| page.title=Education Guidelines |
| page.metaDescription=These guidelines and requirements help you develop great apps for students, which offer compelling content and an intuitive user experience on Android tablets. |
| page.image=/distribute/images/edu-guidelines.jpg |
| Xnonavpage=true |
| |
| @jd:body |
| |
| |
| <div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv"> |
| <h2>Guidelines</h2> |
| <ol> |
| <li><a href="#basic-reqts">Basic Requirements</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#monetizing-ads">Monetizing and Ads</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#e-value">Educational Value</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#quality">App Quality</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li> |
| </ol> |
| |
| <h2> |
| Testing |
| </h2> |
| |
| <ol> |
| <li> |
| <a href="#test-environment">Setting Up a Test Environment</a> |
| </li> |
| </ol> |
| |
| </div></div> |
| |
| <div style="margin:0 0 1em 0;"> |
| <img src="{@docRoot}distribute/images/edu-guidelines.jpg" style= |
| "width:274px;"> |
| </div> |
| |
| <p> |
| These guidelines and requirements help you develop great apps for students, |
| which offer compelling content and an intuitive user experience on Android |
| tablets. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p> |
| You’ll also need to ensure that your apps comply with the terms of the |
| <a href= |
| "https://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement-addendum.html"> |
| Google Play for Education Addendum</a>, <a href= |
| "http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html">Google Play |
| Developer Program Policies</a>, and <a href= |
| "http://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html">Developer |
| Distribution Agreement</a>. |
| </p> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="basic-reqts"> |
| Basic Requirements |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <p> |
| To participate, your apps must be designed for the K-12 market. The basic |
| requirements that your apps must meet are: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Apps and the ads they contain must not collect personally identifiable |
| information, other than user credentials or data required to operate and |
| improve the app. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Apps must not use student data for purposes unrelated to its educational |
| function. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Apps must have a content rating of "Everyone" or "Low Maturity" (apps |
| with a "Medium Maturity" rating are allowed, if they have that rating |
| solely because they allow communication between students). |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| App content, including ads displayed by the app, must be consistent with |
| the app's maturity rating. The app must not display any "offensive" |
| content, as described in the <a href= |
| "http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html">Google Play |
| Developer Program Policies</a> and <a href= |
| "https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/188189">content-rating |
| guidelines</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Apps must comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and |
| all other applicable laws and regulations. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="monetizing-ads"> |
| Monetizing and Ads |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <p> |
| In-app purchase is currently not supported with Google Play for Education, so |
| a student device will block any transactions. To avoid confusion, be sure to |
| remove any in-app purchase buttons and related UI elements from your apps. |
| We’re investigating additional purchase mechanisms to enable more flexible |
| pricing models for developers and schools. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p> |
| If your apps are priced In Google Play for Education, you must allow Google |
| Play to offer teachers limited free trials before purchase (you provide this |
| through business terms only, no development work is needed.) |
| </p> |
| |
| <p> |
| You can only choose not to remove in-app purchasing from your apps where all |
| content and services are sold through Google Play for Education using In-app |
| Billing. If you choose not to remove In-app Billing features, ensure that: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Users can access your apps’ core functionality for a classroom setting |
| without an in-app purchase. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| In-app purchases are clearly identifiable in your UI. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| You declare the use of in-app purchases at <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html#publish">opt-in</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p> |
| For each app that you publish, you can set a single price that applies to |
| both Google Play and Google Play for Education. You can’t set a different |
| price for a given app (based on a single package name) in Google Play for |
| Education. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p> |
| If your apps display ads, you should disable the display of ads if possible, |
| or ensure that: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li>Ads are not distracting for students or teachers (this includes |
| Flash-based ads, video ads, and ads that flash or move) |
| </li> |
| |
| <li>Interstitial ads are not served in the app |
| </li> |
| |
| <li>Ad walls do not appear in the app UI |
| </li> |
| |
| <li>Ads do not occupy a significant portion of the screen |
| </li> |
| |
| <li>Ads content does not exceed the maturity rating of the app. |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| You declare the use of ads at <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html#publish">opt-in</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="e-value"> |
| Educational Value |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <div class="figure"> |
| <img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-e-value.png" class="border-img"> |
| </div> |
| |
| <p> |
| Apps submitted to Google Play for Education will be evaluated by a |
| third-party educator network, which will review them based on alignment with |
| <a href="http://www.corestandards.org/">Common Core Standards</a> and other |
| educational considerations. This will help make your content more |
| discoverable for teachers and administrators as they browse by grade level, |
| subject, core curriculum, and other parameters. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p> |
| Apps with highest educational value will have these characteristics: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Designed for use in K-12 classrooms. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Aligned with a common core standard or support common-core learning. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Simple, easy to use, and intuitive for the grade levels the apps are |
| targeting. Apps are relatively easy to navigate without teacher guidance. |
| Not distracting or overwhelming to students. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Enjoyable and interactive. Apps are engaging to students and lets them |
