Senior Help Desk blogger Dora Kadish provides an overview of how teachers and students can integrate QR codes into the classroom. 

No need for Morse code in this scenario. Just use your modern-day iPad or smartphone to scan it, and be sent instantly to the linked page!

Now try it in the classroom.

Why use QR codes in the classroom?

For one thing, it gets everyone onto the same page – literally.  Rather than emailing out the link and waiting for every student to open up their email (supposedly) and click it, have them scan the code.  That’ll get them straight to the web page.

Where to find QR codes:

Three, free QR code apps we recommend include:

1. Qrafter– available on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. What’s nice about this app is that the URL for the website is shown. Younger students (middle and elementary) will realize the QR code isn’t some “magical symbol” and that it actually connects them to a website. 

2. QR Reader– This is coined “the most simple and easy QR reader” in the apps store. Ms. Scheffer has used it and agrees!

3. Scan– This is the app that I personally, along with many of my classmates, have used in the past. In fact, I used this app just before our recent Thanksgiving break. I’m planning to audition for the Burlington High School Spring musical Grease (wish me luck!) and I had to scan a QR code which led me to the audition form.

How can a student use a QR code?

My friend created a Prezi presentation for English the other day and rather than emailing out the link, he distributed a handout to each of us which featured the QR code. Doing this, allowed everyone to have the correct link, so that if we wanted to refer back to the presentation later, we could. Here’s an idea: tell students they need to find a creative way to use a QR code for the next project you assign (Ms. Scheffer’s idea)!

How teachers can use QR codes:

1. Click here for several suggestions from educational technology blogger Richard Byrne.

2. Link homework to a QR code, so that the students can scan it during class. No more, “I forgot my homework!”

3. Record specific messages and link them up to the code.  Check out this site for more information.  Basically, you can create a code that, when your students scan it, they will have a short message played back to them.

4. Use Google’s URL Shortener Extension and automatically generate a QR code that can be copied onto your class blog or website.

Need help with integrating QR codes into your lessons? Come down to Help Desk for one on one assistance, or send an e-mail to Ms. Scheffer at jscheffer@bpsk12.org to schedule a time to meet.