For years now, there have been individuals working within schools, colleges, and universities to implement a better understanding of digital signage. Many schools have digital screens available but they aren’t being used effectively. The reasons are easy to pinpoint: digital signage in the past was too expensive, it took a whole team of IT types to use and the system was far clunkier than any school might want or need. SMEC has therefore invested a lot in making it easy for everyone to set up and use digital signage. After looking at the feedback, there’s a common thread. It seems that digital signage software for schools needs four things if it is to be accessible and usable:

The magic four are:

1. Simple to use, allowing anyone to control the screen outside of their classroom door.

2. Affordable, even when used on a large or multi-screen scale.

3. A software solution that pairs with affordable hardware. The means to share and curate content doesn’t put additional strain on marketing and IT departments (i.e. anyone can create content, or utilize content that has already been created).

4. A digital signage organization that listens and responds to feedback, is interested in helping schools to embrace digital technology and not just in the selling of software packages.

Without these in place, it becomes very difficult to even consider digital signage that will work (and get sign-of) within a school ecosystem.

Educational institutions of all sizes are finding out what they can do with digital signage in schools. Versatile and web-ready, digital signage for education allows all levels of public school and higher education institutions to provide valuable, timely information to students who readily give their attention to dynamic digital screens animated with colorful content that grabs and holds their attention.

Forget about hanging posters, tacking up handmade signs in hallways, or sending memos to teachers. Communicating this way is not only archaic, but it’s also impractical and time-consuming. Posters and signs get ripped or torn down, busy teachers can forget to deliver messages, and school administrators may find themselves dealing with upset students or parents who never received important information relevant to school operations.

Luckily, digital signage in schools offers a 21st-century solution. Here are the top 6 reasons all schools can benefit from campus digital signage:

Safety

Keeping students safe is a top priority for all schools. When integrated with an emergency alert system, digital signage that is placed strategically around campus can help notify students, faculty, and visitors of emergencies such as weather, electrical outages, etc. The digital signs can also inform students and faculty what actions the students need to take to remain safe.

Event Promotions/Announcements

Digital signage in schools can be used to display automated event listings. Updates about job fairs, dances, homecomings, sports and extracurricular activities or charitable events will be easily accessible on the digital signs. This will call attention to the events and drive attendance.

Lunch Menus

Digital menu boards in school cafeterias can be used to promote healthy food choices. Highlighting nutritional information calls attention to nutrient contents, prompting students to be more conscious of what they’re eating. Healthy entrées can also be promoted to encourage students to purchase these meals instead of pizzas or burgers. These digital displays can also be used to direct traffic during lunch, so the lines move faster and students have more time to eat.

Campus Maps

Digital signage can also be used in schools for wayfinding. Building directories and wayfinding displays are essential for assisting new students and visitors orient themselves to the campus. Administrators of multi-campus universities should consider implementing interactive digital signage which will make wayfinding even more engaging and fun.

Instant Management of Communications

Managing content displayed on schools' digital signage and digital signs in colleges and universities is fast and easy. The digital signage is cloud-based so it can be accessed from anywhere — great for remote management. Digital signage apps and content widgets automate the gathering and delivery of information. With features such as playlist management, multi-user roles, and comprehensive scheduling, the digital signage CMS does most of the work. School administrators can adopt a “set it and forget it” content management approach that is more efficient and effective than traditional signage.

Digital signage can also be used outside the school or campus premises to allow parents to read announcements directed at them. Not only it can be used to display relevant information during drop-off/pick-up times, but it can also be used to display other content outside of those times. In public areas, the government can even use those displays for community information services.

Cost Effectiveness

In addition to reducing paper and ink consumption, digital signage in schools can also help increase ticket sales to school events, encourage alumni and parents to contribute via recognition programs and boost attendance to fundraising festivities by increasing awareness of these events.

The Digital Advantage

As the most efficient and affordable method of getting the word out on any size school campus, education digital signage is essential to streamlining campus communication and sustaining superior communication protocols for schools, college, and university campuses. Schools, colleges, and universities can also use touchscreen displays inside the classroom, boardroom, or any other area. Interactive whiteboards allow for the students to pay attention to the teacher, without having to worry with copying all the information, as they can easily receive the class notes via email or other means. This increases the time available to teach by reducing waiting times. It also reduces the need for cleaning the rooms as there is no more chalk/whiteboards to clean, as well as the pollution created by the chalk itself.