Digital Signage

DIGITAL SIGNAGE is where the school can send messages and images to visual (sound) displays, in parts of the school where students, staff, visitors and parents are located during the day/evening.

This could be an Interactive Whiteboard, a Projector image, a student PC/Mobile, a Monitor (plasma or LCD, a TV).

It is faster than printing bulletins in the school and it is cheaper than printing. All Students respond to digital messages.

You might use Digital Signage (in one or many school spots) to:

1. Advise about all Events in your school
2. Update staff and students about sports results over the weekend/ term/year
3. Show signage newsletters that connect to the school’s internet site (newsletter)
4. Inform students about topical policies such as “No bullying!”
5. Show school excel time-sheets that convert to digital signs
6. Assist Student representative groups to deliver their messages
7. Deliver special emergency or alert bulletins such as lock downs, weather bulletins
8. Show Schedules for shared classrooms and special meeting locations
9. Share special schools news and external relevant news broadcasts
10. Share community information both local and global
11. Advise students about special awards for either students or the school or community
12. Deliver special training such as safety or emergency procedures
13. Deliver faculty training sessions
14. Display the academic calendar

Keep Digital Signage in the school – SIMPLE

What do you need?

1. You do need hardware, software and your information content – the staff must be able to change digital signage easily.
2. It is also a good idea to set up school templates so loading content is easier and faster.
3. Secure Remote access through a Web – Browser as news in a school should be delivered, “Real Time” where possible.
4. Network management tools to ensure that it is easy and safe.
5. Schedule not only content for each screen but also the time of day that each screen powers on and off. This keeps control of the screens simple and worry free. It also stops screens being left on when not needed running up energy costs.

Planning Options to consider: Can you?

• Automatically start digital signs at start of school day and power off at the end of the day
• Have unlimited content zoned areas so you can position content anywhere on the screen
• Have many screens in the school
• Have any sort of content displayed e.g. Movie, TV, PowerPoint, Audio, Images, Flash
• Have Wireless (wired) connectivity so you change content easily
• Choose either Landscape or Portrait Layout or have both and manage this easily
• Have different information on different screens if necessary
• Combine other audio sounds e.g. music with your silent visual content
• Have SOUND included with your digital signage? (Interactive White Board, Monitor, TV, LCD)
• Run PowerPoint on your digital signs
• Check that you have power Protection
• Rotate screens or use a special wall mount
• Use Touch if needed
• Have a Video Wall if there is budget

Content Types you should be able to load on your school Digital Signs are:

• High-Definition Video formats
• Web site Feeds
• RSS Feeds
• Date Calendars
• Time Feeds
• File Images
• Flash animations

You do need to consider your network technology and how you will manage the security and access to the digital signage system. You also do need to consider the legal implications of what you show e.g. RSS feeds and copyright.