Smarte educational platform: functionality and features of interactive learning

When Green Forest set out to create its own coursebooks — Notes by Green Forest — one key question arose: “What kind of coursebook will the student receive? And how can we ensure that it’s always modern, accessible, and user-friendly?” In this article, we’ll share the solutions we’ve come up with.

Contents

1. The first steps toward interactive learning at Green Forest
2. Smarte — an EdTech platform for interactive learning
     2.1. Behind the scenes: the Smarte team in action
     2.2. Key features of the Smarte platform
          2.2.1. Smarte Offline —  learn anytime, even without the Internet
          2.2.2. Class Builder — a powerful planning tool for teachers
     2.3. What’s next: our plans for the future
3. FAQs

The first steps toward interactive learning at Green Forest

Back in 2015, we came up with the idea of creating an educational platform for interactive learning. While working with Project 12 — a school that combines group and self-study — we decided to develop an online platform that would not only host learning materials but also allow students to complete exercises without pen and paper, and check their progress without a teacher.

At that time, interactive online learning platforms like Coursera and Khan Academy were gaining popularity, offering courses across different subjects and materials for independent study. Platforms like Duolingo and Quizlet, which incorporated gamified elements, were also on the rise.

During that period most English language schools either didn’t have interactive platforms for online learning or used ones where “interactivity” meant nothing more than PDF versions of textbooks. What we needed was an online platform that could not only deliver information, but also give students full access to all necessary materials — not just exercises and texts, but also audio and video content. It had to allow students to type in or select their own answers, check them instantly, and see the correct version.

In other words, it had to be an online textbook where students could complete tasks step by step, receive automatic feedback, and avoid wasting time flipping through paper pages looking for answer keys or wondering how to play the audio for an activity.

Students at Project 12 were the first to try out our interactive textbook and see the results of our team’s work back in 2016. Soon after, learners at Green Forest started using the platform too, followed by students of Green Country (English for kids), Yappi (Business English), and Yappi Corporate (Corporate English).

Students began using the online textbooks alongside the printed versions, but eventually, it was the digital ones that became their clear favorite. Why? Because the online learning platform offers a wide range of advantages:

• Flexibility. Students can study at a convenient time and comfortable pace, which allows them to balance learning with work or other responsibilities.
• Accessibility. Learners can access study materials from anywhere in the world as long as they have a device with internet access. Without the need to be physically present in class, students can study from any location and save valuable time.
• Technological tools. Interactive features like videos, quizzes, and tests increase student engagement and improve knowledge retention.
• Self-paced learning. Students can set their own learning goals, choose the courses they want, and monitor their progress independently.
• Content updates. Courses and digital textbooks are often updated to reflect current world events and trends, ensuring that learners always receive up-to-date information.
• Personalized learning. Some educational platforms use algorithms to adapt the learning process to each student’s individual needs and preferences.

Smarte — an EdTech platform for interactive learning

Over the years, Green Forest has invested tens of millions of hryvnias into developing its interactive learning platform. Sounds like a lot? In fact, we believe the future of education lies in distance learning — and that’s exactly why we continue to invest in the growth of this platform.

Thanks to the online access provided by Smarte, not only Green Forest but also our partner schools were able to quickly adapt — first during the lockdown, and later during the full-scale invasion.

In the 8 years of its existence, the team behind Green Forest’s online platform has completely redesigned both the visual style and the core concept twice. We’ve also developed several additional tools for both teachers and students to meet the demands of modern interactive learning.

What started as a digital textbook has evolved into a full-fledged EdTech platform — and in 2024, it officially became a standalone product with its own name and identity.

Meet Smarte /ˈsmɑːr.ti/ — an interactive educational platform developed by a language school specifically for the comfortable learning and teaching of English.

We’re not afraid to say it: Smarte is a truly unique solution in the world of language learning platforms — not just in Ukraine, but globally. Of course, it’s not the only platform out there, but it stands out for its rich functionality and flexibility.

Smarte makes it easy to create and customise your own textbooks and personalised lessons — all in one intuitive space.

