Digital bulletin boards in schools: Differences and inevitable trends

Recently, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. It can be seen that science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are decisive factors in the development of countries; they are prerequisites and the best opportunities for our country to develop richly and powerfully in the new era - the era of the Nation's rise.

In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is strongly impacting all areas of life, especially education and training. The application of information technology and digital transformation in schools does not stop at innovating teaching methods, but also extends to many aspects of management and communication. One of the notable changes is the appearance of digital bulletin boards, gradually replacing traditional bulletin boards. This is a shift that is not only technological, but also reflects a change in thinking in modern educational management.

For decades, traditional bulletin boards have served as the “information window” of schools. Located in the school yard, main hallway or near the school gate, bulletin boards are often used to post class schedules, exam schedules, urgent announcements, regulations, slogans, competitions of grades and classes as well as outstanding achievements of students. The advantages of this type of bulletin board are low cost and easy implementation.

For example, at a primary school in Bac Giang , teachers only need a few sheets of A4 paper to announce the midterm exam schedule to the whole school. However, the disadvantages of traditional bulletin boards are increasingly evident: information is slow to update because it has to be printed and pasted; poor form, few colors; students are not interested; parents have almost no access; and especially, paper and ink are expensive, causing long-term waste. And especially this type of bulletin board is greatly affected by weather factors.

Unlike the traditional form, digital newsletters use electronic technology and digital platforms to display information. There are many types of digital newsletters: LED/LCD screens placed in public places in schools; touch-sensitive newsletters connected to the Internet that allow data lookup; or online newsletters integrated on websites and mobile applications. The special thing is that digital newsletters allow instant updates. For example, a high school in Hanoi has installed LED screens in the school yard: with just a few operations from the computer, the Board of Directors can immediately announce the exam schedule to all students, instead of having to print dozens of notices.

The difference between digital bulletin boards and traditional bulletin boards is reflected in many aspects. First of all, in terms of update speed, traditional bulletin boards often take several hours to several days to change content, while digital bulletin boards allow information to appear after only a few seconds of operation.

In terms of form, traditional bulletin boards are monotonous with text and static images, while digital bulletin boards can display videos, infographics, and animations, creating greater appeal. In terms of accessibility, traditional bulletin boards can only be viewed by students present at school, while parents have almost no channel to receive them. On the contrary, digital bulletin boards expand their reach via the Internet, allowing parents far away to easily grasp information.

In addition, the difference lies in cost and sustainability. Although the initial investment cost of traditional bulletin boards is low, in the long run, they consume paper, ink, labor, are wasteful and not environmentally friendly.

Meanwhile, digital bulletin boards have a high initial installation cost (screen, software, transmission line), but are economical in the long run, reduce operating costs and are in line with green education goals. In some large universities in Hanoi, instead of printing hundreds of admission notices, the school only displays them on electronic bulletin boards and posts them on the website, which is both economical and modern.

We also cannot fail to mention the ability to interact. Traditional bulletin boards are one-way: the school announces – students read. Digital bulletin boards allow two-way interaction, for example, students can use their phones to scan the QR code on the bulletin board to register for a contest, or parents can receive event notifications directly via the application. In some international schools in Vietnam, electronic bulletin boards have integrated feedback functions, helping parents to contribute opinions about their children's extracurricular activities right on the system.

The two transmission media can be compared in the table below:

Criteria	Traditional bulletin board	Digital newsletter
Form	Printed paper, pasted on glass or wooden board, static, monotonous content.	LED/LCD screen, multimedia presentation (photos, videos, infographics, animated text).
Update speed	Need to print and paste again, takes a lot of time.	Instant updates with just one click on your computer/phone.
Accessibility	Only students at school can watch, it is difficult for parents to follow.	Students, parents, and teachers can watch both in person and online.
Expense	Low initial cost but costly in long term in terms of paper, ink and labor.	High initial cost (equipment, software) but low long term operating costs.
Sustainability	Waste of resources, not environmentally friendly.	Reduce printing, environmentally friendly, associated with the goal of "green school".
Interoperability	One way: school announces – students read.	Two-way: can scan QR code, feedback, online event registration.
Attractive to students	Less engaging, easier to ignore, harder to motivate.	The presentation is lively and engaging, encouraging students to follow and participate.

In terms of benefits, digital newsletters bring many values from many sides. For schools, it helps improve information management efficiency, synchronization and accuracy, and at the same time creates a modern, professional image. For teachers, digital newsletters reduce the amount of printing and pasting work, and at the same time help convey messages more effectively thanks to vivid images.

For students, the digital newsletter becomes a source of fast, attractive information, creating motivation to compete through electronic gold boards honoring excellent students. For parents, the digital newsletter creates opportunities to access information remotely, connect more with the school, and contribute to building transparency. And for partners who are allowed to participate in advertising at schools such as milk and food brands that students may be interested in.

Internationally, digital bulletin has become a trend. In Singapore, most schools use smart bulletin boards to display morning information and send SMS messages to parents.

In Korea, digital bulletins are linked to online learning portals, allowing students to view their grades and exam schedules directly at school or online. These examples show that digital bulletins are not only a means of notification, but also an effective learning management tool.

In Vietnam, the application of digital bulletin has been deployed in some places. Hanoi National University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education both have LED electronic bulletin systems in the school yard. Some high schools in Hanoi and Hai Phong also install electronic bulletin boards displaying exam schedules, regulations, and team activities. However, the scope of application is still limited, mainly in large schools and developed cities, while many schools in rural areas do not have enough conditions to invest.

However, digital newsletters also face many challenges. High initial investment costs are a major barrier, especially for public schools in disadvantaged areas. Technology infrastructure – including stable internet and uninterrupted power supply – is a prerequisite. In addition, the technological capacity of staff and teachers is not uniform, causing system management to sometimes encounter problems. Usage habits are also a factor: students and parents are used to reading paper newsletters and need time to adapt to digital newsletters.

To implement effectively, many synchronous solutions are needed. First of all, investment should be made in a roadmap, starting from key schools, pilot schools and then expanding. In addition, it is necessary to focus on training human resources to manage digital newsletters, from basic IT skills to digital content management capacity.

Financially, the school can mobilize socialization. During the transition period, it is advisable to combine traditional bulletin boards and digital bulletins so that all audiences can gradually adapt. Finally, information security and management must be taken seriously to avoid errors and fake information.

It can be affirmed that the development of digital bulletin boards in schools is an inevitable trend, in line with the digital transformation roadmap in the education sector. Compared to traditional bulletin boards, digital bulletin boards are superior in update speed, presentation format, accessibility and sustainability.

Despite many difficulties, with reasonable investment, creativity and consensus from teachers, students and parents, digital newsletters will become an effective tool, contributing to building a smart, modern and environmentally friendly educational environment.

In the future, digital newsletters will not only be a place to provide information, but can also develop into a digital educational interaction center, connecting schools, students, teachers and parents in an open, transparent and creative learning space. This is the typical image of a smart school in the digital age.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/bang-tin-so-hoa-trong-truong-hoc-su-khac-biet-va-xu-the-tat-yeu-post750151.html