Presented by Stephent@nipissingu.ca
"QR Code — abbreviated from Quick Response Code — is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and large storage capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be made up of four standardized kinds ('modes') of data (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, Kanji), or by supported extensions virtually any kind of data." --Wikipedia.org
Here's the quick 411 on using QR code in the classroom based on what I learned at ISTE11 this summer in Philadelphia...
Using QR codes in the classroom requires 3 ingredients:
- The QR code
- A smart phone/device
- A smart phone/device app
- Optiscan, quickmark (iPhone)
- Code scanner pro, scan life (blackberry)
- Barcode scanner, quick mark (android)
What can a QR code encode?
- Text
- Website URL
- Telephone number
- SMS message
- Email address
- Email message
- Contact details (vcard), Event (vcalendar)
- Wifi login
- Paypal buy now link
- Social media
- Google maps
- iTunes link
- YouTube video
- Etc.
- Go to Qrstuff.com .
- Download the program Quickmark onto your laptop - it will read and create QR code.
- Business cards
- Name tags
- Advertisements
- Flight boarding passes
- Distribute a famous piece of art with a QR code on the side that takes students to information or websites about the piece of art. The code could also take students to a website with a zoomed-in portion of the painting so the students could view the details of the painting.
- Create a class newsletter full of QR codes. The paper could only include headlines and photos. Readers would have to scan to code to be taken to an online version of the paper containing the stories.
- Library buzz - Put QR codes into books that link to the electronic version of the book or information about the author.
- Scavenger hunt - Post a series of QR codes around the classroom or the school that link to clues for finding the next code.
- Answers to questions - Include QR codes on student worksheets so students can scan them once they have solved a problem in order to check their work or to access help videos recorded on the classroom document camera.
- Interactive timelines - Build a timeline with QR codes that link to more detailed information about each event.
- Communicate with parents - Include QR codes that link to interesting parent information on class, school, or PTA newsletters, or even on your classroom door.
- Differentiated assignments - Create alternate assignments for students to access without everyone else in the class knowing they have a different list or assignment.
- Geocaching
- Step by step instructions - QR codes lead students to one step at a time
- Link to audio file that ties into the lesson.
- Link to student personal information like a bus or phone number for students who need help remembering.
- Link to a podcast you would like your students to listen to.
- Create an audio or other media tour of a park, museum, or field trip destination by displaying QR codes next to artifacts or creating a pamphlet of QR codes that are linked to recordings or websites.
- Create QR code flash cards.
- Technology/art fusion project - Make an artistic representation of your QR code. Then, link it to an explanation of your creative work.
Where is QR headed?
- Beyond QR code lies augmented reality where 3D images pop up when you hold a code in front of a scanner.
- SMART sells a document camera that reads and projects "mixed reality" content.
