Gen Z suffers from digital fatigue, which comes from prolonged exposure to digital devices that can lead to mental exhaustion, physical discomfort, and cognitive impairment. From taking notes on laptops in lectures to tackling Canvas homework back in their dorm, students are constantly online. They even wind down with TikTok and TV at night, spending an average of nine hours a day in front of screens. College students need a space where they can unplug from digital fatigue while still staying on top of their academics.
You may be thinking “it’s just a whiteboard.” But the whiteboard has stood the test of time in education. And it is needed now more than ever. Not only does the whiteboard give students a break from the screens but actually helps them retain information better. Handwriting involves higher levels of cognitive processing and attention, which can lead to better memory retention and faster recall. In fact, some professors disallow laptops for this very reason. Additionally, West Point Military Academy upholds this tradition of handwriting notes believing it will promote active engagement and retention of information. Reintroducing analog tools in education gives students a break from screens while supporting deeper engagement, stronger retention, and more effective learning.
Ghent’s whiteboards and glassboards offer sustainable solutions to enhance learning and combat digital fatigue. Beyond improving focus and retention, whiteboards also encourage collaboration and creativity. Students can map out ideas, visualize complex concepts, and engage in group problem-solving without the distractions of notifications or multitasking. Whether it is brainstorming for a group project, planning a study schedule, or sketching out a tough equation, having a physical space to think and create helps reduce stress and foster deeper learning. With Ghent’s durable whiteboards and glassboards, dorm rooms and study spaces become more than just places to work; they become areas where students can truly engage, reflect, and recharge.
Ghent’s Marketing Intern, Annabella Cortez, lives in a sophomore dorm at Miami University and notices Ghent products everywhere, from Aria Glassboards, Cork Bulletin Boards, to the GRVT® Mobile Collaboration Hub in King Library. She shares, “during finals, I always get up early to snag a study room with a glassboard because it’s everyone’s favorite way to romanticize studying.” College students use whiteboards for group tutoring sessions, sketching human anatomy diagrams, mapping out business plans, and countless other creative purposes. Annabella and her peers love the satisfying feel of markers gliding across perfectly smooth glass, as well as the ability to color coordinate their organized thoughts.
Image from a dorm at Miami University, featuring an Aria Glassboard.
Beyond academics, Ghent products also play a key role in dorm life and community building. Residential Assistants (RAs) create fun board themes to provide study tips, move in and out instructions and fire safety procedures. Additionally, RAs use Ghent’s Cork Bulletin Boards to connect with their residents. They post their contact information, about me posters, and dorm events that help build a sense of community. Ghent’s boards and display cases are also used to showcase student life. Providing information about clubs, Greek life, sports, and volunteer opportunities is especially important in first-year dorms where students are looking to get connected on campus.
Image from a dorm at Miami University, featuring a Cork Bulletin Board.
In a world where college life is increasingly lived through a screen, whiteboards remain a simple but powerful constant. They give students permission to slow down, think visually, and engage more intentionally with their ideas and each other. From late-night study sessions to RA-led community moments, these analog tools continue to shape how students learn, collaborate, and connect. Ghent helps turn dorms, libraries, and study rooms into environments where students can do their best work and take a meaningful break from the digital noise.
Build your educational space with Ghent.
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