Digital Class Handbook – Complete Guide to Digital Classroom

Digital Classroom today is a beacon of effective and effective teaching and learning. Infused with 21st century technology, a Digital Classroom supplements learning better than traditional chalk and board learning in classrooms. With elements such as digital learning content such as animations, simulations, curriculum aligned books, notes, practice modules and assessments, and ability to share content, use touch to write on a whiteboard and use split screen to explain concepts better, a digital classroom today is no longer a good to have, it is a must have in any classroom setup and is affordable with immediate and long term benefits. . 

In layman’s terms, a digital classroom is a smart class that employs a variety of audio-visual aids to make learning more interactive and engaging. 

In this blog post, we’ll go deeper into the understanding of what all additional benefits can Technology-enhanced learning with a digital smart classroom setup bring to a school or an educational institution that can overall enhance the academic outcomes of the students. But before that let us first understand in detail what exactly is a digital classroom. 

What is a Digital Classroom?

A Digital Classroom is a type of classroom where one or more digital tools are used to teach and learn. It can involve using Smart Class on Smart TVs, Interactive Whiteboards or Flat Panels, and projectors, or it can involve using computers or tablets. In short, it is a digital form of a classroom.

We here want to focus more on the smart class version of a digital classroom where with the help of equipment like smart TVs, Interactive Flat Panels, Projectors, etc. a traditional classroom is converted into a digital smart classroom. 

Here teachers use this equipment to deliver their lectures. This equipment mostly has preloaded learning content that teachers can use and operate through either touch or remote. Some even have features where teachers can write, draw and erase on these smart class setups using digital pens. 

That is not it, one of the rare but most useful features in these smart class setups is usage reporting. Some of these devices have usage tracking enabled in them that records what is explored on the device in a classroom. 

All that in an up-to-the-mark quality is what comes as a package in the iPrep Digital Class. It is an easy-to-use, new-age Smart Classroom solution to empower 21st-century schools and teachers with the best of Digital Content & Resources. It greatly simplifies Smart Class setup for schools with efficient hardware options, digital content on any OS, and integrated offline reporting with auto sync to cloud-based monitoring dashboards. All of that makes iPrep Digital Class a great choice for converting a traditional classroom to a digital classroom.

Thousands of schools are currently using the same and lakhs of students are currently being benefitted from it. And that is just the beginning. But, keeping the effectiveness of iPrep Digital Class aside, let us now talk about how the digital classroom setup enhances the academic outcomes of students. 

How can a digital classroom enhance a school’s academic outcome?

Digital classrooms can have a positive impact on academic outcomes in several ways:

By Supplementing the teaching process

Digital classrooms can be a great supplement to the traditional teaching process by providing teachers with multimedia content such as videos, animations, e-books, etc. The digital smart classroom setup allows teachers to deliver their lectures in a much more visual and dynamic manner. All that is sure to make the learning process more stimulating and exciting for the students especially when you compare it with the traditional methods of teaching. And that way it enhances the academic output 

Similarly, with the iPrep Digital Class, which is a great choice for converting a traditional classroom into a digital classroom, there is a comprehensive and enjoyable set of learning and growth content that teachers can use to supplement their teaching. It has video lessons with real-life connected animations, practice with instant feedback, practicals, digital syllabus books, notes, and assessments with exam preparation. All that comes together to make the learning experience more exciting and stimulating and thus supplements the teaching process.

Enhancing student engagement

The audio-visual systems and content that are used in the digital classroom setups are proven not only to grab student attention but also help them better understand the subject matter at hand irrespective of their complexities. All that together enhances student engagement and takes it to significantly higher levels which ensures better academic outcomes.

iPrep Digital Class takes it to another level. With an interesting set of video lessons with real-life connected examples, our learning platform iPrep makes it easier for teachers to teach even the most complex of topics and subjects in a much more effective manner. And when students can easily register the lectures delivered to them, the knowledge gained stays with them for a longer time. 

