E-learning is becoming increasingly attractive – for freelance trainers just like for HR departments in companies. Especially in combination with in-person events, e-learning offers a great way to train employees flexibly and sustainably. However, the question always arises at the beginning: How do we implement digital training? Find out in this article what possibilities you have with an e-learning app – and why an app is not just an app!

What do you expect from an "app"?

The term "app" is no longer limited to IT fans and software developers. Anyone who uses a smartphone generally has numerous apps installed on it. According to a recent study, the average German smartphone owner uses 10 apps daily. Whether on the go, at home, or at work – we want to access our favorite apps quickly and easily at any time.

But what do you expect from a typical app? Check yourself to see if you can affirm the following sentences:

• An app has certain features that make my life easier or more fun

• An app should be quickly accessible and open fast

• An app should consume as little battery power as possible

• An app should work offline as well

• The more positive reviews and downloads an app has, the more legitimate it seems

• An app is available for free or for purchase via the app store/play store

• I can save an app as an icon on my smartphone's home screen

Do these points meet your idea of an app? Then you should keep reading – because some characteristics are not important for an app at all – or even unnecessary!

Definition: What "app" means

In the German-speaking area, we usually just refer to an "app" when we actually mean a native mobile app:

"A mobile app (...) is software for mobile devices or mobile operating systems. (...) Native apps are characterized by being specifically tailored to the target platform."
(Definition Wikipedia: mobile app)

In addition to native mobile apps, there are other types of apps that are not available in the play store or app store and work independently of the device. For example, blink.it is one such app that works both on a smartphone – like a native app – and on a computer or laptop. But more on that later!

Originally, the term app referred only to a specific genre of software – namely, an application software. However, like most people in the German-speaking area, you probably understand an "app" to be an application that you can install on your smartphone via the app store or play store.

In e-learning, device-independent applications are sometimes used in addition to mobile apps. To differentiate between the terms app and software in the field of e-learning, I recommend the article "Why typical LMS are not good software for blended learning."

Apps for E-Learning: What Matters

If you want to use e-learning for freelance training or internal corporate training, you will look for suitable apps focusing on similar aspects as indicated above: speed, low battery consumption, etc.

However, some aspects weigh particularly heavily for e-learning apps. Especially due to the aspect of professional use, trainers, coaches, and even HR developers in companies face some difficulties:

1. Difficulty with e-learning apps: Relatively low number of downloads

How do you evaluate an app when you consider whether to download it? Probably the number of downloads and positive reviews plays a role: The more people have downloaded the app, the more it seems to be worth something.

If you are using an app for your e-learning, you probably don't have millions of downloads like Spotify or Google Maps to convince customers and participants of the quality of your e-learning.

2. Difficulty with e-learning apps: Detour through the app store

For technical applications, something needs to be improved or a bug fixed from time to time. If, as an app owner, you discover a bug, you not only have to fix it technically but also get the change approved by moderation in the app store or play store. This costs time and effort and is especially annoying in urgent bug fixes.

3. Difficulty with e-learning apps: Change of operating system

If a user switches phones and also changes to a different operating system, they may no longer be able to access the app. Some apps are optimized for Apple devices, while some are for Android devices or may even be available only on one of the two systems.

This is particularly frustrating when the user has paid for the app and now has to buy it again or find a way to reinstall the app on their smartphone without additional costs.

4. Difficulty with e-learning apps: Restrictions on work phones

Particularly freelance trainers face a significant hurdle that complicates apps for e-learning: work phones are often subject to strict regulations. Therefore, if you want to offer e-learning that is also supposed to work on work phones, you must clarify exactly which features and permissions the app needs and which the company allows.

The idea is there: with e-learning, more and more trainers and companies aim to bring more sustainability and flexibility into professional training. But the question of the right app or software is not so easily answered.

Last but not least, individually developed (native) apps are extremely expensive and trainers tend to rely on pre-made apps, which allow them little flexibility regarding features.

Trainer Normen Ulbrich, for example, previously had very concrete ideas about a learning app. He inquired with app developers and soon realized that the costs for a custom-made app would be far too high. Not to mention that even with an unrealistically high budget, his expectations would still not be met 100%.

The Future of E-Learning is Progressive Web App (PWA)

All the difficulties mentioned above stem from the fact that you automatically perceive an app as a native app – that is, an app that is purchased through the app store or play store.

The future of e-learning looks different: the trend is toward an app that is not purchased via the app store but functions just as well or better. In technical terms, these apps are called Progressive Web Apps.

To Distinguish: Native App and Progressive Web App

The "traditional" apps that we currently associate with the term app are also called native apps – that is, "native app", because they are specifically tailored to a target platform.

