Using pervasive displays to aid student recall: Reflections on a campus-wide trial

University campuses are rapidly transitioning to environments that are rich in technology designed to support learning throughout the day and in diverse forms. Traditional lectures and seminars are supplemented with rich WiFi coverage, integrated learning environments, video lectures, public display networks and other innovations. Of these diverse technologies, the role and potential of public display networks in higher education is currently least understood. Indeed, most campus displays are merely used as means of information dissemination or as tools to support collaboration.

In this paper, we explore the potential of pervasive display technologies as active contributors to university teaching and learning. We describe a real-world explorative study in which campus displays we used to stimulate student recall of lecture material. Our experiences demonstrate that public displays can be leveraged to provide prompts at opportune moments and invites further research in designing memory prompts to leverage the learning potential of pervasive displays in campus settings. The insights we garnered form a solid foundation and highlight opportunities and challenges in the field.