📌 Interactive Displays for Education: Key Takeaways
Interactive displays can be a worthwhile investment—but their value depends on choosing the right technology and having a strong implementation plan. To get the most from interactive displays for education, schools should:
- Look beyond the hardware and choose a solution that supports interactive teaching, student participation, collaboration, and different learning styles
- Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including installation, software, training, support, warranties, and expected device lifespan
- Make sure displays integrate with existing classroom devices, applications, and platforms such as Google Workspace for Education and Microsoft 365
- Prioritize professional development and ongoing teacher training so displays become instructional tools—not expensive televisions
- Consider security, centralized device management, connectivity, and IT support when planning district-wide deployments
- Involve teachers, curriculum leaders, administrators, and IT teams in the evaluation process and consider piloting displays before a large-scale rollout
The biggest return on investment comes when schools pair the right interactive display with successful technology adoption, teacher confidence, and ongoing support. When that happens, interactive displays can become a central part of everyday teaching and learning.
Technology has become an essential part of the modern classroom. From Chromebooks and tablets to learning management systems and educational apps, schools are continually looking for technology that can make teaching more effective and learning more engaging. One increasingly popular investment is interactive displays for education.
However, compared to other classroom technology, interactive displays can represent a significant investment, especially when a school or district is considering outfitting dozens, or even hundreds, of classrooms. That raises an important question: Are interactive displays really worth it for schools?
For many K-12 schools, the answer is yes—provided they choose the right technology and have a solid implementation and training plan. In this guide, we’ll break down interactive displays for education, how they work, their advantages and potential drawbacks, and what every school should consider before investing.
What Are Interactive Displays for Education?
Interactive displays for education are large touchscreen displays designed to let teachers and students view, present, annotate, and interact with lessons and digital content directly on the display’s screen.
Think of an interactive display as combining several familiar classroom technologies into one device: a digital whiteboard, touchscreen computer, presentation display, multimedia system, and collaboration tool. Unlike a standard classroom television or display, an interactive display doesn’t simply show information. Teachers and students can interact with what’s on the screen using their fingers or a stylus.
Depending on the display and software being used, educators may be able to:
- Write and draw on a digital whiteboard
- Annotate websites, documents, presentations, and images
- Play videos and other multimedia
- Move and manipulate objects using touch
- Display content from teacher and student devices
- Save and share lesson notes
- Invite multiple students to work on the screen
- Access classroom applications and cloud-based resources
- Conduct interactive activities, quizzes, and assessments
Today’s interactive displays may also integrate with platforms schools already use, including Google Workspace for Education and Microsoft 365. The result is a classroom technology platform that can support everything from traditional teacher-led instruction to highly collaborative, student-centered learning.
How Are Interactive Displays Different From Interactive Whiteboards?
The terms interactive display and interactive whiteboard are sometimes used interchangeably, and while that is technically correct there is an important distinction to keep in mind.
Older generation traditional interactive whiteboards generally relied on a separate projector and computer. The projector created the image on the board while sensors allowed teachers or students to interact with it. An interactive flat-panel display integrates the screen and touchscreen technology into a single unit. Instead of projecting an image onto a board, the content appears directly on a large digital display.
That can eliminate several common challenges associated with older projector-based interactive whiteboards, including projector shadows, calibration requirements, lamp replacement, and reduced image visibility in bright classrooms. Today’s modern interactive displays, which are used today interchangeably with the term interactive whiteboards for education, can therefore offer schools a simpler front-of-classroom technology solution.
Are Interactive Displays Worth It for Schools?
Interactive displays can be worth the investment for schools because they combine classroom presentation, digital whiteboarding, multimedia, and collaboration capabilities into a single platform that can be used across subjects and grade levels. Their value, however, depends on how frequently and effectively teachers use them.
Simply installing a touchscreen in every classroom won’t automatically improve instruction. Schools are more likely to see value from interactive displays when there is successful technology adoption and implementation. This happens when the interactive technology you choose for your school:
- Is easy for teachers to use
- Integrates seamlessly with existing classroom devices and software
- Supports multiple teaching styles
- Encourages student participation
- Reduces technology-related interruptions
- Includes training and professional development
- Can be centrally supported and managed by IT
When these pieces come together, an interactive display can become an everyday teaching tool rather than another piece of classroom technology that goes underutilized.