Also, the practice with instant feedback present in iPrep Digital Class is a highly engaging way to refine the learning gained by students and make them feed the information in their minds for a longer period. That is another major element that makes iPrep Digital Class a great choice for converting a traditional classroom into a digital classroom.

By giving access to efficient teaching resources

As we already discussed, digital classroom setups come with access to highly efficient teaching resources. All those resources are sure to help teachers deliver their lectures with much more efficiency and ease. And with iPrep digital Class, it goes even beyond. 

There are multiple categories of highly enjoyable, engaging, and thus efficient learning resources present in our digital smart classroom solution the iPrep Digital class which will altogether ensure a better academic performance of the students. And the best part? All these resources are preloaded on the iPrep Digital Class for offline usage. So an internet connection won’t ever be a challenge. All that makes the digital classroom setup with iPrep Digital Class, a solution that take the process of teaching and learning to another level.

By empowering teachers with real-time tracking:

Some Digital classrooms come with features that can provide teachers with a real-time track of the progress they’ve been making using the digital smart classroom setup. That helps them first understand the gaps they and their students may have. It also helps them plan their lectures better and never let their students miss out on anything. 

Similarly, our educational software on the iPrep Digital Class has a real-time usage tracking system that keeps complete track of every usage point in real-time. It then curates and sends the same information to us at our cloud-based reporting dashboard. 

Keeping all the points mentioned above in mind, a digital classroom setup like the iPrep Digital Class is sure to enhance the academic output of the students. Let us understand how teachers can create an effective experience with the digital smart Classroom setup. To be completely sure about the information we do share, we’ll use the example of iPrep Digital Class. 

How can teachers create an effective digital classroom experience with iPrep Digital Class? 

To create an effective experience with the digital classroom setup, teachers can- 

Smartly include the use of the digital classroom setup in their lesson plan

If teachers have been provided with iPrep digital Classes, they need to first consider using them as a major part of their lesson plan. What they can do is that after the traditional blackboard lesson delivery, they can show the enjoyable video lessons presented in the iPrep Digital Class to the students to give them more clarity on the topic. 

They can also have a practice session with the students to strengthen their grip on the topic’s understanding. This will allow teachers to create engaging and interactive lessons for their students.

Further, instead of using paper books themselves and asking their students to do the same, teachers can make use of the digital syllabus books which are simply digital textbooks, present in the iPrep Digital Class. This will ensure that during classes, both they and their students are on the same page and their students are accurately following their instructions. 

Lastly, they can make consistent use of the reports section to ensure that they are covering each topic and the classroom collectively increasing their levels of mastery in all subjects with time. 

All that together will ensure that the teachers make the best use of the digital classroom setup- the iPrep Digital Class for enhancing the academic outcomes of the students. 

Deciding Screen size in a Digital Classroom

Smart Board/Interactive Flat Panel Specifications

Recommended sizes based on classroom dimensions:

• Small (20-30 students): 65 inches – Optimal viewing distance 2-5 meters
• Medium (30-50 students): 75 inches – Optimal viewing distance 3-7 meters
• Large (50+ students): 86 inches – Optimal viewing distance 4-9 meters

Hardware Requirements of a Digital Classroom

• Wall Mount: Height-adjustable, weight-tested mounting
• Interactive Projectors: Alternative for budget constraints
• Audio-Visual System: Dual speakers (20W) + wireless microphone
• Power Backup: Inverter (1KVA) + UPS system with 2-hour backup
• Optional: Student tablets/laptops

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What is a Digital Class? (Difference Between Digital Class & Digital Classroom)

A Digital Class is a broader concept. It refers to a physical or an online class mostly enabled through Interactive whiteboards/ smart boards or projectors or digital learning applications. A Digital Class is used in schools, coaching institutions and home based learning. An example of a Digital Class is the iPrep Digital Class. It is also called a Smart Class

A Digital Classroom, although is usually referred to as a Smart Class, has a slightly varied technical definition. A Digital Classroom is a tech enabled environment where every aspect of teaching is driven digitally from instruction, digital content, to assessments and learning platform. A Digital Classroom could be a physical or virtual space.

