The magic of QR codes in the classroom - Karen Mensing

Teaching is both a science and an art, and many teachers around the world spend endless hours perfecting their professional practice. At TEDActive 2013, a few teachers from the United States offer some tricks of the trade they've learned (and continue to hone) along the way.

As most of you know,

QR code stands for quick response code

and it's a two-dimensional bar code

that holds a good deal more information

than a traditional bar code.

They originated in Japan at the Toyota factory

to track the manufacturing of car parts.

Since then, they've taken off in popularity

and you'll see them everywhere in consumer advertising.

When you scan a QR code, you're instantly taken

to a variety of tech-based experiences:

could be a text message,

could be an audio message,

could be a web site,

could be a video.

It's like magic.

The tools to create a QR code are essentially free,

and the tools to interact with the QR code

are increasingly easy and common to use.

So, we have this great, free, easy tool,

but what can we do with it?

Teachers have realized there's a lot of potential

for QR codes in the classroom.

Recently, I told my class we would be learning

some new vocabulary words,

something we do two or three times a month.

They let out a groan

because it's kind of a boring activity.

Then, I passed out QR codes to all my students

and told them we'd be interacting with them with devices,

and that's how they'd find their vocabulary list.

The attitude in the class changed completely.

They went from groaning and moaning

to excited and enthusiastic.

I could teach the exact same lesson using QR codes

and not using QR codes

and get a completely different attitude.

One fun activity to do with QR codes

is a scavenger hunt.

I create QR codes with tasks assigned to them.

I hide them all around the room.

Students go with their devices

and scan them and have to complete the task.

Recently, I hosted a technology event at my school

and held a school-wide QR code.

Students loved it.

In grades K through 6,

they were completely engaged and excited,

literally running from code to code

because they were so excited

to see what the next task was going to be.

Students who didn't have devices with them

were begging their parents

to pull out their smart phones

so they could participate as well.

It was so refreshing to see

that level of enthusiasm and excitement regarding learning.

A creative use for teachers for QR codes

is for positive reinforcement.

Put up a poster in your classroom

with numbered QR codes,

each one leading to a different message.

When a student needs some feedback,

tell him , "Go scan number 5,"

"Go scan number 22."

And, the message will say,

"Great job today! I love your enthusiasm."

"Nice work! I can see you're working really hard."

It's so much more exciting for a student

to get out of their seat,

scan a code,

and interact with something

for then the teacher just to say, "Good job!"

It's much more memorable.

Libraries have endless uses for QR codes:

scannable book reviews,

lists of reading suggestions

and book lists on the walls,

biographies.

Imagine pulling a biography

of Martin Luther King, Jr. off the shelf,

scanning a QR code,

and being instantly taken

to the "I Have a Dream" speech.

It literally makes learning come alive.

QR codes can add a nice 21st century twist

to a traditional assignment.

Each year, I have my class

create a poster for a book report,

something we've all probably done

at some point in elementary school.

It's a little bit of a boring assignment.

The kids enjoy it OK.

This time, I changed it up,

and the second step of the assignment

was to have them record their voices,

recording an audio QR code of themselves

giving a book review of the book.

They, then, printed the QR code,

attached it to the poster,

and gave the poster a hands-on, interactive quality.

We put them in the hallway

and kids from all different classrooms

were walking by, scanning them,

listening to these book reviews.

It was so much more fun

than just a traditional poster.

My class recently had the privilege of participating

in a QR code lesson

led by a teacher across the country.

If the video chat weren't exciting enough,

the fact that she incorporated QR codes into the lesson,

my students, from their seat,

from the comfort of their classroom,

could actually scan the codes on the computer screen,

interacting with her QR codes from 3,000 miles away,

was incredibly exciting and memorable for my students.

They did not stop talking about the lesson for weeks.

You just don't get that kind of memorable,

engaging experience using a worksheet

or reading from a textbook.

QR codes have a possible use

in every grade level,

with every subject area.

Kindergarten teachers can have their students

scan a QR code that leads to a phonics lesson.

The music teacher can create audio QR codes

of their students playing instruments or singing.

PE teacher can post real-time race results

or athletic event results,

all attached to a QR code.

The student council or the PTO can advertise

upcoming school events all around the school

and send home on flyers via QR code.

The possibilities with this free and easy tool are endless.

If used properly, QR codes have the potential

to awaken a student,

transform a lesson,

and bring down the walls of your classroom,

creating the ultimate 21st century learning opportunity.