7 Benefits of Interactive Displays for Education
So, what makes schools choose interactive displays over conventional projectors or whiteboards? Here are some of the biggest potential advantages that come with investing in interactive displays for education:
- Increased Student Participation
One of the most obvious benefits is right in the name: interactivity. With a traditional display or projector, students primarily consume the content being shown. An interactive display gives them opportunities to engage directly with it.
A student might come to the front of the classroom to solve a math equation, label the parts of a cell, arrange events on a historical timeline, edit a sentence, or demonstrate a solution to the rest of the class. Multiple students may also be able to interact with the display simultaneously, depending on the model and application. That can help transform the front of the classroom from a presentation area into a collaborative workspace.
Furthermore, teachers can utilize quizzing and polling tools in order to involve more students in the lesson as well as gauge their comprehension. For example, ViewSonic’s myViewBoard software now includes ClassSwift quiz tools (built right into the myViewBoard toolbar and at no additional cost) to create instant comprehension checks, snip and share content in seconds, and keep students engaged with gamified features like buzzers, timers, and spinners.
- Teachers Can Bring Multimedia into Lessons More Easily
Students encounter information through video, audio, graphics, websites, apps, and interactive digital experiences every day. Interactive displays for education allow educators to incorporate many of those same media formats into instruction.
Instead of relying exclusively on a textbook or presentation, a teacher could move from a digital whiteboard to an educational video, open an interactive infographic, annotate a website, and return to the lesson all from the same display. This flexibility can make it easier to address different learning preferences while giving teachers more ways to explain difficult concepts.
- Interactive Displays Support Collaboration and Inclusion
Collaboration is another major reason schools invest in interactive displays for education. Rather than having one teacher control the entire lesson from a computer, students can contribute ideas, manipulate content, present their work, and solve problems together.
Interactive displays can be particularly useful for:
- Small-group activities
- Brainstorming
- Student presentations
- STEM lessons
- Project-based learning
- Classroom games
- Peer instruction
- Group problem-solving
The display becomes a shared digital workspace rather than simply a screen at the front of the room. Additionally, the accompanying digital whiteboarding software can include accessibility and inclusivity tools to ensure all students are considered. For example, ViewSonic’s myViewBoard 3.0 offers built-in inclusive classroom technology tools including Irlen filters, text-to-speech, immersive reading, multilingual support, and adjustable spotlight shapes/background styles to cater to students with ADHD, dyslexia, and other visual and learning challenges.
- Teachers Can Save and Share Their Work
Remember the days of filling an entire dry-erase whiteboard with notes only to erase everything before the next class? Digital whiteboarding changes that.
Teachers can create notes and annotations during a lesson and then save the content for future use. Depending on the software, those materials can also be shared with students.
This is useful for students who were absent from that day’s class, students who need additional review, or teachers who want to continue a lesson the following day without recreating everything from scratch. It also allows educators to build a library of reusable digital lessons over time.
- Interactive Displays Can Simplify Classroom Technology
Many classrooms have accumulated technology piece by piece over the years. A teacher might have a projector, screen, speakers, computer, dry-erase whiteboard, document camera, cables, adapters, and several remotes, all of which need to work together (but rarely ever do).
Modern interactive displays can consolidate several classroom functions into one system. Depending on the solution, the display may provide built-in speakers and microphones, wireless casting, digital whiteboarding, application access, USB-C connectivity, slot-in PCs, and other tools. Fewer moving pieces can mean fewer interruptions during instruction and a more seamless and simple experience for teachers.
- They Provide Excellent Visibility
Image quality is another advantage of interactive displays for education. Unlike traditional projectors, the image comes directly from the screen, rather than being projected across the room, and provide bright, sharp images even when classroom lighting is on.
Many modern classroom interactive displays offer 4K resolution and anti-glare technology, helping students see text, diagrams, videos, and other instructional content from around the classroom. That can be especially valuable in rooms with significant ambient light where projected images may appear washed out.
