QR Codes - So much potential!

I was desperate to incorporate our iPad project into a display I was making in the ICT suite. There didn't seem to be any examples from searching on the internet and I was stumped. I had already put together some info on E-Safety and our new blog but I also wanted to display something about the iPad. Not necessarily a "how to" display but more of a showcase of how it is helping our learning. After no luck from searching the internet, I sent a tweet to some teachers and received a tweet back from Mr Andrews, a teacher who writes a blog that has been invaluable in the process of starting to work with iPads.

He suggested using QR codes to showcase examples of work. I had seen QR codes before but never really investigated the use within schools. Thankfully, Mr Andrews then emailed me more information and I was excited about the impact these could have. A QR code (or Quick Response code) is like a bar code, in that it can be scanned with a reader and it will present some information based upon what is held within the code. In the case of a bar code it is normally a number which corresponds with a product or ISBN number or similar. In the case of a QR code, different types of information can be held within them:
  • URL (website address)
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Text
  • vCard
  • SMS
  • YouTube clip
  • Facebook profile
  • Wi-Fi details
  • Twitter profile
  • Map coordinates
Most smartphones, tablets, webcams or can download a program to read the QR codes such as this one for apple devices:
Scan for Android Icon
From reading different articles and blogs on the use of QR codes in education it has given me plenty of ideas of how these can be used in class. 

Here are some of the links: 

Now from these links there are tonnes of ideas on how these can impact learning in the classroom. But the most helpful use for myself is being able to showcase the work we are doing on the iPads. Having work published to dropbox, this blog, youtube and other websites it would be hard to show this in textbooks or on a display. Using a QR code means that work can be shared more easily. Our Life Channel TV's in the playground can display QR codes linking to useful websites that parents can scan and read about once they have left the playground.

I also like the idea of how QR codes can help with SEN children or those who struggle following instructions. For example, if we were writing a discussion text, and there was a list of features that you would like to be included, having them on a piece of paper or on the board isn't always used by the children, especially those who struggle with reading. However with a QR code you could record verbally reading instructions or the checklist, upload this to dropbox and then create a QR code print this on a handout and then let the children scan it to have all the instructions they need and repeat them as often as needed. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Lovely Poem for Your Leavers Assembly

Image
I am always asked to put a little video together for our Year 6 show and end of year assembly. Each year, I always include a special poem that I finish the end of year video with. It is called Leaving School by Jade Hughes and it is beautiful: We've now left school, It's how the story ends, Tears of happiness is what we recommend,   It's what we say, But there's always a little pain, Because once you've left, It's not the same,   You could walk through school and you would see, Your friends who have grown up incredibly, But now you've gone, It's not the same, As you may never see them again,   Your friends who have grown up right beside you, Who have helped you through your daily strife, Will go ahead and leave behind them, You who wants the same old life,   But you can not live your life in the past, Hoping that the same memories will last, You have to move on and just be glad, That leaving has made you so sad, As this just shows that
Keep reading

Using Disney Films for Geography!

Image
Last week I came across a tweet sharing this picture: I thought it would be a brilliant way for children to learn about the location of different countries around the world.  Before we looked at the map, I asked the class to list as many animated Disney films (excluding Pixar) as they could think of. We shared some of our ideas and discussed the origins of some of these stories. Some were books, others fairy tales, legends or folk tales.  This gave us a link with Literacy to discuss different types of stories, how most films are derived from written texts and also looking at some famous authors. We also talked about whether they could remember where in the world the film was set.  I then shared the map with the children and gave them time to look and see whether they knew any of the countries themselves. They had to make estimated guesses as to where they thought each film was set. After they had had a go at trying the name all the countries, they then were able
Keep reading

Teaching Direct Speech Punctuation using the iPhone text messaging!

Image
Teaching direct speech is always a tricky aspect, there is so much to remember and very few useful visual pictures that clearly help children know what and how to use speech punctuation properly. Lets look at some of the tips to remember: The words that are spoken have to go within the speech marks. Any punctuation needs to also go inside the speech marks. A reporting clause, who and how they said it can go before, middle or end. A comma follows the reporting clause at the beginning. You need to start a new line when a new character speaks.  I think that is most of them?? I have heard of endless different ways to try and get children to remember these tips - keeping the sheeps in the pen  or speech mark sandwich  which are a couple of examples however they do not have any visual help for tips such as starting on a new line, which is something some of my children find hardest to remember.  I decided to use a different approach, to help cover the aspects of correct
Keep reading