Today, the following schools use our online platform to host their textbooks and learning materials:

• Green Forest (Notes by Green Forest);
• Project 12 (15 English Tracks);
• Yappi Corporate (Business English course by Yappi, Notes for Work and Life, English for IT);
• Green Country (Notes for Teens, Steps). 
• Today, the following schools use our online platform to host their textbooks and learning materials:

In addition, the Smarte educational platform also powers the Booyya online course marketplace and the TalkEn.Cloud platform.

Behind the scenes: the Smarte team in action

Over the years, Smarte has provided interactive learning to more than 100,000 students — not only in Ukraine, but also abroad! And it’s no surprise — the platform is continuously developed by experienced English teachers under the leadership of Olha Yankova, Head of the Smarte Educational Platform.

How does the online platform implement new features? It all starts with collecting feedback and requests from different users:

• Students can share their suggestions and ideas through their teachers or school managers, or via a survey they complete at the end of the academic term.
• Teachers and project administrators communicate their ideas and feedback to their project methodologists or directly to the Head of Smarte.
• Content managers and project methodologists also work directly with the Head of Smarte to improve the platform.

It is precisely because we take into account the feedback from all users of our online platform that we’re able to create a truly modern product. Ideas come from virtually unlimited sources — from learners who are genuinely motivated to improve their English, and from professionals who teach it.

All suggestions go into a shared idea pool, where they are sorted by priority and relevance for various projects. Bug fixes and small improvements are part of our ongoing daily workflow, while larger feature updates are discussed during monthly meetings with project leads and R&D team managers.

When a new idea is approved, it goes into development. We look for examples of similar tasks, outline how the new feature should function, decide which buttons the student should see and click, and map out what happens at each interaction point with the platform.

Once the mechanics are defined, the full description along with example references is handed off to our UI/UX designer, who creates a visual prototype of how the new activity will look and function.

If everything checks out, the mechanics and design are passed on to the developers. When the new task type is ready, we test it with a “test student” account to ensure everything works correctly.

Only after all bugs are fixed and the task performs smoothly is it added to our online textbooks and teacher materials.

Key features of the Smarte platform

Thanks to the approach described above, our online platform now boasts the following functionality:

• 24 task types in the Class Builder, which allow educators to create over 40 different kinds of exercises for online learning. Why so many? Because there are countless methods for teaching a language today — and combining them is what leads to the best results. A variety of task types also helps students stay engaged, avoid monotony, and gradually progress from simple to more complex exercises in a smooth, interactive way.

Flashcards and interactive exercises for effective and engaging learning
Flashcards have proven to be one of the most effective ways to memorize new vocabulary. That’s why we include them in our lessons and also give students the option to create their own sets and review them anytime, at their own pace.

• Interactive quizzes that help students track their own progress

At the end of each lesson, students can test how well they’ve remembered the material. What motivates them even more than a great score? Positive reinforcement in the form of fun and encouraging GIFs!

• A testing system that allows teachers to monitor student progress

Teachers working on Smarte-powered projects can assign tests either to a full group or to individual students. The student instantly sees their score and can check the correct answers. Teachers also have access to test results and can leave personalized feedback.

• The ability for teachers to create interactive lessons in addition to the textbook

All instructors within Smarte projects can create additional learning materials using the platform and share them with students via open links. These materials can include any of the available interactive task types. This feature is widely used on the TalkEn.Cloud platform.

• Access to in-house audio and video content, as well as the ability to embed posts, photos, videos, and other materials from external sources

All participating projects not only actively develop their own multimedia content, but also integrate the latest and most relevant media into the learning experience.

• Timers and dice built directly into the digital textbooks

The timer lets students manage their own pace — when time runs out, a pop-up notification appears. The dice (one or two) add an element of randomness and fun, making tasks more game-like and engaging.

• An updated Flip the Cards format — now also available as Spin the Cards

In addition to flipping cards in the traditional way, students can now spin them for a more dynamic and engaging vocabulary practice experience.

• Instant answer check & retry functionality

Students can instantly check their answers, view the correct or suggested options, and reset the task to complete it again.This feature not only partially replaces the need for a teacher or traditional answer keys found in printed textbooks, but also encourages learners to reflect on their answers and re-do the task as many times as needed for deeper practice and better retention of the material.

