Education

Online professional development offered by the DSF

Our mission is to grow our industry through professional development. The DSF offers access to two types of industry credentials:  Micro-Credentials and Certification. Micro-credential courses may be used for Certification continuing education requirements.

DSF Online Education Micro-credentials

DSF Foundations Sample Badge

The flagship DSF Online Education micro-credentials are a set of stacking credentials for individuals which are earned through taking short online courses and completing a short assessment.

Each member company receives one individual license for the program which offers all of the available courses. After course completion the participant receives a certificate and a digital badge to use on their materials, signatures or social media.

Courses

Cost

1 FREE complimentary license to all courses for any current member (one per member company).
$75 for each additional member licence.
$99 for non-members.

Badges

Completing any of the courses provides a digital badge which will be available to the person as long as they are part of a member company. If a person receives 5 badges they will receive the 5+ digital badge indicating that they have completed 5 or more of the courses.

  • All
  • Digital Signage 101
  • DSF Education Reviewers
  • Foundations of Digital Signage
  • Hardware
  • Software and Content

Why Become a Digital Signage Integrator

This course will help AV integrators, IT companies, sign shops, and signage installers learn the benefits of including digital signage system integration and support services in their portfolio.  This course will also outline how these companies can approach adding this new business service.

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Hardware
Course Author: DSF

Programmatic DOOH

This introductory course will help those unfamiliar with programmatic media understand what it means, how it compares to other out-of-home media, and best practices in managing and selling programmatic media

Course Category: DSF Education Reviewers, Software and Content
Course Author: DSF

LED Ticker Displays

LED tickers are a unique segment of digital communications. This course will teach the learner about the basic technology behind these, how and where they should be used, and how content for these displays is managed.

Course Category: DSF Education Reviewers, Hardware
Course Author: DSF

Interactive Flat Panel Displays

This course on interactive flat panel displays guides the learner through interactive experiences, hardware and software components, and whiteboard solutions.  At the end of this course a user will be able to identify needs for development of interactive displays,  criteria for designing an interactive solution, and questions to ask when purchasing solution components.

Course Category: DSF Education Reviewers, Hardware
Course Author: DSF

Foundations

The Digital Signage Federation’s Foundations course is a broad overview of the components, practices, techonology, and strategy of any digital signage system. This self-paced course is recommended for professionals new to digital signage. It covers basic concepts n content management, software, hardware components, and business operations. It has its own credential and is recommended as…

Course Category: Foundations of Digital Signage, Hardware, Software and Content
Course Author: DSF

Beyond Touch- Alternative Interactive Technologies

This course explores the variety of human-machine interaction options available for digital signage deployments beyond touch. Technologies addressed include computer vision, gesture, voice, and the use of personal mobile devices. The pros and cons of each approach are highlighted, and suitable use cases are presented.

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Geoff Bessin

Audio in Digital signage

This course is intended to provide an overview and some technical information on how audio systems are set up and support visual content in digital signage.  This course will educate learners how to set up audio systems appropriately to deliver the message and audio content effectively to  achieve a “call to action”.

Course Category: Hardware
Course Author: DSF

Licensed Content Feeds

Licensed content is used as an effective content element in much of what we call digital signage. This course will teach learners the definitions of licensed content feeds, how they can most effectively be used, and some of the comparisons to other type of content feeds.

Course Category:
Course Author: Tim Vance

Choosing a Display

In this course, students will learn the basics of choosing correct displays for a digital signage project. Concepts include display types, display size, resolution and brightness, and other functionality. The course will also describe the differences between commercial and consumer grade displays and the benefits that come with commercial grade products.

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Hardware
Course Author: Saundra Merollo

Choosing a Partner

Digital signage projects and networks are developed and maintained using a variety of components. All of these components are created or provided by other companies specializing in each component. Having the right partners to help support the project is critical. In this course, participants will be taught the basics of choosing partners for their digital…

Course Category: Digital Signage 101
Course Author: Micheal Arnett

Designing Content

Clients aren’t buying Digital Signage technology because they like spending money. Digital Signage is a communication investment to meet a goal, and content delivers on that goal. Digital signage content creating is an ongoing business process. Content should be relevant to the user and direct them to some sort of action. The creation process behind…

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Jim Nista

Selecting the Right CMS

Content Management or Software is an essential piece of a digital signage network. It connects your messages and media with individual screens or groups of screens and ensures the right message plays at the right time. Choosing the right provider will help ensure the content can be updated efficiently and that your screen is always…

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Ryan Cahoy

Software Features

Digital signage software platforms should all do core basic functions. Digital signage networks are not one size-fits-all all, and neither is digital signage software. The level of software functionality, price, support, and operations needs by the customer may differ. This course teaches the user about software features and elements of the decision process to help…

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Jeff Weitzman

Content Management

The objective of this course is to learn the basics of content management for digital signage. While systems, software, and content format may be different, this course will teach individuals about the components and workflows common to any content management scheme for digital sigange.

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Software and Content
Course Author: Wayne Rasor

Cloud vs. Premise-Based Software

This course is designed to help the learner become familiar with deciding the benefits and proper applications for both cloud and premise based digital signage management software.

