Using QR Codes in the Classroom

Thanks to the world's obsession with smartphones, QR codes are becoming more and more popular.  QR codes, which stands for Quick Response codes, are trending because of their ability to read quickly and hold large capacities of information.  Anyone with a smart phone, iPod, or tablet device can scan the funny little square barcode. Afterwards a number of things may happen- an email may open, a photograph may appear, or most commonly, a webpage will pop up.  The number of things you can do with a QR code is actually quite incredible!  With the best generator applications, you can create QR codes that link to a facebook page, send contact information and calendar events, pull up a location in Google Maps, or even start a transaction to purchase something using PayPal. 

QR codes can serve several puposes in the classroom!   Every teacher has experienced what notoriously happens in a classroom when you ask your students to visit a particular website and the URL is a mile long.  Students can spend alot of time typing in the URL, only to have one letter wrong and the entire process stalled  QR codes eliminate that part of the process, especially when using iPods or iPads as instructional tools.  Print out the QR code and make copies. Teach your students how to use the scanner by modeling it with a VGA cord (from the iPad to your computer/projector).  After my students practiced it a few times, it became 2nd nature.  They are even downloading QR scanners on their own personal devices! 

QR codes can also be amazing communication tools.  If you have your own personal wiki or classroom blog generate a QR code for the URL using a free online application like Kaywa's.  When you send home a permission slip, progress report, or letter home, add the QR code and remind parents of your classroom website and the information they can find there. 

In order to continue to develop skills necessary for the 21st century- much of the work we do with students these days is digital.  For this reason it is sometimes challenging to display our student work.  If your students create an outstanding piece of digital work- whether its a wikipage, well-written essay, or an animation- have them create a QR code that can then be posted in the room.  It may not have the same effect as having something nice to decorate the walls but at least anyone interested in viewing it can see it in its digital format.

There are several great QR code scanners out on the App market- and a few of them also serve as QR generators.  If you are looking to stay strictly free, try Scan App or Easy QR.  Both are scan-only, but you can generate a code for free online using Kaywa's generating application.  They suggest a small donation if you are a frequenter, but it is not required. If you prefer an app that does both reading and creating, Qrafter is the way to go.  It is initially free, but a $2.99 upgrade is required if you are looking for both features. 

Try QR codes and be creative!  If you are unsure of ways to utilize QR codes in your class, search the web to read about what other educators are doing.  Here are some of my favorites:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/qr-codes-education-mary-beth-hertz

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/QR-codes-teaching-andrew-miller