Digital Signage for Education in the Classroom: Modernizing Learning

Like every other industry out there, the education sector has also witnessed a huge revolution, which transformed the teaching and learning experience for teachers and students. From having lecture-based traditional classrooms to incorporating an interactive digital pedagogical technique, it has come a long way, compelling teachers to switch from chalks and boards to smart screens for enhanced learning experience.

With every industry and sector deploying digital signage to connect with their respective end users, its market size is expected to expand significantly to $27.3 billion by 2029. Specifically for the education sector, however, this market size would reach $35.08 billion by 2031.

Educational digital signage solutions were first introduced in the hospitality industry. However, looking at its benefits, even other industries, including educational institutions started using them, which turned out to be a boon. In this article, you will explore the educational world of digital signage, how schools have implemented it, its applications, the benefits of interactive digital signage, and much more. 

Digital signage uses LED video walls or screens to display information useful for the audience. In schools and colleges, these signages can appear as bulletin boards, campus maps, social media highlights, student spotlights, and more. However, implementing these interactive digital signage displays can be hard to navigate. Yet, these below pointers help schools decide the best signage for their campus:

• Defining your goals: Anyone planning to install signage must consider why they want these digital displays.  It is necessary to understand the goals, who they plan to reach (potential audience), and how digital signage can help them achieve their objectives.  
• Considering key features: The next step is to look for different hardware providers who can supply these signages timely. At this stage, it is important to look at certain requirements like size, resolution, and type of display based on the budget. For instance, your school may require a touchscreen LED display as digital signage for education purposes instead of a normal one. 
• Type of content: The next important consideration is the type of content you want displayed on the digital board. Here, certain factors should be considered before putting the content on display. It includes design, graphics, and information to be included. The signage should not be confusing for a reader to understand. Keep it clear and concise, and update regularly for the next set of information to be displayed. 
• Location: You can decide on the engaging content, but what matters even more is where and how to display it. You may want to include the signage in the premises lobby, at the entrance, or where most of the public (students) gather. For example, a cafeteria, canteen, classrooms, or assembly hall can be one of few places.  
• Monitor and maintenance: Implementation alone does not help achieve the results. Regular maintenance of the digital signages deployed, the content setup, network connectivity, and analysis of the content must be regularly maintained to upgrade your strategy. 

Schools are leveling and leveraging their traditional teaching methods with digital signage. But, when it comes to the classroom, a new evolution and innovation is visible. So, let us look at the top applications of these signages in the classroom:

• Classroom communication: While most signages are at the school entrance, certain displays in the classroom can help in effective communication with the students on important updates. For instance, any upcoming test, exam, or assignment can be put across with this signage. Many schools (around 74%) and universities view digital signage as the future of communication in educational institutions.  
• Room walkaways : Most of the time, students are found lingering around the classroom corridors. Thus, teachers and staff can deliver important information via classroom digital displays. 
• Classroom lessons: Students are often found detachable to smartphones and similar devices. Hence, teachers can use this technology to enhance their teaching experience and provide classroom lesson notes. For example, there can be interactive learning sessions like quizzes, games, and polls where the entire class can engage and learn a subject. 
• Special day celebrations and school holidays: Most of the time, schools and colleges come up with different events and celebrations. These signages can be utilized to deliver information regarding the events to students so that they can think innovatively about the decoration. Also, staff can schedule the upcoming holidays on the same board. 
• Important events or updates: Certainly, the school or student may have received some recognition or reward on local, state, national, or international grounds. As a token of appreciation, this board can be used to congratulate the student and mention their work. Likewise, any emergency (due to flood or any calamity) can be addressed through the signages. 

With the applications mentioned above, you can easily imagine the level of advantage educational institutions take from these signages. A few of the digital signage benefits in education are explained below:

• Relevant information reaches students through engaging and interactive signages often hung on walls. 
• Students become tech-savvy and increase their digital communication skills by retrieving important information. 
• These signages are a digital attribute to the campus's infrastructure and potentially attract new students and guests. 
• Students and staff receive real-time updates on the dynamic schedule changes, events, celebrations, exams, etc.  
• Digital signage helps establish interactive learning experiences with the students compared to traditional teaching methods.
• Educational institutes can explain complex concepts and abstract ideas using visual elements like graphics, animations, and videos. 
• Most importantly, these signages can also utilized for navigation purposes. Students, guests, and newcomers attending events or seminars can reach their respective locations easily with the navigation board. 
• Nonetheless, the cost of printing flyers, banners, and handouts reduces as information gets displayed on the digital board. Also, the overall investment is less than the flyers printed for every event. 

Considering the rising need to incorporate technology in schools, educational digital signage solutions have noticed a similar trend in their demand. Around 96% of students believe that videos can increase their learning process. So, if implemented properly, the overall progress of the classroom can be positively improved. Not just that, even in the absence of teachers, students could still learn the subjects. For instance, using holographic digital displays can communicate important updates to students without being physically present. Moreover, the global holographic market is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth (CAGR) of 21.4% during 2022 and 2032.

Technology and digitization have influenced the education industry to a great extent. Many schools, colleges, and universities have transitioned from age-old methods to a digital landscape. Digital signages are not just flashy LED screens but a strong network between students and teachers that has effectively enabled an interactive learning environment among students, be it displaying important information, announcing exam dates, or even appreciating students' work. 

By embracing technology, educational institutes can uplift their learning spaces and create a modern learning experience for students.