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Dina Townsend

Fundamentals of Planning

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This adage is particularly true in context to digital signage. This course helps the user better articulate the reasoning behind their project. It also helps frame the much needed commitment by signage operators in relation to goal and objective setting, content planning, sourcing and funding. Cheat…

Course Category: Digital Signage 101
Course Author: Laura Davis-Taylor

Dynamic Content

In this course, learn more about how you can implement dynamic content into your digital signage displays that updates automatically. As it is a broad topic, without one definitive way to execute, this course will introduce you to the concept, explain use cases for different verticals, and give you some things to think about when…

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Kelly Smith

Mounting Basics

All digital signage requires some type of mount or enclosure. In this course users will learn a broad range of basic mounting concepts and some technical knowledge in the areas of types of wall mounts, wall structures, the installation process, and safety. The course concludes with information about where to position displays based on viewing…

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Hardware
Course Author: Craig Recchia

DSF Foundations- History

Digital signage has evolved over the years and started decades back from bulky CRT screens and VCR tapes into the flat panels and connected players we use today. Join us as we take a brief journey from then until now.

Course Category:
Course Author: Wayne Rasor

DSF Foundations – Content

In this portion of the Foundations Course you will learn general guidelines to create engaging content. We will touch on the basics of strategy, planning and design to help you deploy effective digital signage.

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Hardware, Software and Content
Course Author: Ryan Cahoy

DSF Foundations – Hardware

When designing an experience for your customers it is important to take into consideration, what is the right hardware for my customer? In this course you will learn more about all of the aspects that go into the decision of selecting the right type, orientation and size of the display, which content streaming device is…

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Hardware
Course Author: Tony Green

DSF Foundations – Planning

This section of the Foundations Course is focused on the strategic basics of setting up your network for success. We cover how it can be used within different verticals, how to align your network’s needs and goals to a business outcome, identifying and sourcing the resources to help you make it happen and the basics…

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Software and Content
Course Author: Laura Davis-Taylor

DSF Foundations – Software

In this part of the Foundations Course learners will be taught about the components that make up a digital signage content management system (CMS). This includes determining and planning for software features, selection requirements and ideas for selecting a CMS, how content is managed, and add on features for measuring success. The course will also…

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Kelly Smith

Using Video to Enhance Digital Signage

Digital signage provides the opportunity to display various forms of digital content. Video content is a highly effective way to capture attention and engage an audience. In this micro credential education program we will explore how video can be used strategically, the content production process and best practices for the digital signage medium.

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Vern Freedlander

Touch Technology Solutions

This course is designed to teach the historical highlights of touch technology development, understand the different types of touch technology solutions available, understand HID and TAA compliance, and overview interactive video wall solutions.

Course Category: Hardware, Software and Content
Course Author: Jonathan Witt

How to Create an RFP- Part 1

This course is part 1 of 2.  Together, the two courses teach learners how to prepare the requirements document for the RFP to ensure that they state the requirements properly and accurately to get the best responses to the RFP.  The learning objectives for part 1 include. -Understanding the business of digital signage -Learning how…

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Hardware
Course Author: Alan Brawn

How to Create an RFP- Part 2

This course is part 2 of 2.  Together, the two courses teach learners how to prepare the requirements document for the RFP to ensure that they state the requirements properly and accurately to get the best responses to the RFP.  The learning objectives for part 2 include: -Learning how to identify and interview the project…

Course Category: Digital Signage 101, Hardware
Course Author: Alan Brawn

Basics of Installation

This course provides an overview of the steps that make up the entire digital signage installation process along with recommendations for pre-installation decision making and site surveys.

Course Category: Hardware
Course Author: Tony Green

Screen Maintenance

This course is an overview of cleaning and protecting varioius screen types in various environments.  The course teaches about proper use of cleaning techniques, supplies, and scheduling.

Course Category: Hardware
Course Author: Stefan Thorarinson

Wayfinding

The main objectives of this course are to learn the best practices to build successful wayfinding solutions, the components that associate with the solution, the indoor positioning capabilities, mobile options, and how to manage the system.

Course Category: Hardware
Course Author: Brooke Graves

Direct View LED

In this course the instrutor explains the basics of Direct View LED technology, how it can be used, the forms it comes in, applications, limitations, and future technology considerations.

Course Category: Hardware
Course Author: Dave Haynes

Designing Interactive Experiences

Coming Soon

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Jim Nista

Featured Course “Using Video to Enhance Digital Signage”

Digital signage provides the opportunity to display various forms of digital content. Video content is a highly effective way to capture attention and engage an audience. In this micro credential education program we will explore how video can be used strategically, the content production process and best practices for the digital signage medium.

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Vern Freedlander

Experience Design

Experience is the today’s buzzword du jour, but how does the art and science of CX fit into DOOH? This course breaks down what it is, how it’s tied to non-conscience human triggers and how to weave it into your digital planning. Further, it provides simple tools and checklists to ensure that your program is…

Course Category: Software and Content
Course Author: Ed King

Video Wall Applications

This course is designed to provide an overview of video wall applications using flat panel displays. It reviews software and hardware options and design considerations for video walls.

Course Category: Hardware
Course Author: Ray Brooksby

Choosing a Display

In this course, students will learn the basics of choosing correct displays for a digital signage project. Concepts include display types, display size, resolution and brightness, and other functionality. The course will also describe the differences between commercial and consumer grade displays and the benefits that come with commercial grade products.

Course Category: Hardware
Course Author: Saundra Merollo

ADA Compliance for Digital Signage

Understanding ADA compliance issues is important for design, installation, and management of digital signage displays and networks.  This course teaches the basics of compliance to federal ADA laws in the USA and best practices for designing signage that will accommodate those with disabilities.

Course Category: Hardware, Software and Content
Course Author: Marc Pokorny