Why Are Digital Classes the Future of Education?

• A Digital Class enables interactive and effective learning where students ar able to easily visualise concepts and teacher are able to express and explain concepts well. Schools are moving from traditional chalk and blackboard setups to Digital Classes. Students also find digital classes more engaging and standardised content offered by digital Classes helps maintain learning quality and prepares students and teachers for grade level proficiency. 
• There has been a significant push post NEP 2020 on Digital Classes. Integration of Technology in Teaching & learning is one of the key cornerstones of NEP 2020. It encourages school to adopt to Smart Classrooms, PAL and learning platforms. Digital Classes in 2025 are the key to unlock quality learning at all levels – pre-primary to higher grades. NDEAR (National Digital Education Architecture) and DIKSHA are initiatives of the Govt that mirror support for Digital Class implementation and digital content respectively. 
• Case study of Digital Class adoption across UP with incorporation of iPrep Digital Class in over 5000 schools in 2023. Link to NEP 2020’s push for digital education.
• Showcase data-driven benefits of Digital Classes.

Types of Digital Classes & How They Work

Although often used interchangeably, Smart Class, Digital Class and Digital Classroom are technically different. While every Smart Class is a Digital Class, not every Digital Class requires a Smart Class setup. Smart Classes focus on infrastructure of digital learning, Digital Classes focus on the method of learning. A Digital Classroom, on the other hand is structured, tech-enabled environment while a Digital Class could be a class or single teaching session that leverages digital tools.

Key Differences Between Digital Class & Smart Class

Feature	Digital Class	Smart Class
Scope	An approach of teaching using digital tools	A classroom setup with technology integration
Location	Can be in schools, homes, or online	Exists in physical classrooms
Devices	Tablets, Desktops, laptops, e-learning platforms, web/mobile app	Smartboards/ interactive white boards or projectors
Mode	Could be online, blended, or offline	Is mostly in-person classroom-based
Example	A student learning through iPrep at home or Students undertaking activities/ assessments/ practice using iPrep on tablets in a Smart ICT lab teacher’s instructions	A teacher using iPrep content on a smartboard or interactive whiteboard at a school

Key Differences Between Digital Class & Digital Classroom

Feature	Digital Class	Digital Classroom
Scope	A single class or session where digital tools are used	A dedicated tech-enabled learning space
Mode	Could be online, blended, or offline	Could be physical or fully online
Infrastructure requirements	Basic Digital Tools	Integrated tech solutions
Location	Could be conducted anywhere	Exists in dedicated spaces
Example	A teacher using a tablet for tests	A school with a smart classroom setup

• Online Digital Classes: Fully Online courses where students join remotely and a teach can teach from their homes, something we saw during the COVID 19 pandemic. May or may not be accompanied with an LMS
• Offline Digital Class: Smart board/Interactive whiteboard with content on pen drives 

How to Set Up a Digital Class in Your School?

• A guide to implementing a Digital Class Setup
• Checklist of hardware & software required for a Digital Class.

Key Features of an Effective Digital Class Setup

• Curriculum-aligned digital content (NCERT & State Boards) in Bilingual mode with content available in regional languages 
• Interactive panels or Smart TV for digital classes.
• Integrated Monitoring & Reporting
• Offline-access for schools with low connectivity.