| control their experience. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Versatile. Apps have features that make them useful for more than one |
| classroom function or lesson throughout the school year. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Supports the "4Cs": |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>Creativity</em> — Allows students to create in order to |
| express understanding of the learning objectives, and try new |
| approaches, innovation, and invention to get things done. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>Critical thinking</em> — Allows students to look at |
| problems in a new way, linking learning across subjects and |
| disciplines. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>Collaboration</em> — Allows students and (if appropriate) |
| educators to work together to reach a goal. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>Communication</em> — Allows students to comprehend, |
| critique and share thoughts, questions, ideas, and solutions. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <p> |
| As you design and develop your apps, make sure they offer high educational |
| value by addressing as many of these characteristics as possible. |
| </p> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="quality"> |
| App Quality |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <div class="figure"> |
| <img src="{@docRoot}images/gp-edu-quality.png"> |
| </div> |
| |
| <p> |
| Your apps should be designed to perform well and look great on Android |
| tablets, and they should offer the best user experience possible. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p> |
| High quality apps are engaging, intuitive, and offer compelling content. |
| Google Play for Education will highlight high-quality apps for easy discovery |
| in the store. Here are some recommendations for making your app easy for |
| students and teachers to enjoy: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Meet the Core Quality Guidelines: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Follow <a href="{@docRoot}design/index.html">Android Design |
| Guidelines</a>. Pay special attention to the sections on <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}design/patterns/actionbar.html">Action Bar</a>, <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}design/patterns/navigation.html">Navigation</a>, and |
| <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/pure-android.html">Pure |
| Android</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Test your apps against the <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/quality/core.html">Core Quality |
| Guidelines</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Meet the Tablet App Quality guidelines: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Follow our best practices for tablet app development. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Review the <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/quality/tablets.html">Tablet App |
| Quality</a> guidelines and <a href= |
| "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/11/designing-for-tablets-were-here-to-help.html"> |
| blog post on designing for tablets.</a> |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li>Check your Optimization Tips in the <a href= |
| "https://play.google.com/apps/publish/">Developer Console</a> (if |
| you've already uploaded your apps.) |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Strive for simplicity and highest usability for students: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Design your app so that teachers and students can use all the |
| capabilities of your app without having to sign-in to multiple |
| accounts and remember multiple passwords. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Every student or teacher using a Google Play for Education tablet |
| will already be signed in with a Google account on the device. |
| You can take advantage of that to provide a simple, seamless |
| sign-in experience in your app. A recommended approach is to use |
| <a href="{@docRoot}google/play-services/auth.html">Google OAuth 2 |
| authorization</a> through Google Play Services. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="test-environment"> |
| Test Environment |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <p> |
| To test your app and assess it against the guidelines in this document, it's |
| recommended that you <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/quality/tablets.html#test-environment">set |
| up a test environment</a> that replicates the actual environment in which |
| students and teachers will run your app. |
| </p> |
| |
| <h3> |
| Test conditions |
| </h3> |
| |
| <p> |
| Make sure to test your apps under conditions that simulate those of schools. |
| For example, Google Play for Education lets administrators <a href= |
| "https://support.google.com/a/answer/182442?hl=en">control or disable certain |
| capabilities</a> for students, so it's good to test your app with those |
| capabilities disabled. Below are some conditions to test your apps for, to |
| ensure best results in the Google Play for Education environment: |
| </p> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>Android version</em> — Test the apps on devices running Android |
| 4.2. Google Play for Education devices will be running Android 4.2 or |
| higher (API level 17+). |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>Proxy server</em> — Test the apps in a network environment that |
| uses proxies. Many schools use proxies. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>No location services</em> — Test the apps to make sure they |
| work properly with location services disabled. Many schools will disable |
| location services for student devices. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>No In-app Billing</em> — Test the apps to make sure they work |
| properly without access to In-app Billing. In-app purchases are blocked |
| on Google Play for Education devices. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>No Bluetooth</em> — Test the apps to make sure they work |
| properly when Bluetooth is disabled. Many schools will disable Bluetooth |
| on student devices. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <em>No access to network</em> — Test the app to make sure it works |
| properly when the device cannot connect to the internet. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2>Related Resources</h2> |
| </div> |
| |
| <div class="dynamic-grid"> |
| <h3>FOR DEVELOPERS</h3> |
| |
| <div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13" |
| data-query="collection:distribute/essentials/eduessentials/developers" |
| data-sortOrder="-timestamp" |
| data-cardSizes="6x3,6x3,6x3" |
| data-maxResults="6"></div> |
| |
| <h3>FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS</h3> |
| |
| <div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13" |
| data-query="collection:distribute/essentials/eduessentials/educators" |
| data-sortOrder="-timestamp" |
| data-cardSizes="6x3,6x3,6x3" |
| data-maxResults="3"></div> |
| </div> |