Ibrahim Gardner
University student apps are designed to enhance the academic experience, providing tools for learning management, organisation, communication, and gamification. They are created by higher education professionals, ed-tech companies, and even students themselves. These apps can be built by universities for their own students or by third-party developers targeting a wider student audience. They aim to improve the learner journey by offering features such as course registration, scheduling, accessing resources, time management, and collaboration tools. With the rise of remote and hybrid learning, university apps have become even more crucial, enabling students to participate in online classes and stay connected with their peers and instructors. Additionally, student apps can collect data on student behaviour, helping institutions make informed decisions about resource allocation and academic support. While some apps are free, others come with a subscription model, offering basic features for free with additional functionalities at a cost.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To enhance the academic experience |
| Target Users | Students, educators, administrators |
| Features | Tools for learning management, organization, communication, gamification, navigation, data collection, course registration, scheduling, accessing resources, submitting assignments, etc. |
| Benefits | Improved collaboration, increased engagement, simplified administration, efficient operations, improved learning experience, centralized hub for resources, data-driven insights |
| Examples | Google Apps, Forest, Quizlet Go, Coursera, Duolingo, Khan Academy, NotebookLM Plus, TripAdvisor, Mathway, SoloLearn, Photomath |
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What You'll Learn
- Student expectations: Students want apps that make them feel emotionally connected to their college
- App functions: They should simplify administrative processes, provide learning management tools, and improve communication
- AI integration: AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly being embraced by higher education professionals
- App developers: SoloLearn, for example, creates apps to teach programming languages
- App recommendations: Students suggest apps like Forest, Google Calendar, and Quizlet Go
Student expectations: Students want apps that make them feel emotionally connected to their college
Students today are accustomed to a mobile, app-driven world, where they manage much of their lives on their phones. Higher education institutions are investing in campus student apps and digital services to create deeper connections with students.
Students want apps that make them feel emotionally connected to their college. They are looking for digital technologies that facilitate participation in student organizations and campus events through a centralized app. For example, 100% of students who work full time agreed that they would be more willing to participate in student organizations and campus events if they could do so through a centralized app.
Students also want apps that improve convenience and access to information. For instance, students appreciate having anytime, at-a-glance access to their financial status on apps like MyNSU. They also want to be able to view their accounts, find out which departments can help them, and access all the information available on the desktop portal.
In addition to convenience and access to information, students also want apps that help them manage their studies and their time. Apps like Alarmy, Google Calendar, Google Meet, OneDrive, Google Documents, Forest, Quizlet Go, and Todolist help students stay organized, meet deadlines, and make time for socializing and rest.
Lastly, students want apps that facilitate peer-to-peer interaction and help them feel connected to their peers. For example, Dalhousie University launched a new mobile application, powered by Pathify, to help students connect with peers who share their passions and interests.
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App functions: They should simplify administrative processes, provide learning management tools, and improve communication
University student apps are designed to simplify various aspects of student life, from administrative tasks and learning management to communication and campus navigation.
Simplifying Administrative Processes
University apps can play a significant role in streamlining administrative processes, making them more efficient and user-friendly. For example, NSU's MyNSU app provides students with easy access to their financial information, allowing them to manage their college payments effectively. This type of feature simplifies the financial aid process and reduces the time and effort required to navigate refunds, loans, and grants.
Additionally, workflow software solutions can automate documentation processes and improve operational efficiency. By implementing such software, colleges can reduce administrative costs, increase staff productivity, and enhance the overall student experience.
Providing Learning Management Tools
Learning management systems (LMS) are web-based or software applications that facilitate the planning, implementation, and assessment of learning processes. These systems enable instructors to create and deliver content, monitor student participation, and evaluate student performance. LMSs often include interactive features such as threaded discussions, video conferencing, and discussion forums, enhancing the learning experience.
Apps like SoloLearn, Coursera, Duolingo, and Khan Academy provide learning management tools for students. SoloLearn, for instance, offers apps for learning various programming languages, with interactive features like quizzes, coding races, and code-sharing capabilities. Coursera provides a pocket-sized university experience with lectures, reading assignments, and videos, even offering certificates upon course completion. Duolingo and Khan Academy, on the other hand, focus on language learning and traditional subjects, respectively, offering interactive and engaging ways to learn.
Improving Communication
University apps can also enhance communication between students, faculty, and administrators. Basic tools within these apps can assist in navigating between classes, administrative offices, and events, ensuring timely communication and reducing confusion. Additionally, apps like Google Apps offer a range of communication and collaboration tools, including Google Calendar for time management and Google Meet for group discussions.
Furthermore, apps can foster emotional connections and engagement within the student community. For example, Forest, a focus-oriented app, encourages students to stay focused by planting digital trees, with the company planting real trees upon successful concentration. This app creates a sense of environmental responsibility and community among users. Similarly, apps like Facebook help students feel emotionally engaged and connected to their peers, even after graduation.
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AI integration: AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly being embraced by higher education professionals
AI integration is increasingly being embraced by higher education professionals, with tools like ChatGPT offering a wide range of benefits. AI tools can enhance teaching and learning experiences, improve accessibility, and support instructors in their research and daily tasks.
Instructors can utilise AI to create interactive and engaging learning environments. For example, AI can be used to generate multiple versions of the same text, allowing students to critique rhetoric and grammar and explore different writing styles. AI can also be used to design writing assignments where students analyse the strengths and limitations of AI tools, helping them understand the ethics of AI and the dangers of plagiarism.
