An Innovative Way to Color and Shape the Classroom

While students, parents, and faculty continue adjusting to today’s new hybrid classroom, it is more important than ever that school districts have the ability to share and print information effectively. As seen in the 2019 Canon U.S.A. Print for Action survey*, 76% of students say they prefer doing reading assignments on paper rather than online for better learning retention. But it’s not just the tactile benefits of print materials that impact learning; the quality and color also contribute. In fact, color has been shown to help enhance attention, retention, and memory,¹ influencing how we see and process information.

With this in mind, it is imperative that school districts are equipped with technology that not only enables high-speed, high-volume production printing, but also has the capacity and cost-efficiency of printing in full color to help students understand and retain information. Implementing solutions like inkjet technology can help school districts achieve these goals and provide a flexible, affordable way for them to manage the short-run, personalized, and on-demand color print needs of the district.

A Modern Solution for Modern Education

Educators have always worn many hats, but the pandemic has added additional duties as teachers and administrators juggle the responsibilities of virtual and in-person classrooms. During these challenging times, it is important for educators to have access to innovative tools and solutions that enhance the student learning experience while also helping resolve operational challenges that many education in-plants experience.

Designed for high-speed, high-quality, and outstanding color, production inkjet can help teachers create lesson plans, meet fast turnaround times, and create content that fuels a fun and stimulating classroom, whether in person or online. Not only can educators create content with high-quality colors and graphics to capture student attention, but sheetfed production inkjet capabilities can also bring texture into the learning experience through quality printing on a range of paper media types, including inkjet-treated, coated, or uncoated stocks, and ColorGrip specialty media.

A solution that offers exceptional print quality for students while simultaneously meeting the need for flexibility and affordability no longer has to be an uphill battle. Inkjet technology can be that vital piece in addressing K-12 school districts’ challenges, including shrinking budgets and the high volume of teacher requests for customized course material with fast turnaround times. Education in-plants need to make strategic technology decisions that help streamline workflow and cost while remaining an added value to the students and faculty — now more than ever.

Power of Print in the Classroom

Amidst society’s ever-changing norms, print continues to have an uncanny ability to pervade our thoughts and opinions. Print appeals to the reader’s emotions in a way that digital messaging cannot, and influences the way we receive and retain information. Print plays a pivotal role in education every day. From vibrant posters that decorate classroom walls to printed resources like homework planners, notebooks, newsletters, and textbooks, print can help create an environment that promotes learning and engagement both inside and outside the classroom setting. This is especially important in today’s environment, where hybrid classrooms are the new norm for some.

Educators can help students become more engaged with lessons by utilizing the power of print and graphic design. Print makes graphic design trends like vibrant colors and eye-catching graphics stand out amongst the barrage of digital information. This resonates and makes connections with target audiences.

As 76% of Americans say the quality and graphics of print are what capture their attention*, it is also very effective to use variable data software to help school administrators to include personalization in their design and prints. Utilizing variable data printing can help educators create and execute more personalized, targeted communication to students. In addition, it can help administrators share important messages to parents and faculty through newsletters, pamphlets, and other commonly used collateral.

The first step in an education institution’s successful in-plant strategy is finding a manufacturer that acts as a true partner to find the right technology and solutions to fit the school’s individual challenges. Having access to a professional services team, such as the one Canon Solutions America offers, can provide an educational in-plant with the technical support needed to drive improved operational efficiencies throughout their organization, which then enables the in-plant to effectively deliver a positive customer experience to students, faculty, administrators, and parents.

*Figures from Ipsos survey conducted on behalf of Canon U.S.A., Inc., from November 27-29, 2018. Sample size: 2,010 U.S. adults, ages 18 and older. Generational breaks: Gen Z (21 and under), Millennials (22-36), Gen X (37-52), Baby Boomers (53-71), Silent 72+). Sample sizes: Gen Z: 62, Millennials: 537, Gen X: 574, Baby Boomers: 689, Silent: 148.
¹Journal of Education and Practice, 2015.