Display Technology Enhances the Student Experience in the Classroom and Beyond

While parents might be the primary receivers of important district communications, especially for younger grades, capturing students’ attention is a growing goal in K–12 schools. Educators can deliver a message in class, send an email to parents and also have it run on a screen at the main entrance. These multiple methods of delivery can help bridge communication gaps that exist between schools and families.

Using digital displays also allows schools to better reach students. If schools incorporate touch screens in popular areas, they can host surveys to get student feedback about upcoming events or vote for their favorite teachers for an award. Screens can display QR codes that send viewers to important information, graduating seniors can scan it for scholarship materials or parents can scan it to register their children for an upcoming field trip.

“A school isn’t just the kids in the building. It’s a whole community,” Caputo says. “We inform the parents. Teachers inform the students.”

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Real-Time, Centralized Communication Software Accelerates Alerts

When critical messages need to be disseminated, having trusted software and a solid method of delivery are essential. In the event of a schoolwide emergency, technologies such as digital displays that can share pertinent information become critical.

“We’re noticing urgent alerts and important message deployment increasing across entire schools,” Caputo says.

With ViewSonic’s Manager software, for example, IT administrators and key leadership can craft messages to be shared in real time across a school or an entire district via its digital displays. Administrators can also schedule messages from anywhere by simply logging in to ViewSonic myViewBoard Manager, the communication platform.

“IT administrators can’t be everywhere at once,” Caputo says. “Having displays with software like Manager, coupled with a third-party alert system that can send that can send a message across the school in an instant, is a big value-add.”

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Large-Scale and Mobile Solutions Create Flexible Communication

When schools incorporate large-scale screens into their gyms, auditoriums and multipurpose rooms, they can create an even more immersive environment for events such as basketball games or graduation ceremonies.

For schools with older buildings — or any K–12 IT leaders stuck having to be extra creative with their spaces — mobile screens are the solution. These screens, which can be as large as 135 inches, come folded in freight cases for easy storage and transportation. They’re simple to set up and perfect for schools with limited storage space, Caputo says.

These flexible display options ensure that multipurpose spaces in schools are available for any type of event. Schools have options to configure large spaces in a way that meets the needs of various occasions. They can create immersive environments no matter the situation.

Whether it’s holding a staff meeting in the library or transforming the gym into a temporary movie theatre on a rainy day, having a mobile screen equipped with a soundbar elevates the experience for attendees.

Considerations for Digital Display Investments

When investing in educational technology, the first conversations are often about budget or network capabilities. While those are important conversations to have, Caputo says, the first step should be assessing the building’s layout when it comes to digital signage and communication software.

“Make sure you’re getting the proper lay of the land so that you’re positioning these boards correctly and purchasing the right size for the space,” he says.

Companies such as ViewSonic offer displays that work for every environment a school might have. The company offers work monitors, gaming monitors, mountable and movable direct-view LED displays and ViewBoards, and interactive touch-screen displays as large as 105 inches.

Caputo sees many schools start with pilot programs when they begin their digital-signage journeys. They may start with a screen in the administration suite to keep leaders abreast of the latest district news. Or they might opt for a display at the building’s entrance so parents, students and staff can receive information as they walk in the front door.

“It depends on how much coverage you want,” Caputo says. “Not everyone jumps all the way in. They dip their toes in and see how they manage, then slowly expand throughout the whole school.”

It’s also beneficial to partner with a company that offers support after installation. ViewSonic has a robust professional development program for its products led by former educators, Caputo notes.

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In addition to perusing online, self-paced courses and certificates, IT administrators and leadership can join the ViewSonic intranet and connect with other schools that use the technology. Caputo has seen this connection spark new ideas and ways to communicate with students or faculty. It’s also a way for the company to stay up to date on any technical issues and opportunities for improvement.

Beyond its value as a communication tool, an investment in digital displays is both a safety measure and engagement strategy in K–12 schools.

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