How digital signage is transforming timetable management in educational institutions?
What is digital signage in schools/universities?
Digital signage refers to using screens to display real-time timetables and schedules across educational institutions. This modern solution replaces traditional paper boards and allows clearer, more responsive communication of information such as:
- Classroom names
- Course schedules
- Instructors responsible for each session
The challenges of traditional paper-based timetables
Managing and sharing timetables is a major challenge for modern schools. Paper noticeboards have many drawbacks in a dynamic educational environment: information becomes quickly outdated, last-minute changes are hard to communicate, and staff spend a lot of time keeping boards up to date.
Digital signage for schools: solutions and benefits
1. Real-time updates and wayfinding
A key advantage of digital displays is that they show up-to-date information instantly. When a class is moved, canceled, or relocated, the update appears immediately on all relevant screens, avoiding misunderstandings and unnecessary trips.
Two main display formats are available to meet different needs:
Classroom entrance scheduling display:
Placing a ROOMZ Room Scheduling Display at the entrance of each classroom improves the daily experience and ensures information accuracy.
Displayed information:
- Room name
- Ongoing and upcoming classes
- Course/instructor details
- Daily or weekly view
Centralized Flightboard display:
In high-traffic areas such as entrance halls or main corridors, flightboard-style displays provide a large-format overview.
Displayed information:
- Current classes
- Upcoming sessions
- Room/course/instructor details
- Building or floor overview
2. Long-term cost savings, sustainability, and environmental impact
By choosing long-lasting and wireless equipment, schools make a long-term investment that is both cost-efficient and easy to maintain. E-ink displays consume very little energy and require no complex cabling, reducing installation and maintenance costs.
Moving away from paper timetables also supports sustainability goals. There is no longer any need to print, laminate, or replace paper schedules. This change reduces the institution’s carbon footprint while generating substantial savings.
3. Optimizing classroom use
Schools often face a shortage of available study spaces. Digital timetables provide a practical solution by showing which rooms are free and for how long. Students can quickly identify and use available spaces for study or group work.
Leading institutions using ROOMZ education displays
ETH Zurich : an exemplary case
Since 2016, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) has relied on ROOMZ displays to manage timetables and space reservations. With 800 screens now in daily use, this world-class institution demonstrates the robustness and reliability of the solution in a demanding academic environment.
CSB Internation Business School and the University of Basel
Other prestigious schools in Europe have also adopted digital signage. At CBS International Business School in Germany, staff report that “the search for the right classroom, which was sometimes very difficult, has finally come to an end” thanks to digitalization.¹
Even historic institutions are embracing this transformation while preserving their architectural heritage. ROOMZ wireless solutions require no invasive installation, making them a perfect fit for listed or protected buildings.
The University of Basel, for example, adopted ROOMZ after a successful pilot phase. As one faculty member noted: “Auditorium support circulates around the building during the day, using the door signs as orientation. This up-to-dateness of the information is a huge added value compared to the paper timetables.²”
Digitizing timetable scheduling is more than a technological upgrade: it is a real lever for improving the educational experience. By removing the limits of paper, keeping information always up to date, and optimizing communication flows, this approach significantly enhances operational efficiency in schools and universities.
Sources:
- ¹ Sebastian Trott Head of IT Infrastructure and Apprenticeship, CBS International Business School
- ² Michèle Martin – in charge of the teaching rooms in the Kollegienhaus, University of Basel
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