I a big fan of the Google Chrome Browser, there are a ton of amazing extensions and apps that you can use with students. I've blogged about quite a few of them - Read & Write for Google Docs, Kaizena, and on EdCeptional #42. Here's a new one that just for creating and reading QR Codes.
The QR Code Extension is designed to allow you to quickly create QR codes for downloading and sharing. Once you are on a page, just click the icon in your extension bar (to the right of the address bar) and it will show you the QR Code. Click "Edit This QR Code" to find options for downloading and sharing.
The other option is not one I've seen in an extension. Click the "Scan a QR Code" and it allows you to use your webcam to decode a QR Code. So if you've ever been sitting and wanted to use a code, this is the extension for you!! It's a great option for students, I've always advocated for using QR Codes for long URL's and this would help do that without a special program. Just print out QR Codes for your students and let them scan using the extension.
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Matt Bergman, at Learn, Lead, Grow, shared a great post on ways to use QR Codes to teach and retain vocabulary. I love the ideas of engaging students with technology to teach this skill. Check out all his ideas at his blog:
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QR Codes are everywhere, and I've started using them in my classroom. One use I have been trying, is attaching them to homework for students. Typically I'll print them out on an address label and the code will link to a screencast or video explanation of the homework activity. I think it's a great way to share information with parents, and help students remember what they need to do on worksheets. Nothing special but an easy way to incorporate multiple representations in an activity.
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Yesterday, Wikipedia introduced a new educational app call QRpedia (@QRpedia). This is perhaps the coolest implementation of QR codes! What is QRpedia? Well, it is a language-detecting, mobile-friendly QR code! In other words, it is QR code generator that makes possible for users to easily snap a picture of QR code and be automatically directed to a mobile Wikipedia entry in whatever language their phone uses. If there's not a relevant article in their language for the topic, QRpedia directs users to the most relevant, related article that is available in that language.
QRpedia is a great example of the power of today's technology. Users are able to easily access a world of additional information available on-demand. Additionally, individuals can generate QRpedia codes at QRpedia.org!
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Earlier this week, the Disabled World published a very helpful article about QR codes. The article provides an overview of the QR code technology, discusses accessibility issues, offers practical uses of QR codes to assist people with disabilities, and some thoughts about what the future of QR codes might be.
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Boxmeup is a new website and app for Android that has some interesting applications in a classroom. The basic idea of Boxemeup is that it allows you to create virtual "containers" and "lists" of items. You can then assign the items to the containers. While this is all done on the computer, but what makes it cool is that those virtual containers, can be real containers in your house, classroom or office. Boxmeup creates a QR code to put on the physical container. When you scan the code (using an Android app only at this time) it will tell you what is in the container. You can also search for your items on the website and it will tell you what container they are inside.
I could see this app/website being used in a functional work environment. It could help a student find items that they need to complete a job, giving them some independence. You can also use in a school setting to help students remember where items are in the school, linking a location to the item.
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Recently, I spoke to a group of transition professionals in my area. Now, I'll be the first to admit that transition planning is not something I've done a ton of. I have spent my entire career in the primary grades, so this was an interesting exercise to think of ways to use this technology with older students and adults. Here were some of my ideas:
-Set up a QR code in a job placement/work area, when someone scans it, it links them to a blog where directions for the job site are posted. These directions could be changed on a regular basis and since it is a blog/website you can do it remotely. No need to visit the job site.
-If you are in a suburban/urban area, you could create a QR code that would link the student to the "live" bus times allowing them to see when the bus might be coming.
-Create a QR code with students personal information for them to keep in their wallet/purse. If there is a time when they are lost, they can be taught to pull it out and have someone scan it. Much safer than just leaving personal information in plain text. (Thanks to Jeanne my OT for thinking of this one!)
-QR codes can be attached to different items at a job site, when a student scans it text is revealed, if using iOS they can have it read to them and give them directions for what to do with the items.
-Create a QR code for when a student is finished, it will text the job coach, and let them know they are finished with the job.
I really think the possibilities are endless!!! What makes it so compelling is the QR codes can embed links to websites, text, phone numbers, or text message and it's all for free. You can create all these types of QR codes here at http://qrcode.kaywa.com.
If you are interested in more information on QR codes, check out this information from Judy Okazai from SetConnections.org - QR Codes
And this is a great post about QR codes and how to use them and create a math lesson from Free Tech 4 Teachers - QR Codes in the Classroom
Patrick
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If you are paying attention you'll start to notice these symbols appearing in a lot of places. They are called QR Codes and have been around for a few years. OK, so now you know what it is, what does it do? If you happen to have a smartphone (iPhone, Android or Blackberry) and the right app (try i-nigma for iPhone or Quickmarks for Android) you can "read" this image, straight from your computer screen (go ahead try it, I'll wait)....
For those of you without smartphones...it's a link to my About.me page. So what...why take a picture with a smartphone, what's the point? Well, my point is that there is more to this little symbol than it seems. Imagine being able to read this symbol using a webcam, most laptops have them these days, now imagine your class full of students going to the correct webpage without you having to help them! Here's a screencast of what I'm talking about. By making simple QR Code sheet, you can hold it up to the webcam and voila, instant website!
Ok, so how do you do it? It's actually quite simple. First find the site you want a code for, copy the site, then head to goo.gl, paste the site into the box and click shorten. You'll see a list of the links you've shortened, click on details next to one. On that page you'll see the your QR code in the top right corner, right click and select "save image as..." Print it out and you're ready to use it or better yet, sync that picture to your iOS device and hold that image up to the webcam (it works really well)!
So the next think you need is a way to read the QR Codes. The program I'm using is call QRReader - you can get the directions to download it here - QRReader Installation. Once it's installed you can read any QR Code, just make sure it's well lit and you hold it straight. It takes a little practice, but I'm sure most kids will get it pretty quickly!
This is one of those ideas that can be used in many different situations, but I really see it shining as a way for students who can't type to have access to their favorite websites. Or instead of a teacher putting the link on board and then fixing the link on 5 different computers. and I'm sure there are many more uses for them. Good Luck!
Patrick
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