- Interactive Displays Can Support Different Teaching Styles
The fact is that not every teacher teaches the same way and not every student learns the same way. A major advantage of interactive displays is their flexibility to cater to different teaching and learning styles alike.
One teacher might primarily use the display for its very basic features like presenting lessons and annotating. Another might build highly interactive lessons and utilize various digital whiteboarding features and multimedia elements to really engage students and boost their participation. This type of versatile and flexible technology supports teacher-led instruction, student-centered learning, blended learning, flipped classrooms, and group collaboration which makes it very useful across different grade levels and subject areas.
What Are the Disadvantages of Interactive Displays in Schools?
Interactive displays have many potential benefits, but they’re not automatically the right solution for every classroom. Schools should consider several factors before investing including:
- Upfront Cost
Interactive displays generally require a larger upfront investment than a basic television, whiteboard, or some projector configurations. However, schools should evaluate total cost of ownership rather than looking only at the purchase price. Installation, mounting, warranties, software licensing, training, accessories, support, and expected device lifespan can all affect the true cost.
- Teacher Training
The best interactive display isn’t particularly valuable if teachers only use it as an expensive television. Professional development matters! Teachers should understand both how to operate the technology and how to incorporate interactivity into instruction. Schools should therefore consider training and ongoing professional development as part of the implementation strategy, not as an optional add-on. It’s also important to consider what support resources, outside of premium professional development, are available to teachers and IT admin alike for self-paced education.
- IT Management
Adding dozens or hundreds of connected displays also adds devices for an IT department to manage. Schools should ask how displays are updated, monitored, secured, and supported across the district. Centralized device management capabilities can become especially important for larger deployments.
Interactive Display vs. Projector: Which Is Better for a Classroom?
Whether you’re considering a traditional projector or an interactive projector against an interactive display for a classroom, there’s no universal answer because the right technology depends on the specific classroom and how it will be used.
Interactive displays are generally the stronger option when a school prioritizes touchscreen interaction, consistent image quality, digital whiteboarding, student collaboration, an integrated front-of-classroom experience, and an overall lower total cost of ownership.
However, projectors can still make sense when a school needs a very large image, has an unusually large instructional space, or has budget and infrastructure considerations that favor projection because of the lower hardware cost.
The decision shouldn’t simply be “Which technology is newer or is the least expensive?”
Schools should instead ask: Which solution best supports the way educators teach and students learn in the classroom?
What Should Schools Look for in an Interactive Display?
Not all interactive displays are created equal. Comparing specifications is important, but schools should also think about the complete classroom experience. When evaluating interactive displays for education options, you should consider:
- Display size and image quality. Is the screen large enough to be seen from the back of the classroom? Does it offer 4K resolution and good visibility in bright rooms?
- Touch experience. Does writing feel natural? How many simultaneous touch points are supported? Can multiple students comfortably collaborate?
- Operating system and apps. Does the display work with the applications and platforms your teachers already use?
- EDLA certification. An EDLA certified interactive display is especially important for schools that utilize the Google Workspace for Education and would like direct access to the Google Play Store.
- Device compatibility. Can teachers and students easily connect Chromebooks, Windows laptops, Macs, tablets, and other classroom devices?
- Wireless casting. Can users share their screens without constantly connecting and disconnecting cables?
- Digital whiteboarding software. What software for interactive whiteboards is included with your display? What tools and features will teachers have access to for writing, annotation, lesson creation, collaboration, and content sharing?
- Look at HDMI, USB, USB-C, networking, wireless connectivity, and other inputs your classrooms require.
- Are the integrated speakers sufficient for videos and multimedia lessons?
- How does the platform protect accounts, applications, data, and network access?
- Device management. Can IT staff remotely monitor, update, configure, and manage displays?
- Warranty and support. What happens when a display needs service? How quickly can the school get help or a replacement?
- Professional development. Does the provider offer training that helps educators go beyond basic operation and learn how to use the display to improve instruction?
These factors can have a much greater impact on long-term satisfaction than any single specification.