Challenges in Implementing a Digital Class & Solutions

• Some of the common issues in India is lack of training and infrastructure. Teachers, especially in Govt schools have long resisted technology. This has changed with applications such as iPrep that are build on universal design principles, adopting to the natural psychology of teachers. However, by the time this happened, another challenge arose, that of most schools are currently enabled with outdated hardware. In some remote schools, there is no hardware and frequent challenge of Internet connectivity and electricity. 
• There are several ways in which affordable and cost effective Digital Class setup can be enabled. For example introducing a Smart TV with content pre-loaded with a pen Drive. UPS Backup, and solar panel in case electricity is a major concern in the school. If a school has an existing infrastructure such as a smart board or a projector or a PC, it can be enabled with Digital Content and LMS Turning the class into a Digital Class. 
• Ed Tech and Digital content providers such as iDream Education can pay a role in mass adoption of Digital Class in schools.

Case Studies: How Schools Improved Learning with Digital Classes

Multiple NGOs, CSRs and Govt projects have incorporated Digital Classrooms in their plans, iDream Education has already setup over 21500 smart classes in India, and the opportunity is quite huge. Considering that even today, a small percentage of schools are equipped with the right Digital Class Infrastructure.

• This video shows how a regular classroom was converted into a Digital Class, truly capturing the impact of Digital Classroom setups. 

• Here is an account of how Digital Class solved a long pending problem of the Army Goodwill Schools in Kashmir 

Future Trends: How Digital Classes Are Evolving

• India has a unique challenge, that of historical learning gap in many students. An innovative digital class solution, although a lab or individual learning device based PAL (Personalised Adaptive learning) solution could play a significant role in evolution of Digital Classroom in India. Through a coach application, teachers assign work to students and are able to monitor their progress which includes covering foundational topics if a diagnostic test indicates that for a particular topic or chapter, a student lacks  understanding and knowhow to proceed with the topic without having to address foundational topics. One very good example of this is the e-ADHIGAM initiative by Govt of Haryana, where all grade 11 and 12 students were given a Tablet with iPrep PAL, iDream Education’s PAL Solution leading to a significant improvement at the individual student level. iPrep PAL incorporates Gamification and remedial content ensuring that the student has no option but to secure 100% in practice and attempt a final test where he/she needs to score a minimum of 80%. 
• Another example of advanced Digital Classroom is highly customised content aligned with the NCERT and NCF (National Curriculum Framework) such as Vidya Pravesh and bridge course for primary school students for addressing their historical learning gaps. Smart classes with early learning content can ensure Foundational Literacy and Numeracy amongst early learners and achievement of FLN Goals, iDream Education has developed custom content for all of the above mentioned initiatives. These initiatives have it in them to bring long term as well as large scale impact fully utilizing the potential of Digital Classroom technology.
• A future ready Digital Classroom comprises of state of the art Interactive Flat Panel, Curriculum and NEP Digital Content & LMS, backup, bluetooth sound bar, webcam, and a solar panel to ensure green Digital Classroom Technology.

Benefits of Digital Classroom for teachers and students?

• Engagement: Students are more engaged through interactive content that is shown in a Digital Class making often difficult topics easy to understand and comprehend. With simulations, students are able to implement concepts learnt and features such as multi touch in Interactive Flat Panels, foster collaboration. 
• Accessibility: Digital Class is easily accessible by way of remote learning during school closures and self paced learning with aids such as practice, notes, interactive content helping students to learn at their own pace.
• Equity: A Digital Class brings a lot of equity amongst students who are in Government schools and in Private Schools addressing the digital divide and also assuring universal access to learning for all
• Multi lingual Learning: Digital Classroom platforms such as iPrep, make content available in regional languages making learning inclusive 
• Supports diverse Learning needs: With a variety of content types such as videos, audiobooks, simulations, and interactive tests, different learning styles are addressed i.e. visual, auditory and Kinesthetics.

To conclude, a Digital Classroom setup can surely enhance the academic outcomes of students by supplementing the teaching process, making classrooms more interactive and engaging, empowering teachers with real-time tracking, and giving them access to efficient teaching resources. If teachers do get their hands on these setups and if they are willing to make the best out of them by smartly including their usage in their lesson plans, nobody can ever stop their students from flourishing academically. 

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