Education Dive Brief:

• Digital signage is increasingly being used by schools, with sales of the technology in the education market expected to grow by 10% over the next three years, according to EdTech: Focus on K-12.
• Schools are using the technology to provide welcome messages, notifications about testing and emergency situations, last-minute information or reminders at the end of the day, and other key messages.
• The report says the tech can improve aesthetics and de-clutter schools by cutting the amount of posters, signage and litter, and it can more effectively get messages out to students and visitors quickly.

Dive Insight:

An industry report says there are a number of companies competing for education sector business, and the technology is growing in sophistication, with several units being guided from one station and various types of information being usable.

Another business guide to the technology notes that buyers should think about eight issues when making a purchase, including what and where the equipment will be used, what restrictions will be established, who and what will be the source of information, and how it will be reviewed.

It also says there are three components to a digital sign system, and that more than the monitor and media player, the content management software is the most important. It should allow schools to easily post material in any format, schedule posts, and manage and schedule users.

In another report on the technology in colleges, EdTech notes that buyers should carefully consider monitor size (it says the best display is 46-55 inches), and that the technology is moving toward being data-driven. Because more than with social media or texts, it allows school officials to "reach the right people at the right time."