AI tools can also improve accessibility for students, staff, and faculty, particularly for those with disabilities. They can provide multilingual support, assist with navigation, and offer assistive technology. However, there are concerns about the accessibility of AI tools for users with disabilities, with just under half of respondents in a survey disagreeing that their institution had adequate resources and knowledge to support these users.
AI is also beneficial for research and analytics. It can generate insights, analyse large datasets, and accelerate research progress. AI tools can support instructors by saving time and increasing productivity, allowing them to focus on creative, complex, and student-focused goals.
While the higher education community is cautiously optimistic about AI, there are differing views on its use. Some respondents in a survey deemed the use of AI for grading student work as "inappropriate", while others saw it as "appropriate". There are also concerns about academic dishonesty and the potential for students to trust AI tools too much.
Despite these concerns, AI integration in higher education offers many opportunities for improving the teaching and learning experience, enhancing accessibility, and supporting instructors. With its ability to innovate, engage, and assist, AI is being embraced by higher education professionals to create a more inclusive and productive environment.
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App developers: SoloLearn, for example, creates apps to teach programming languages
There are numerous app developers that create apps to help university students with their studies, organisational skills, and general lifestyle. SoloLearn, for example, creates apps to teach programming languages. The app offers courses in Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, and more. Each computer language has its own app, and users can install the relevant one and start learning on the go. The app features quizzes, a code editor, and the ability to share your code with others.
SoloLearn aims to make learning programming languages easy and fun. Users can learn at their own pace, with interactive learning features such as real-world projects, coding games, and challenges. The app also offers AI-powered personalised learning, with recommendations tailored to the user's goals.
Reviews for the app are generally positive, with users praising its accessibility, interactivity, and effectiveness as a learning tool. Some users have criticised the free version, claiming that it limits access to certain features and courses, requiring a subscription to the pro version to fully benefit from the app.
Other apps that university students may find useful include Google Apps, such as Google Calendar, Google Maps, and Google Meet, which can help with organisation and navigation. Forest is another app that helps users stay focused by planting digital trees, which wither if the user gets distracted by their phone. Alarmy is an alarm clock app that motivates users to get out of bed and seize the day by requiring them to take a photo of something they want to accomplish and then take another photo in the same location to turn off the alarm.
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App recommendations: Students suggest apps like Forest, Google Calendar, and Quizlet Go
University students can benefit from a variety of apps that aid in organisation, time management, and studying. Here are some app recommendations for students, including apps similar to Forest, Google Calendar, and Quizlet Go:
Forest
Forest is a unique productivity app that helps users stay focused by keeping them off their phones, watches, or tablets. Users set a time goal for how long they want to concentrate, and a virtual tree is planted. The tree grows as long as the user stays within the app. The longer the user stays focused, the more trees they grow, and they earn credits that can be used to plant real trees worldwide through Forest's partnership with Trees for the Future. Forest is an excellent choice for students who struggle with staying focused and are easily distracted by their devices.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is a user-friendly student planner app that stands out for its clean calendar interface and colour-coding options. Students can easily assign different colours for classes, homework, exams, and other tasks, making it simple to identify what's coming up at a glance. Google Calendar also seamlessly integrates with other Google services, such as Google Maps for navigation and Google Meet for group discussions. Additionally, Google Documents and Google Slides aid in creating, editing, and sharing files for group projects. Google Apps are free and globally available, making them a popular choice for students.
Quizlet Go
Quizlet Go is a study companion that allows users to create study sets with documents, diagrams, pictures, and other useful materials. It also provides the option to search for specific topics and utilise study materials shared by other generous Quizlet users. Quizlet's adaptive learning feature keeps track of users' answers, helping them identify areas they need to improve. While the basic Quizlet app is free, Quizlet Plus offers additional features for a subscription fee of $35.99 annually or $7.99 billed monthly.
Other Recommendations
- MyStudyLife: A scheduling app that lets users personalise their schedules by quarter, semester, year, holidays, or terms. It also offers a dashboard to help students stay organised and on top of their tasks, classes, and exams.
- Duolingo: A free language-learning app with interactive games and exercises. It's perfect for students studying abroad or wanting to learn a new language.
- Khan Academy: An app that covers traditional subjects like science, math, physics, and economics. It's an excellent tool for students who want to revise or learn new skills within these subjects.
- SoloLearn: A suite of apps teaching various computer programming languages, including HTML, Java, C++, Python, and more. Each language has its own app, with features like quizzes, coding exercises, and the ability to share code with peers.
- Photomath: An app that solves math equations and provides step-by-step explanations, acting like a personal math teacher on your phone.
- Upbase: A free school planner app with built-in calendars, private and shared to-do lists, real-time chat, collaboration features, note-taking, bookmarks, and Pomodoro timers.
- Alarmy: An alarm clock app that motivates users to get out of bed and seize the day. It works by asking users to take a picture of something they want to accomplish when they wake up, and the alarm can only be turned off by taking another picture of the same thing.
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Frequently asked questions
University student apps are made by a variety of developers, including higher education institutions, ed tech companies, and independent app developers. Universities may develop their own apps to provide students with access to resources, course information, and campus services. Ed tech companies create apps that cater to the needs of students, offering tools for time management, note-taking, and collaboration. Independent app developers also contribute to the ecosystem by creating apps that solve specific problems, like math problem-solving or language learning.
One example is the MyNSU app, used by Norfolk State University, which provides students with at-a-glance access to their financial status, making it easier to manage their college payments.
SoloLearn is an independent developer that has created a suite of apps to teach computer programming languages like HTML, Java, C++, and Python. Forest is another popular independent app that helps students stay focused by encouraging them to stay off their phones during study sessions.
