, teachers, and students in the classroom.

Potential

Behaviour Management
By giving students points for good behaviour, participation, and accomplishments, teachers
can use ClassDojo to reinforce positive behaviour in the classroom. Students who receive
this kind of reinforcement are more likely to behave well and participate fully in class
activities.

Parent-Teacher Communication
Teachers and parents can communicate in real time thanks to this platform. Teachers can
keep parents informed about their child's academic and behavioural performance by sharing
announcements, updates, and student progress reports. The home-school partnership is
strengthened by this open channel of communication.

Facilitates the development of a supportive classroom community

Teachers can post images, videos, and classroom moments so that students can display
their work and accomplishments. This creates a positive learning environment and gives
students a sense of pride and belonging.

Challenges

Privacy and Security

As with many other educational platforms, protecting the privacy and security of student
data is one of the main issues with ClassDojo. The platform's privacy policies should be
thoroughly examined by educators and schools to make sure that student data is shielded
from unwanted access.

Overemphasis on Rewards
Finding the ideal balance can be difficult, even though receiving positive reinforcement is
important. Extrinsic motivation, in which students prioritise earning points over studying for
its own sake, may result from placing an excessive emphasis on rewards.

Teacher Workload
Teachers must invest time and energy in order to successfully implement ClassDojo.
Keeping track of points, corresponding with parents, and guaranteeing that the platform is
used consistently in the classroom can increase workloads, particularly in cases where
teachers lack sufficient training or assistance.
Seesaw

A popular and adaptable online portfolio system for students, teachers, and parents is called
Seesaw. It was developed to improve classroom engagement, communication, and
teamwork. Using images, videos, drawings, and other digital media, students can record
their learning experiences with Seesaw and compile them into a digital portfolio. Teachers
can use this platform to communicate with parents, monitor student progress, and provide
feedback.

Potential

Digital Portfolios
Students can design and organise their digital portfolios with Seesaw, which displays their
assignments, accomplishments, and work. Through self-evaluation and reflection, this
process helps them feel proud of their achievements.

Parent Involvement
Seesaw makes it easier for parents and teachers to communicate easily. Parents can see
their child's work in real time and see how they are learning. This openness promotes
parental involvement in the educational process and fortifies the bond between the home
and the school.

Differentiated instruction
Allows teachers to provide individualised feedback and support to each student by
customising assignments and activities to meet their needs. Differentiated instruction is
made possible by Seesaw, which supports a range of learning capacities and styles.

Challenges

Content moderation: In order to preserve a polite and safe learning environment, it is

imperative that teachers keep an eye on the content that students upload. In order to guard
against offensive content and guarantee that students are interacting well with one another,
teachers must moderate posts.

Curriculum Integration: Seesaw's alignment with educational standards and curriculum

integration can present some challenges. For Seesaw to have the greatest possible
educational impact, teachers must take the time to match activities with learning goals.

Equity and Access: It's possible that some students don't have the same access to gadgets
and internet service outside of the classroom. This digital divide may lead to differences in
how well students participate in Seesaw activities and assignments at home, which may
have an effect on their educational experience.
Designing Educational Application (Task 2)

A number of important procedures and factors must be taken into account when designing
an educational app in order to guarantee its effectiveness and user acceptance, particularly
in an educational setting. Prior to creating and developing a mobile educational application,
the following fundamental steps should always be followed.

1. Define clear educational objectives

Clearly state the goals or lessons you hope users will take away from the app. Whether
learning a language, arithmetic, science principles, or any other subject, have particular
learning goals in mind. Make sure that the exercises and content meet the requirements of
the target audience's curriculum and educational standards.

2. Know your target audience

Take into account the users' ages. Create an engaging and age-appropriate interface,
interactions, and content for the app. Assess the users' current level of subject-matter
knowledge and proficiency. Using this information facilitates the creation of content with the
right degree of difficulty.

3. User Experience and Interface Design

Create an intuitive and user-friendly interface. To make sure that users can locate and utilise
app features with ease, navigation should be clear and intuitive. To engage users, include
interactive elements, animations, and visually appealing graphics. A design that is visually
appealing improves the user experience. Make sure that users with disabilities can access
the app. For inclusivity, incorporate features like voice commands, text-to-speech, and
movable font sizes.

4. Content Development
Make interesting and interactive educational resources. To improve learning experiences,
include games, quizzes, simulations, and multimedia components (audio and video). Use
adaptive learning technologies, if at all possible, to tailor the curriculum to each student's
progress and abilities.
5. Assessment and Feedback
Give users' responses to the quiz and their actions instant feedback. Learning can be
improved by providing constructive criticism for wrong answers and encouraging
reinforcement for right ones. Provide tools that let students (and teachers, if relevant)
monitor their development over time. Reports on progress can encourage users to keep
using the app.

6. Privacy and Data Security

Make sure that user data is encrypted to prevent unwanted access, especially personal data.
Respect the data protection laws and rules that are applicable to your target market and
location.

7. Compatibility
To reach a wider audience, think about creating the app for both iOS and Android. As an
alternative, pick a platform according to what your target audience finds appealing. To make
sure the app works and displays correctly on all devices, test it on a range of screen sizes
and devices (phones, tablets).

8. Updates and User Support

Provide user support channels (chat, email) so that questions, problems, or comments from
users can be quickly resolved. Aim for frequent updates that will improve the app's content,
add new features, and address bugs in response to user feedback and evolving educational
requirements.

9. Pilot Testing and Feedback

Pilot testing can be used to get input on usability, content effectiveness, and overall user
experience from a limited group of users (teachers and students). Before the app is officially
released, incorporate the suggestions and changes that were made based on the results of
the pilot testing.

10. Legal and Ethical Considerations

Make sure you have the required authorizations to use all of the content (text, photos, and
videos) in the app and that it complies with copyright regulations. Maintain moral principles
when creating educational apps. Steer clear of endorsing negative conduct or stereotypes.