Progressive Web Apps, on the other hand, are independent of a specific platform and can be accessed like websites through a browser.

In terms of look & feel, native apps and progressive web apps usually do not differ.

The Comparison: Native App vs. Progressive Web App for E-Learning

Conclusion: Progressive Web Apps are often faster and can often be used offline as well. When it comes to device usage and starting, a PWA offers you more options than a native app. The look & feel is identical for both, so these two types of apps are visually indistinguishable. Also, data usage can be the same for a native app and a PWA – it depends on the quality of the individual app.

Advantages of a Progressive Web App in E-learning

Let’s revisit the difficulties mentioned above regarding apps for e-learning: What advantages and solutions does a Progressive Web App provide in comparison to a native app?

1. Advantage of a PWA for E-Learning: Number of downloads not visible

With a PWA, the installation start window always looks the same – regardless of whether you have just one user or already one hundred. After all, your customers and participants do not access the app via an app store but initially through a link in a browser. This way, you can start off strong from the very beginning and do not have to worry about positive download ratings!

2. Advantage of a PWA for E-Learning: No detour through the app store

This advantage is particularly interesting for freelance trainers and HR developers: Through direct implementation via the browser, your technical contacts can relatively quickly make changes to the app. Errors and bugs can thus tend to be fixed faster. In contrast, a moderated process is interposed for native apps in the app store or play store, which can take several days.

3. Advantage of a PWA for E-Learning: Change of operating system

Progressive web apps are independent of the operating system. Just as you can access a Chrome or Firefox browser on both Apple devices and Android systems, PWAs also work after switching from one operating system to another.

Furthermore, all users can easily use a PWA from different devices. No more worries about how many licenses you have to purchase for how many devices! A password and an address are sufficient to start your PWA from all internet-enabled devices.

4. Advantage of a PWA for E-Learning: Restrictions on work phones

This limitation is also resolved by PWAs: Regulations for work phones generally only apply to native apps downloaded via the app store: For example, many companies prohibit access to the address book, use of the camera, or location sharing demanded by native apps. In contrast, accessing a website is possible without restrictions on the vast majority of work phones.

Extra Tip for Trainers: Utilize this work phone argument for your e-learning in sales talks! Many decision-makers do not know the difference between a native app and a progressive web app and are positively surprised by the uncomplicated use of a PWA in their company.

5. Advantage of a PWA for E-Learning: Full support from Google

Internet giant Google has a significant influence on many technical devices. For instance, Google develops Android – and Google Chrome is often installed as the standard browser on smartphones from Samsung, HTC, or LG.

What does this have to do with your advantages for e-learning with progressive web apps? Well, Google has a strong interest in ensuring that PWAs function quickly and smoothly on Google Chrome. This way, you have a good prospect of maintaining data stability in the future.

Examples of Progressive Web Apps

Enough theory – I would like to show you some examples of how progressive web apps can look. You will see that they are visually indistinguishable from a native app. However, they score in terms of ease of use and speed.

Twitter, Trivago, Telegram – these large companies (and many more) are now using progressive web apps. Take a look at how the home screen looks for each:

Progressive web apps have a reputation for being particularly fast: In the following video, you can see how long it takes to add a PWA to the home screen and perform the first functions – and how long the same actions take with a native app:

Example of a Progressive Web App for E-Learning: blink.it

Back to the topic of e-learning! As you have seen above, progressive web apps are excellently suited for e-learning and also for blended learning. We at blink.it have decided to provide trainers and companies with a platform on which exactly these benefits of a progressive web app can be fully realized:

• Easy to use

• Fast use

• Cost-effective use

• Device independence (smartphone, tablet, PC…)

• Operating system independence (Apple, Linux, Android…)

• Direct problem-solving

We often hear the question: "Do you also offer an app?" Perhaps after reading this article, you realize that the question is not so easy to answer. Because: Yes, we offer an app – but it does not fully meet the expectations of a typical app that you can download from the app store.

This is how it works: Create a shortcut on the home screen

The biggest difference in using a progressive web app compared to a native app lies in the installation:

You download the native app from the app store or play store and then drag it from the app overview to your home screen for quicker access.

The progressive web app you first open in your chosen browser (e.g., Chrome or Safari) and log in. Then click on the three points in the top right corner in Chrome and select "Add to Home screen." In Safari, you do this with a click on the share button at the bottom of the bar. Confirm once – and you're done!

You can now use the e-learning app from blink.it just like any other app! Open it with a click on the icon, upload content, or manage your participants – just as you like.