How Can Schools Get the Most Value from Interactive Displays?
When it comes to interactive whiteboards for education, buying the hardware is only the beginning. To maximize return on investment, schools should think of an interactive display initiative as an instructional technology project, not simply a hardware purchase.
Before a large-scale rollout, consider involving teachers, curriculum leaders, administrators, and IT staff in the evaluation process. A pilot program can also be valuable – allowing educators use the technology in real classrooms, gather feedback, identify training needs, and determine which features teachers actually use.
Most importantly, provide ongoing professional development to fully maximize your return on investment. A teacher who knows how to turn a display on and open a presentation has learned how to operate the technology. A teacher who can use digital whiteboarding software, multimedia, student collaboration, assessment tools, and interactive activities has learned how to teach with it. That difference can determine whether your interactive display investment reaches its full potential.
Interactive Displays for Education: The Bottom Line
So, are interactive displays worth it for schools?
For schools looking to create more interactive, collaborative, and flexible learning environments, interactive displays can be a worthwhile long-term investment. They combine several classroom technologies into one platform, give teachers more ways to present information, and create opportunities for students to actively participate in lessons rather than simply watch them.
But the display itself is only one part of the equation.
Schools should evaluate ease of use, software, compatibility, security, device management, support, professional development, and total cost of ownership alongside screen specifications. Choosing the right solution—and giving teachers the support they need to use it effectively—can turn an interactive display from another piece of classroom hardware into a central part of everyday teaching and learning.
If your school or district is considering upgrading its classroom technology, Parmetech can help you evaluate interactive displays for education and determine which solution makes the most sense for your classrooms, teachers, students, and budget. As an Elite ViewSonic reseller partner and contracted distributor, our team can help you build an interactive classroom solution designed around the way your educators actually teach, from selecting the right display size and features to installation, implementation, training, and ongoing support.
Contact Parmetech today to learn more about interactive displays for education, schedule a demo, or request a custom quote for your school. You can call us at (800) 727-6383, email us at info@parmetech.com, or submit a request through our website form.
Frequently Asked Questions About Interactive Displays for Education
What are interactive displays for education?
Interactive displays for education are large touchscreen displays that allow teachers and students to present, write, annotate, manipulate, and collaborate with digital content directly on the screen. They combine features of a whiteboard, touchscreen, presentation display, and multimedia system.
Are interactive displays worth it for schools?
Interactive displays can be worth the investment when schools use them regularly for instruction, collaboration, multimedia, digital whiteboarding, and student participation. Their value depends on choosing the right technology, providing teacher training, and ensuring the displays integrate with existing classroom systems.
What are the benefits of interactive displays in the classroom?
Interactive displays can increase student participation, support collaborative learning, simplify multimedia instruction, improve classroom visibility, enable digital whiteboarding, and give teachers more flexibility in how they present lessons.
What is the difference between an interactive display and a smart board?
“Smart board” is often used generically to describe interactive classroom technology, although SMART Board is also a specific brand. Modern interactive flat-panel displays have the touchscreen and display built into one unit, while many older interactive whiteboard systems relied on a separate board, projector, and computer.
Do interactive displays need a computer?
Not always. Some interactive displays include an operating system and built-in computing capabilities that allow teachers to use whiteboarding tools, apps, browsers, and other features without connecting a separate computer. Others are designed primarily to work with an external computer or optional computing module.
What size interactive display is best for a classroom?
The ideal size depends on the dimensions of the classroom, viewing distance, number of students, mounting location, and how the display will be used. Schools should make sure students at the back of the room can comfortably read text and see instructional content before choosing a screen size.
Can interactive displays work with Chromebooks?
Many modern interactive displays support Chromebooks and other ChromeOS devices, but capabilities vary by manufacturer and model. Schools should confirm compatibility, wireless casting, touch functionality, and integration with Google Workspace before purchasing.
How long do interactive displays last?
The lifespan varies by model, usage, environment, and manufacturer. When comparing options, schools should consider the manufacturer’s rated panel life, warranty coverage, software support, security updates, and expected replacement cycle rather than focusing solely on the initial purchase price.
