Build an Education App
Complete Technical Guide
Learn how to build e-learning platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or Khan Academy. This guide covers courses, assessments, COPPA compliance for kids, accessibility requirements, and everything needed for an education platform.
COPPA Compliance for Kids Apps
⚠️ If your education app targets children under 13, you MUST comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
COPPA protects children's privacy online and imposes strict requirements on data collection. Violations can result in fines up to $50,120 per violation. Learn more at FTC COPPA Guidelines.
Key COPPA Requirements
Verifiable Parental Consent
Must obtain consent before collecting personal info from children. Methods: credit card verification, consent form with signature, video conference, parent's government-issued ID.
Data Collection Limitations
Only collect necessary information. Cannot collect: email, phone, location, photos, voice recordings without explicit consent. No behavioral tracking for advertising.
Privacy Policy Requirements
Clear, prominent privacy policy explaining: what data collected, how used, third parties with access, parents' rights. Must be easily accessible on website and in app.
Parental Rights
Parents must be able to: review child's data, request deletion, refuse further collection. Provide easy mechanisms for parents to exercise these rights.
Age-Gate Implementation
Implement age verification at signup. If user is under 13, require parental email for consent process before allowing account creation. Use neutral age gate (don't incentivize lying).
// Simple age gate example
const [birthYear, setBirthYear] = useState('');
const age = new Date().getFullYear() - parseInt(birthYear);
if (age < 13) {
// Require parental consent flow
return <ParentalConsentScreen />;
} else {
// Standard registration
return <RegistrationScreen />;
}Core Education Features
Course Management
- Multi-section course structure
- Video, PDF, text, interactive lessons
- Prerequisites and locked content
- Drag-and-drop curriculum builder
Assessment Engine
- Multiple choice, true/false, essays
- Auto-grading with instant feedback
- Question randomization
- Time limits and attempt restrictions
Progress Tracking
- Course completion percentage
- Time spent on lessons
- Quiz scores and analytics
- Achievement badges and certificates
Gamification
- Points and XP system
- Achievement badges
- Leaderboards (optional)
- Daily streaks
Multi-Role System
- Students: access content, track progress
- Teachers: create courses, grade
- Parents: monitor child progress
- Admins: manage platform
Discussion Forums
- Q&A for each lesson
- Upvoting helpful answers
- Moderation tools
- Instructor notifications
Accessibility is Critical
Education apps must be accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities. WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is the standard. Learn more at WCAG 2.1 Guidelines.
Visual Accessibility
- Screen reader support: All content readable by VoiceOver, TalkBack
- Color contrast: Minimum 4.5:1 ratio for text
- Adjustable text size: Support 200% zoom without breaking layout
- Closed captions: All video content must have accurate captions
Interaction Accessibility
- Keyboard navigation: All features accessible without mouse
- Focus indicators: Clear visual indication of focused elements
- Alternative input methods: Voice control, switch access
- Sufficient time: No strict time limits or provide extensions
Technical Standards
SCORM Compliance
Sharable Content Object Reference Model - standard for e-learning content. Required for corporate training. Tracks completion, scores, time. Learn more at SCORM.com.
LTI Integration
Learning Tools Interoperability - connects learning apps with LMS platforms like Canvas, Blackboard. Learn more at IMS Global LTI.
Cost Breakdown
Traditional Development
Build with Natively
Save $73,000+
98% cost reduction
Build Your Education App with Natively
COPPA compliance and accessibility are complex, but Natively's AI handles the technical implementation. Describe your learning platform and get production-ready code.
What Natively Generates
- Complete React Native app with course management and video players
- Quiz and assessment engine with auto-grading
- Progress tracking with analytics dashboard
- Supabase backend with multi-role permissions (student/teacher/parent)
- Accessible UI components following WCAG guidelines
You Add Your Content
- →Course videos and learning materials
- →Curriculum structure and lesson plans
- →Quiz questions and assessments
💡 Natively generates the complete education platform. You simply tell it “Build an online course app with quizzes and progress tracking” and it creates everything.
🎯 Result: COPPA-compliant education app with accessibility features built-in
Ready to Build?
Start with Natively
Build your education platform with AI. Plans start at $5/month with full functionality.