Brief: Keep pupils updated with school events. System to be installed in newly built Quads.
Innovative solution from ONELAN delivers improved communications for cutting edge school
Belle Vue Girls' School approached DMS to with a requirement to keep students, staff and visitors informed of what was going on in and around the school.
With its well-equipped modern buildings, over 150 staff and a pupil population of over 1200 the school is in a unique position to offer a varied curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Belle Vue Girls' School has various awards and has Specialist Language College staus. The School enjoys the use of spacious modern buildings and is able to provide facilities, which are second to none in the district.
The school is spread over a large area with each wing specialising in a subject area. The school ICT Network Manager wanted to find a way to communicate messages in a new way . The existing method of traditional notice boards had many draw backs. They weren't really looked at and information quickly became out of date or was removed, resulting in a lack of control. He believed the way forward was through the use of technology and had investigated digital signage as a possible way forward.
Alternative solution
The ICT Manager saw the innovative Net-Top-Box demonstrated at a seminar. The Net-Top-Box is a web based digital signage product, made by UK manufacturer ONELAN. The Net-Top-Box takes a variety of different media inputs and allows them to be controlled and displayed seamlessly on any large screen. He approached Digital Media Systems, who are trained to demonstrate the product.
DMS went into the school to do a demonstration. The headteacher and SMT staff ended up delighted with the ONELAN product - it was a much more effective solution than the one currently in place.
The messages are displayed on large LCD screens, one in each of the newly built quad area and the second in the reception area. Strategically placed, anybody walking through any of the two sites will pass one of the screens.
Instant benefits
The system has been up and running for a couple of months but has already become an essential communications tool which is used in a multitude of ways. Examples of the information shown include sports day results, entries for a talent show, urgent internal information and a daily programme of events.
The ICT Manager explains why the school has seen the benefits so quickly. “Often when new technology is introduced, it takes a little while to really get to grips with it. I have to be honest, when the screens first went in, the overriding comment from the staff was “What’s the point?”
Simplicity
However, the Net-Top-Box is really simple to use. Its intuitive layout, coupled with the comprehensive training that the reseller delivered for different groups of personnel, meant that our staff picked it up very quickly and could start using it straight away. Our IT department handle most of the scheduling and our receptionist updates areas such as the scrolling text. As well as our own material, we can link into outside resources such as live news feeds. This is of particular interest to our older pupils – in fact teachers are already commenting that the pupils and staff seem better informed about current affairs.
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