Today, more and more schools are turning to technology to reduce paperwork, help with scheduling and monitor attendance. But with well-placed iBeacons and a bespoke education app, you can enhance the experience of your students and staff alike. All the while giving you a new level of insight into the running of your school or college.
First Off, What Is an iBeacon?
An iBeacon is a small, battery-powered device that sends out Bluetooth signals within an area of your choosing. They’re small, cheap and can last years on a single charge! Plus, the signal strength can range from between a couple of meters up to about 50 which allows you to get super specific with how you use the technology.
These signals can then be read by nearby devices like mobile phones and tablets. So, when a device comes in range of that beacon, mobile apps can read the signals and take action.
What Can Schools Do with Beacon Technology?
You could use this for registering when one of your students has arrived at class. Or, to send educational content to students depending on where they are in your school. So, for example, you could use beacon tech to push out a Google form asking for feedback following a workshop. You even can target specific years, classes or social clubs with customised push notifications for each.
But beacons aren’t just useful for pushing out content, they’re also invaluable when it comes to tracking your footfall through your school. You can measure, in real time, the number and location of people with devices in your school.
Further to this, if you’ve recently run an AdWords campaign advertising your school, then you can actually track how many people responded to that ad by attending one of your open days. So, with beacon tech, you can get a much better idea of the effectiveness of your ad spend. It’s no surprise that 75% of top retailers use iBeacon tech in their marketing mixes.
But to create actions off the back of iBeacon, you need an accompanying education app that your students and teachers have installed on their phones. To get the most out of beacon tech and mobile for your school, you’ll need a bespoke education app. One that’s tailored and built around your school’s specific needs.
What Could a Mobile App Mean for Your School?
iBeacons are a great way to engage students and staff. All while giving you a much better insight into how people move around your school or college. But beacon technology is just the tip of the iceberg. We can work with you to build a custom education app that will help you:
- Eliminate paperwork across-the-board while creating a comprehensive digital history of files, class notes and more.
- Digitise the maintenance and management of your school, giving stakeholders an up-to-date view of any ongoing projects as well as any issues or requests.
- Support your relationship with teachers, parents and teachers by turning communications into conversations.
- Unlock new learning methods and materials, turning mobile from a potential distraction to an invaluable tool.
If you’re interested in developing a bespoke app for your school or educational institution, then get in touch today to discuss your project with us. Give us a call on 01737 45 77 88 or send us a message. We’re Sonin App Development worked with a wide range of organisations that use mobile and emerging technology to solve their core business challenges, and we’d love to help you too.
We recommend reading our article: Sonin Create: Using iBeacons to streamline client visits