• Tracking student progress in each lesson

Students can monitor their quantitative and qualitative progress throughout each lesson during their interactive learning. Progress is tracked in four key categories: grammar, vocabulary, functional language, and skills development (reading, listening, writing, speaking). In each category, students can see the total number of exercises, how many they’ve completed, and how many errors they’ve made. An overall performance score is also calculated across all completed tasks.

• Video tutorials for missed lessons or review

Video instructions were originally introduced as a temporary solution during the early pandemic, but have since become popular among students who missed a class or are studying independently via Booyya, our online course marketplace. These tutorials help students catch up or revise material on their own.

• Integration with student profiles

The platform is integrated with the student’s personal account, allowing it to save answers, track progress by lesson and overall, remember where the student left off, and create personalized vocabulary lists and notes for interactive study.

• AI-Powered Pronunciation Assistant

A key feature of Smarte is the AI module for pronunciation practice. The system is simple: the student reads a given text aloud and records themselves. Then, the AI compares the recording to a standard English pronunciation model. The student immediately sees the results — a score and highlighted areas where pronunciation needs improvement. This tool helps learners practice articulation independently and receive instant, personalized feedback.

• Built-in dictionary

Smarte includes a built-in dictionary that not only provides definitions, but also allows students to add words to their personal vocabulary list, complete with audio pronunciation and the ability to leave notes or translations.

• Smarte+

Smarte+ is a personalized online study journal, toolkit, and training system, where students can store information, track learning goals, and access even more exercises and tasks to enhance their English skills. (read more here)

• Near-daily content updates

Using online textbooks means we can quickly fix typos or technical issues, but more importantly, we can continuously update content. One example is our Hot Topic course, which is based on real-world current events, allowing students to learn relevant vocabulary and discuss timely, meaningful topics.

We’re truly proud that a Ukrainian team of teachers and methodologists was able to create this product.

Smarte Offline —  learn anytime, even without the Internet

Another major advantage of Smarte is that students can now study even without an internet connection. For this, we’ve created the Smarte Offline app, which is already available on the App Store and Google Play.

Students can download the Notes by Green Forest textbook and use it anytime: check answers, save progress, reset tasks, and complete them again. All data is stored locally and automatically syncs with the online version as soon as the device reconnects to the Internet.

The only limitation is that YouTube videos and Test Yourself quizzes are unavailable offline. However, all other features function fully, meaning that even during travel, power outages, or on the go, students remain connected to their learning.

Class Builder — a powerful planning tool for teachers

Smarte is evolving not only for students but also for teachers. After all, quality EdTech should work both ways: making learning easier for those studying English and making teaching more convenient.

That’s exactly why we created Class Builder — a tool that allows teachers to quickly generate their own worksheets using the existing exercise database. Thanks to the tagging system, teachers can filter tasks by specific topic, level, or skill, and then automatically generate ready-to-use lesson materials.

This means teachers no longer have to spend hours searching for and copying exercises from various sources. Class Builder helps them focus on what really matters — the student and the quality of the lesson.

What’s next: our plans for the future

What’s next? As of today, we have a lot of exciting development plans for the near future. Here are the main ones:

• a complete redesign of the educational platform, including personalized themes and adaptive color settings;
• an upgrade of all existing exercises — we’re not only improving the mechanics but also planning to develop fully interactive versions;
• new customization features like timers and dice to enhance engagement;
• full-scale gamification, with game-based tasks for both classroom use and individual practice & fun;
• a lesson builder for creating personalized lessons — available for both teachers and students;
• group work functionality for selected task types;
• personal rankings and many other additions.

Sounds interesting? Then try Smarte and see for yourself just how awesome interactive learning can be with our online platform 

FAQs

1. What does interactive learning involve?

Interactive learning means the student is fully engaged and actively involved in the process. Even without a teacher present, learners can explore and consolidate new topics using a variety of materials and exercises, test themselves, and track their own progress.

2. How do I start learning on the Smarte online platform?

All schools in the Green Forest family use our educational platform for their lessons — so just choose the program that suits you and sign up for interactive learning!

Alternatively, you can purchase a mini-course on any topic of interest via the Booyya marketplace, which is also powered by Smarte.

3. Can I try your educational platform for free?

Absolutely! You can take a free demo lesson and see how our online platform works by following link.