Digital Signage in Schools: Fostering Engagement and Human Interaction

Digital signage is becoming increasingly prevalent in schools as a tool for safety communications, social-emotional learning initiatives, and student engagement. Moravian University in Pennsylvania has taken a unique approach to digital signage in higher education with its “just ask” campaign. By encouraging genuine human interactions and briefly disconnecting from the digital world, students are prompted to engage in face-to-face conversations.

Craig Underwood, Director of AV Engineering at Moravian University, emphasizes the importance of utilizing digital signage to foster a tight-knit community. The “just ask” campaign exemplifies this approach, with a concise and straightforward message urging students to speak with one another. Rather than using technology to promote more technology usage, the university paradoxically uses technology to encourage students to interact with each other on a personal level.

To enhance engagement with the content displayed on digital signage, Moravian University features student interviews and postgame wrap-ups. By showcasing their own peers, students are more likely to stop, pay attention, and take an interest in the content as they pass on their way to class or other destinations.

When deploying content on their signage system, the university prioritizes three key factors: brevity, relevance, and attention-grabbing elements. By keeping the messages short and to the point, ensuring the content is meaningful to the students, and considering what will capture their attention, Moravian University is able to effectively engage their student body.

Digital signage in schools has the potential to revolutionize communication and engagement within educational institutions. By adopting innovative strategies like Moravian University’s “just ask” campaign and featuring student-centric content, schools can create a sense of community, enhance social-emotional learning, and encourage meaningful interactions among students.

Definitions:
– Digital signage: A form of electronic display that uses technologies such as LCD, LED, and projection to display content such as images, videos, and messages.
– Social-emotional learning (SEL): The process through which individuals develop their ability to understand and manage emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Sources:
– Moravian University
– Craig Underwood, Director of AV Engineering at Moravian University