How to Use Digital Signage for Education
Today’s students are digital natives who expect to be able to access the information they need at any time, anywhere. To meet these new learning needs and digital learner expectations, many schools are utilizing digital signage for education. With signage for schools, students can now get information when and where they need it. In fact, some studies show that digital signage can result in increased test scores, and retention.
Digitally-enriched learning environments also have a positive impact on student engagement, motivation, and collaboration. Successful implementation of this technology requires careful planning as well as potential pitfalls to be avoided. In this article, we explore the benefits of implementing digital signage for education and explain how you can do so successfully.
What is Digital Signage for Education?
Digital signage is an information system that displays digital content on a variety of screens in an educational environment. Digital signage software can be used in any number of ways in your school, including for announcements and messages, for interactive learning activities, or even to serve as digital menu boards in the cafeteria.
Some schools use their education digital signage to allow students to experience different learning environments. This provides exposure to new topics and ideas that may not have been possible without digital signage.
Other schools use their digital signage as a way to engage students with a lesson on the screen while they’re working hands-on with physical objects. For example, a history class could use lift and learn digital signage to help students learn about historical physical objects in an interactive way.
The Benefits of Digital Signage in the Classroom
1. Digital Signage Brings a New Learning Experience
Digital signage provides a new learning experience for students, one that lets them interact with content in new ways. For example, digital signage can be used to encourage more active participation in the classroom, by enabling students to touch or vote on questions and answers. It also provides a visual representation of information in an easy-to-understand format that’s engaging to students of all ages.
2. Digital Signage Provides Universal Access to Content
Students today live with their screens constantly at arm’s length and are hungry for knowledge. Teachers know this and many are implementing digital signage in the classrooms so that all students have access to lessons, information, and other content when they need it most. In doing so, schools are meeting these needs without having to invest in expensive equipment or complicated technology installation processes–all they have to do is invest in software licenses instead!
3. Digital Signage Promotes Collaboration Between Students
Digital signage provides a great opportunity for kids to learn from one another and work together on projects, even outside of school hours. However, once they come into the classroom they often revert back to traditional teaching styles which don’t always allow for collaboration among peers as students may feel less comfortable with one another.
The Type of Screen and Software Used in Education
With Digital signage, digital communication can be managed in any physical space. Depending on how close the audience’s eyes are to the screen, the screen size varies.
If the spectator stands more than 30 feet away from the screen, LCD technology is usually used. But, if the spectator is 3-10 feet away, an LED screen is a better choice. The most typical places to put screens are lobbies, cafeterias, and other public areas.
In addition to more basic school-related material, each panel shows content that is tailored to the specific location in which it is placed. Navori QL software, a digital signage platform for education, is developed for this sort of collaborative content management initiative.
Navori QL is a powerful, easy-to-use, and safe platform. This is why so many educational institutions use it for all of their screen-based communications.
Digital Signage for Schools: Why Now?
Using digital signage for education is not a new phenomenon. In fact, many schools have been using digital signage for education for years.
The primary reason for this is the changing needs of the student population. Today’s students expect the information they require to be present at any given point. This shift in learning has also presented some challenges for educators.
For one thing, with so much content available on the web and in textbooks, it can be difficult for teachers to know what resources will best suit their specific teaching style or whether the content is even appropriate for their students’ needs.
The development of education digital signage provides a solution to these challenges by giving teachers an additional way to share information with their students. Digital signage can also supplement traditional methods like textbooks and lectures and present new ways of learning.
How To Implement Digital Signage for Education
1. Showcase Social Media Walls Including Hashtags, Mentions, etc.
In order to ensure that your digital screen is always filled with eye-catching information, consider using a playlist called “social media wall” on your school’s digital signage system.
Collect images and videos from your social media accounts and use them to decorate your school’s digital signage. You could also gather student-generated hashtags and mentions by identifying your school, college, or institution in the postings they make.
2. Welcome New Students, Teachers, or Employees
The first day of school is essential for new kids, teachers, and other members of staff.
On their first day, you may greet them via Digital Signage. This will ease anxiety and facilitate the ice-breaking process. Because other students already know a new student’s and teacher’s names, it’s much easier to strike up a discussion.
3. Showcase Vital Information, Bulletins, or Notices
You can replace your old, wooden noticeboards with a new, flashy electronic display. Notices on the bulletin boards are frequently ignored by students. Students will be more willing to read what is displayed on the screen if it is on a digital display.
