A QR code (QR stands for "Quick Response") is a special bar code that can store website URLs, plain text, phone numbers, email addresses or other alphanumeric data. It can be read with mobile devices that have a camera and a QR code reader, such as most smartphones, iPads (2) and some iPod Touches.
I hear that they can store up to 4296 characters and work internationally, so a QR code is a QR code all over the world. They've been big in Japan for a while and are just now breaking in the USA.
You might want to think "print-based hypertext links." (Silence or sound of crickets) Are you having a Scooby-Doo moment like I did?
I thought so... at first, until I read a few blogs about the potential use of QR codes in education. And since I have a bit of experience with interactive whiteboards, I wanted to explore how QR codes can be used in a real classroom with real existing technology, including interactive whiteboards.
On a whiteboard (a flipchart page, for example) or on printed paper. I've seen magazine ads, posters, business cards and even real estate yard signs with QR codes. I imagine textbooks will, too, no?
So that got me thinking about possibilities in education and I started doing research. It seems that since so many students have smartphones, they could have a QR Reader and be able to access stuff with their own little gadget. (I'm thinking BYOD—Bring Your Own Device—now.)
This brought me to more ideas for using QR codes:
If teachers want students to scan a code displayed in a flipchart projected on an interactive whiteboard, will the variety of angle or distance from the student to the board (or projector screen) impact their ability to read the code?
So, I started a bit of testing with websites that I'm familiar with.
I began with BrainPOP and chose a link to a video about natural disasters (seems to be the year for those).
Results: I used my iPhone to scan it but it would not play the video. "Grrr. I know they have an iPhone app but I'm not sure how to create a QR code for accessing BrainPOP stuff. Strike one. Help, BrainPOP. I know this can work!"
Then I thought of Quia, which has fun games and quizzes. I created a QR code to take my students to an interactive game.
Results: My iPhone opened the link with Safari and said I needed to download a Java applet. "Rats. Strike two." (Maybe I should have tried to download the applet, but I didn't.)
Maybe the idea of sharing a link to a specific video on Khan Academy would work!
Results: Yes! Success! It seems my iPhone recognized and would play this as a YouTube video!
What about the idea of having more information on a printed test? What if a test question said: "Look at this map and determine the distance between Miami and Tallahassee, FL." with a QR code that links to the map in question. Here's one I made:
Results: Bazinga! It pulled up the map on my iPhone!
So, still a lot to learn and explore. I'm posting this blog to share what I've learned so far, but even more importantly, to hear back from you on these ideas. Have you tried using QR codes yet? How has it worked? Please share!
By the way, I used bitly.com to make the QR codes in this post. Just paste in the URL and it is auto-generated!
Here are some related links, where I found the basis for many of the ideas in this post.
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Such a great idea Lisa, thank you for this :)
I have been waiting for this blog since I saw the request on the forums and it has not disappointed. I just hope one day the fear of students misusing the technology will not stop me from trying this!
Thank again,
Caroline
Hi Lisa.
There was me creating my own QR for Planet, taking a picture of the bar code...and nothing! I was expecting something magical to happen on my phone or at least be a link in my menu items. Turns out you need an actual QR reader APP :-)
For those of us not on iPhones here's a link to some in the Android Market: http://tiny.cc/48izf
Thanks for the blog.
Liam
I love your ideas for using QR codes. I would love to use QR codes with mobile devices in the classroom. We have a policy though of no mobile phones and have no ability to link to wireless access. I work with age 5 pupils but knowing their ability to use technology I could see how they could access QR codes to link their learning with something like an iPod touch. Especially as this would give me the ability to personalise learning for each pupil.
Another way of doing this for primary schools or schools who have a no phone policy is to have a class set of iPod touch devices with the app installed. These are great ways to make web quests and I am glad that you raised the point about the iPhone not allowing Flash videos, you need to be aware of that. I guess it's the old mantra, try before you teach!
Thanks for a great post.
Such an innovative idea! What a great use of technology and engagement with the students.
Thanks for your comments. BTW, the images in the blog with QR codes actually work and go to specific sites or pages. Test them out yourself!
Love these ideas!! :) I recently presented at a conference and the conference organizers decided to use a wiki to post all conference related materials. Each presenter had thier own page where they could post a presenter bio, detailed session descriptions and related session materials. Then posted outside the room of each presenter session was sheet of paper that listed the presenter name, a head shot of the presenter, the session title and time and a QR code. Attendees could quickly scan the code. It would take them to that page in the wiki with the detailed description of the session. So COOL! I think I will consider using this tool at my next conference for attendees.
Another idea we are planning for QR codes is to create an augmented town tour for vistors to the area. The kids produce webpages about different village features such as the bridge, town square, riverbank and the church with interesting facts and information and then print and laminate the QR codes to each page so they can be left outside. Visitors then only need scan the QR codes at each location to find out more on their smartphone or other camera enabled device. If you contacted the local businesses they might let you make it a permanent feature!
I'd imagine that kids could also augment their own school building, playground or garden areas with similar information for parents vistors or to form the foundation of some kind of treasure and knowledge hunt. How about weatherproof QR coding all the different trees around a school with species and seasonal photos?
You can, as Lisa mentions just embed plain text which avoid data costs.
I also saw a neat article about a teacher that had printed multiple QR codes onto sticky labels so that kids could put them on their homework books... It contained a link to the classroom blog for feedback and encouraged parents to check out kids work online.
How about writing school library book reviews online using a blog page per book so that a QR code stuck inside the cover can link to its review page for when they choose or have finished a book?
If you are keen or have a computer club looking for a fun challenge,... here is something we did a few weeks ago.
Android App Inventor is a kid friendly programming interface for Android devices. If you are familar with block programming software like SCRATCH you will be immediately at home with it.
It is found at: www.appinventorbeta.com/about
Among the blocks it has a QR reader which will activate the devices camera and extract the data into your program. We combined this block with a text to speech reader block so that the phone would speak the text out that was embedded in the QR code but the potential for completely unique ideas is vast as you can combine with QR data with GPS, Web content or calculations or other media.
Mark, thanks so much for contributing. I really thought QR codes were silly and pointless at first but am very excited about the possibilities now that I keep hearing so many fun ideas!
Great Job Lisa,
I like the ideas that you share at the end of the blog, I think I might get one of our Elementary Schools looking into the Treasure Hunt idea.
Even though that you are discussing the BYOD options for use with QR codes don't forget that with a small program like QRreader you can use your ActiView or other branded document camera to scan your QR codes as well.
Again a great blog post thank you for sharing your research and information.
Hey Lisa, great post! I think that QR codes can be used as remediation links or homework help links. It seems that smartphones are everywhere but in the classroom! A simple link to help a parent or the student explain a concept or a link to a video of a lesson recorded from the flipchart recorder of the teacher covering the lesson.
Hey Bill! Hope you are well!
This year I'm going to have my students (9&10 year olds) write book reviews and attach them via a QR code to the books in question in our school library.