Display Signage is good...in theory. Of course, you’d want to take advantage of technology to better publish content to your students and staff. But when it comes to actually making a presentation, you might be struggling a little--there are so many options, after all!
Widgets are small applications you can add into your presentation to help save you time and make your digital signage come to life. Widgets can be organized by topic or theme to help people find relevant information more easily. With widgets, you can show the weather outside, display current events, and moving text. Schools use widgets to help them do everything from live stream sporting events, create menu boards for their cafeteria, show class schedules, and much more. Sub-menus or sub-categories can be set up to organize content, making it easier for children and staff to navigate. Many widgets are created and added to the system to fit the needs of your school, and can be set up in the right place for maximum impact.
Below is the ten most popular widgets schools are using today: These widgets can be placed in different areas of your website or display system, and the order in which they are placed can affect how people interact with them. For more resources and ideas, check out our related blog post.
Introduction to Display Widgets
Display widgets are specially designed tools that allow you to showcase information, images, or other media directly on your website or blog. These widgets make it easy to add important announcements, share resources, or highlight student achievements in a visually engaging way. For educators, display widgets can be used to create a list of upcoming events, provide quick links to essential websites, or share classroom updates with students and parents. By adding these widgets to your site, you can ensure that key information is always accessible and up to date, helping your school community stay informed and connected.
Benefits of Display Widgets
Adding display widgets to your school’s website or blog offers a range of benefits for both students and parents. Widgets help keep everyone informed about the latest announcements, making it easy to find important dates and updates at a glance. They also provide quick access to resources students need, such as homework assignments, schedules, or helpful links. By using widgets to showcase student work—like videos, images, or writing samples—you can boost engagement and give students a sense of pride in their accomplishments. Plus, display widgets make it simple to navigate your site, ensuring that everyone can easily find the information they need.
Setting Up Display Widgets
Setting up display widgets on your website or blog is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps. Start by logging in to your website’s dashboard and navigating to the widget settings area. From there, you can choose the type of widget you want to add—whether it’s a list of events, a text announcement, or a link to a useful resource. Once you’ve selected your widget, you can customize it by adding text, images, or other media, and adjusting the settings to fit your needs. After adding the widget, make sure it’s placed in the right spot on your site so it’s easy for students and parents to find and use. This simple process allows you to share important information and resources quickly and efficiently.
RSS Widget
The RSS widget makes it easy to keep your content fresh and always changing. Just insert an RSS feed, then customize how you want it displayed (do you want pictures to show, for example?). Schools can use this widget to show current events from news sources like CNN. This encourages regular reading of news and updates among students and staff, helping them stay informed and engaged. Best of all, free digital signage tools like this widget provide an accessible and easy-to-use solution for schools looking to enhance their digital signage experience without breaking the budget.
HTML Widget
Schools that want full control and customization over what they display take advantage of our HTML Widget, where custom widgets can be created to fit specific needs. With the HTML Widget, you can create videos, interactive games, and everything in between!
Text Scroller
Static text is excellent for some presentations, but if you want to grab student / staff attention with an important or timely message, the text scroller is a great option. You can also use the text scroller to display key terms or vocabulary words, helping students review and memorize important terms during lessons.
Google Spreadsheet
The spreadsheet widget is a highly customizable way of adding course schedules, directories, and just about anything else. It's also ideal for displaying important numbers and statistics, such as attendance or grades.
Google Calendar
Schools take advantage of the Calendar widget by highlighting upcoming events, holidays, testing days, and more. The calendar widget also helps keep tasks and events in the correct order, making it easier for students and staff to stay organized.
Video Widget
One of the most engaging ways to attract eyes to your display is with videos. The video widget lets you play and loop any video in your storage. Videos can be easily uploaded to your storage and then displayed using the widget. Schools use it to show everything from highlights of sporting events and announcements to previews of upcoming events.
Web Page Widget
The easy to use Web Page Widget is a simple way to display any website on your display (it can also be customized to show only a portion of a page). It’s as easy as adding a URL. The widget allows you to open any web page directly on your display for easy access. Many schools use it to show their school’s website.
Weather Widget
It may be cold or hot outside, but when you spend your entire day inside, you might not know it. Students love being able to see the current weather before they leave campus, so they know if they need to put on a coat.
YouTube Widget
The Video Widget is perfect when you have a video, but if you want to stream something off YouTube, then this widget is for you. YouTube videos can be easily shared with students and staff through the widget, making it simple to distribute content across your school community.
What else can you do? Here are 50+ more things schools can do with their digital signage! If you need a little extra help, try using one of our seasonal templates. Whatever you do, remember to keep these best practices in mind.
Are you doing something exciting with your digital signage? We want to hear how your project is working out! Drop us an email to tell us about it!
Best Practices for Display Widgets
To get the most out of your display widgets, it’s important to follow a few best practices. First, choose widgets that are relevant to your audience and the content you want to share—think about what your students and parents need most. Keep your widgets updated so the information you provide is always current and helpful. Use widgets to share a list of upcoming events, provide links to educational resources, or highlight student achievements. Regularly check that your widgets are working properly and make adjustments as needed to ensure they continue to provide value. By following these tips, you can help your school community stay informed and engaged.
Display Widget Security
Ensuring the security of your display widgets is essential for protecting your website or blog. Always use widgets from trusted sources and keep them updated to prevent any potential trouble. Be cautious when adding third-party widgets, as they may pose security risks if not properly vetted. Regularly monitor your widgets for any issues, such as slow loading times or unexpected error messages, and address problems promptly. By following these tips and best practices, you can help safeguard your website, keep your widgets running smoothly, and provide a safe online experience for your school community.