Plus, it provides an app for posting announcements and reminders for both students and teachers. You can see what’s going on at the school, along with a list of upcoming events.
4. Simplify Wayfinding & Navigation for Visitors
Tourists, visitors, and freshly enrolled students could get lost and find it difficult to make their way about your school if they are unfamiliar with the layout.
So, the perfect solution is an interactive Wayfinder for your school. The library, labs, classrooms, bathrooms, the staff room for teachers and students, and the canteen should all be displayed for easy navigation. And instead of wandering about aimlessly, make it easier and faster to go to your target area.
5. Announce Special Occasions or Events
Schools, colleges, and universities can use digital signage screens to promote events, contests, activities, celebrations of significant occasions, and more.
It used to be common practice for schools to send out flyers, paper cards, emails, or SMS messages to tell students of upcoming events, but these methods were ineffective in boosting participation.
Images, infographics, videos, or any combination thereof can be used to show information in a variety of ways with digital signage. It evokes pupils’ interest, attracts their attention, and motivates them to participate in the activity
6. Post Exam Schedules and Student Registration Numbers
Every student is eager to learn the dates of upcoming tests. For the most part, students must check the school’s website, download the pdf, and look for any notifications they’ve received regarding the exam schedule.
Your digital signage screen is a better option. You should display the test dates and times, room numbers, student registration numbers, and the most significant courses on exam schedules.
With digital signage, you can make it easy for those students who aren’t sure when or what they are supposed to be studying. Using digital signage to inform students of the next exam might help alleviate some of their exam-related stress.
7. Showcase the Innovation and Creativity of Your Students
Digital Signage for education may also be used to incorporate student-created content on the screen. You can display paintings, best-graded projects, 3D models, and more.
Encourage your students to work hard by boosting their confidence by sharing their academic or non-academic accomplishments with their peers and teachers.
4 Tips for Successful Digital Signage Implementation
When deciding to implement digital signage for education, here are 4 tips to keep in mind:
1. Consider the Technology
There are many types of digital signage for different purposes (e.g. video walls for teaching, and smaller screens for the cafeteria). To make an informed decision about what type of digital signage you want to implement and how it will be used, it’s important to do some research beforehand.
2. Consider the Environment
The perfect implementation of digital signage may not work if the environment is not conducive to the technology. For example, does your school need special cabling? Are there enough electrical outlets? Is there wi-fi coverage? What about sunlight or other environmental factors that might impact the visibility of a screen or monitor? All of the above are questions you need to consider before locking down the places for digital signage in your school.
3. Choose Your Content Carefully
Once you’ve considered the environment and selected the correct type of digital signage, you’ll have to figure out what content and features to use on your screens or monitors. This is where careful planning comes into play as you have to consider things like which applications will be needed and how often they will change or update. You should also think about interactive games or quizzes that can be displayed on screens across a hall or atrium during passing periods so students don’t just see a static image while waiting around.
4. Keep it Simple
You don’t need to get carried away with all of the bells and whistles, as too much information on the screen can become overwhelming for the readers and they might give up reading what’s on the screen altogether.
Simple is sometimes better! You should focus on the content that will engage your audience, something like short bulletins, an important list, or even just one sentence centered on the screen.
You should avoid flashy features or graphics that may detract from what’s most important – your message.
5 Potential Pitfalls to Avoid When Implementing Digital Signs in Schools
Another key component of any successful digital signage implementation is understanding the pitfalls that can potentially occur and avoiding them:
#1: One pitfall is a lack of user engagement with the screens if the content isn’t engaging enough or if it doesn’t provide answers quickly enough or at all.
#2: Students may not take kindly if they’re required to use their own devices in class as part of a digital signage lesson; this could lead some kids to lose focus or become distracted from their work by playing.
#3: The digital signage in your school might not be updated as quickly as necessary to provide students with the most relevant information.
#4: It is time-consuming for teachers to create and update content for the digital signs.
#5: Students may misuse these digital signs by misspelling words or posting inappropriate content.
Conclusions
Digital signage for education is the future of learning. Schools that implement this technology are not only enhancing the educational experience of their students but are also optimizing their time and resources. Digital signage software is a tool that can be used in all content areas and grade levels. It is an excellent way to motivate and engage students, as well as provide real-time feedback and encouragement.
