Wednesday, July 13, 2011

QR codes in EDU




During the Laptop Institute, I had the opportunity to hear Jeff Utech present on the relevance of QR codes in society and he has predicted that 2011 will be the year of the QR code.  Now I must admit that I've been puzzled by these 2 dimensional barcodes, but it wasn't until Jeff asked the audience to discuss how we could use QR codes that I started to see the light.  Fortunately, I was sitting near @sarahhanawald and @mmhoward  discussing the potential and experimenting with these little buggers.  We came up with some neat ideas but it wasn't until much later in the day when I had my Eureka moment. I've been giving it lots of thought ever since and have come up with a few ideas which I would like to share. But more importantly, I would like all of us to share potential uses of QR codes in edu via twitter.  @sarahhanawald suggested we use the hashtag #QRinEDU and I think it is a fantastic idea.
   

#QRinEdu examples:

A link to your homepage on admissions materials.

A teaser in an announcement to introduce the School's new mobile site.

Or how about using QR codes on signs at athletic events so spectators can download rosters & go to team pages. It's green and it can provide considerably more content than spectators can imagine.



So, how will you use them?
Use hashtag #QRinEdu

9 comments:

wd said...

I think QR codes could be put on student artwork that hangs in the hallways of schools. The QR's could give artist info or link to online digital portfolios or a class website with project details. Great for open house art displays as parents/students walk through!

Hiram Cuevas said...

WD,

Fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing.

Hiram

Heather said...

I think you hit the nail on the head when you say QR codes "can provide considerably more content than spectators can imagine." They really are a very efficient way to convey content.

Students could put them on a poster for a project to link to video, graphics, a map, etc. for more information.

Flyers advertising various activities (bake sale, community service project, dance performance, play-off game) posted around school could have codes with text reminders of where and when the activity will take place.

At my school, teachers are required to have homework assignments posted online but are also generally expected to post upcoming due dates in the classroom as well. I was thinking about posting QR codes linking each class's assignment list too.

Hiram Cuevas said...

Heather, thanks for your comment. I do believe Jeff Utecht's prediction is spot on. A link to student art work for additional information not only of the work but the artist themselves could revolutionize how we also view galleries and museums.

Shanel Hine said...

I am very excited to start using QR codes in the classroom! After talking with Sarah Hanawald I will be putting QR codes on homework assignments. I typically print and copy solutions but now I can link it to a video explaining the problem,the solution or a just a hint!

Heather said...

While I can't claim credit for this idea, I really like it -- language teachers could tag various objects in their room with QR codes which could be text in the foreign language or link to audio/video of correct pronunciation.

Similarly, for a geometry lesson, classroom objects could be tagged with QR codes with the area or volume or other measurements.

For science or math application (word) problems, a QR code could be added linking a video of the concept. This could be especially useful if there are students who are non-native English speakers.

William Stites said...

I have to say even with a lot of the ideas I am not completely sold on them. In a lot of cases where I have heard them used it would seem easier to list a URL for the item or site you are liking to. This way you wouldn't be excluding all those that either don't have a QR code reader or have any idea what it is.

In an environment where everyone has a reader there could be and I am sure is use for them. But I still question the use.

I once heard someone point out that these codes have been around for 10 years or so to point out that it isn't something new... my counter would be that they still haven't caught on.

I'll stay tuned, because I am still looking for my "a-ha" moment with them.

Peter Baron said...

I want to see it, but for whatever reason, I find the concept of QR codes a bit baffling.

Put aside the issue of educating the public about QR codes, you're asking folks to download an app, scan a box and then use their mobile device to view/consume content? The payoff requires a lot of steps.

I think the idea's pretty cool, but from a practical standpoint, it doesn't add up in my mind.

Darren Kuropatwa said...

Hey Hiram!

Like you say, there's a growing buzz about QR-Codes even though, as @wstites says, they've been around for about 10 years now.

I'm interested in learning more about examples of QR-Code uses that cannot be replicated with a tiny.url. You what I mean?