Web/Mobile App Critique

The mobile app I chose to review was Udemy. It is an app based from Udemy.com.  Udemy.com is the world’s largest online learning platform.  I have been using this app for a couple years now, to self-learn things for my future career in IT and computer software technology.  I was first sent to this app from a person online when I first began to study for my ComTIA A+ certification in March of 2018. 

When you first launch this app, you are presented with its well-designed homepage. 

The homepage presents itself with featured course at the top.  As you view the featured page, you can see an option to choose a category of the type of course you are looking for.  The page gives many recommendations for course in different topics.  When you enter this featured page after using the app more than once, you will see recommendations for more courses depending on what you have previously search for.  I like the background images for each course, they are well put together.  On the bottom of the page there is a navigation bar with five different options such as Featured, Search, My Course, Wishlist and Account.  As you select each navigation option you are taken to that specific page. 

On the search page, you are presented with an option to type in what you are looking for on the top of the page.  You are also presented with a list of top searches on the app.  This top search option, lets the user get an idea of what everyone is looking at and gives insight on what is most popular on the app.  After you have entered what you are searching for, you will be shown different courses that are offered in that specific topic. 

There is a feature at the top right of this page, which lets you sort these courses as you like.  You are given different options to sort by such as price, level of course, features and languages.  This option is great, making it easier for the user to find what they are looking for and can distinguish between the hundreds of different courses available.

After a user searches for a group of specific courses in a certain topic.  They can go to a course page which gives details on the course.  On this page you can see an overview of the course. 

This overview has a well put together description of each course and what it has to offer.  There are descriptions of what the course includes with your purchase, what you learn, requirements and description and previews of each section of the curriculum of the course, reviews from people who have used the course and information about the creators of the course.

When a user goes to my courses tab, they are presented with all the courses that they have purchased and how much of the course they have completed.

The app also has a tab called wishlist, which is like the My Courses tab, which has a list of courses they user has added to a wishlist for future purchases.  The account tab is a section in which the user has options to enhance their experience with the app. 

While reviewing this app, I would come across few flaws.  This app is well put together and makes the app easy to use and navigate and gives the user mostly everything they could need and want with an app of this type.

 While using this app for your primary learning tool, it lacks in performance when you are watching videos.  I would recommend that the developers review how the user can navigate the course while watching videos.

I would also recommend that the app be less promotional on the homepage.  The user is shown many recommendations when they first enter the app which can be overwhelming for many users.

I would also recommend that the search tab have a better background.  It has less animation then the rest of the app.  There might be a reason for this, but this is one thing I noticed while reviewing this app.

This app is one of the best apps I have on my phone.  I use it when I am on the go.  Mostly when I am at work on breaks and away from my laptop.  There are many features that makes this app great.  I can see why it is the worlds largest learning platform.  

I would recommend this app to anyone in the class and beyond that would like to increase their skills in specific subject.  This particularly being college student.  This is great to master skills and these skills can be a great asset to you resume and future job search.