Quick Response codes or QR codes for short are a two dimensional bar-code that can hold small amounts of data in a visual code format (Lyne 2009). QR codes need to be decoded with QR enabled bar-code scanners or with camera enabled mobile devices such as smart phones or tablets. The mount of data that a QR code can contain is relative to the size of the code itself so care must be taken not to overload the data that it stores. QR codes work well storing website urls, alphanumerical data or small words or sentences, the codes that also link to online urls that can contain video or sound. One of the big advantages of QR codes over traditional bar-codes is they can be read directly from a computer screen as well as from a printed format.
Some of the learning outcomes that QR codes can provide are:
- Providing a 'learn more' QR code link at the bottom of a printed article that students can scan with their mobile device and be taken to a website with extra information on a topic.
- Providing small amounts of extra information on posters throughout the classroom that students can scan. For example a QR code could translate the names of animals into other languages.
- Creating a QR code treasure hunt where students collect data around the classroom by scanning various QR codes then piecing all the information together to solve a problem (O'Connor 2012).
- Allow student to learn more about calendar events by attaching QR codes to particular dates
Substitution- This could be scanning a url within a website instead of clicking a url with a mouse.
Augmentation- The QR code can instantly take a student to a url by them scanning a QR code on a poster with there smart phone instead of having to type out a long url.
Modification- The treasure hunt example given above where students have to find information using QR and team together to solve a problem.
Redefinition- Using QR codes on posters to link to Google map locations so students can instantly know where a picture was taken.
This QR code above (generated at qrstuff.com) links to CQU university on Google maps.
Greg O'Connor , (February 17, 2012) spectronics.com.au, http://www.spectronics.com.au/blog/apps-and-mobile-learning/qr-codes-what-are-they-and-how-can-i-use-them-in-my-classroom/, 06/12/2014
Marc Lyne, (October 15, 2009 at 2:07 pm) searchengineland.com, http://searchengineland.com/what-is-a-qr-code-and-why-do-you-need-one-27588, 06/12/2014
qrstuff.com, http://www.qrstuff.com/, 06/12/2014
Hi Daniel,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting topic exploration. I particularly like the treasure hunt idea of collecting data around the classroom. In my teaching area; Home Ec, Hospitality and English, this could be completed in the kitchen, café areas at a real practical level. Even English you could adopt the activity through the library with clues for different genres of literature etc. In addition, as you noted, the findings of the activity can be reported via a wiki, blog or Glogster! Awesome collaborative tool to compare and analyse each others info.