There are just so many ways that you can use QR codes in the classroom. Here are at least 20 great ideas from teachers around the world.
Before you start make sure that your students have access to the Internet. If they have a smartphone or tablet such as Android or iPad, they should have a QR code reader as well as a QR code generator downloaded. If they are using PCs or Macs they need to have downloaded a suitable tool such as QuickMark. My previous two blogposts can aid with these:
1. QR Codes #1: How to read a QR code using different devices
2. QR codes #2: How to create or generate a QR codes on any device
Engaging QR codes activities
1. Have a scavenger hunt or Treasure Hunt
Have you seen Russel Tarr’s QR Code Treasure Hunt Generator? To use the QR Treasure Hunt Generator you need to type out a series of questions and answers, generate the QR codes using the tool Russel Tarr provides, then print and display the codes around your designated area. Click here If you would like to see a Modern History Overview Quiz sample of a QR Treasure Hunt click here
Russel Tarr’s QR Treasure Hunt Generator |
2. Create interactive notice or bulletin boards
Free technology for Teachers hosted a guest blog from Terri Eichholz on creating an interactive bulletin board using artwork and poetry. This is what she says in a nutshell “First, I mixed up the artwork and poetry on the board so that they weren’t matched with each other. Then I placed QR codes on the artwork that led the reader to an audio file in which the artist/poet read his or her poem. I also placed QR codes that led the reader to Google Forms online that allowed the viewer to vote on their favorite pieces of art and poetry.” You can read more on the actual post here
This led me to scrutinize Terri Eichholz’s lovely blog Engage
their minds for more ideas on how she has used QR codes.
3. QR Code Year-End reflection
Terri Eichholz says “I have created a Year-End Reflection
Tic-Tac-Toe board for my students that I would like to share with you.
Each cell in the board, when scanned using a smart device with a free scanning
app, will take the user to a web page with a thought-provoking question to help
him or her to assess the learning that has been accomplished this year.
You can download this board for free.” Read her post here
Terri Eichholz’s End of the Year QR Code reflection board |
4. QR Code Countdown
Terri Eichholz says “I have
created a countdown calendar of Random Acts of Kindness, using ideas from the
website of www.randomactsofkindness.org,
a free Weebly website,
and a QR code generating site. I
anticipated I would be sharing this, so I deliberately made the sites generic.”
Here is the link to Terri’s post. If you would like to see the
24-day Random
Acts of Kindness QR codes here
is the link.
5. QR Code coupons
Teri Eichholz says “In December, I posted some QR codes that could be used as reward coupons in the classroom. I suggested cutting them out and putting them in your class treasure box so your students could be surprised. My students loved them…”
You can read the post here and find the QR coupons on the links below:
QR Codes – Classroom Coupons
QR Codes – Classroom Coupons Answers
6. QR Voice
QR Voice is a free tool that allows you to create QR codes that when scanned will play a short audio message. To create your message and QR code you can record a voice message by clicking the microphone icon on QR Voice or you can type in your message. The limit is 100 characters. This is great for teaching language. You could use QR Voice to create QR codes and attach them to objects in the classroom or school. The code could play the correct answer.
7. Mystery Codes
Create contests and spice up your classroom with some educational fun by pinning up a variety of QR codes on your classroom walls . These codes can have jokes, puzzles, games, proverbs, and many more
8. Book reviews
Have the students review the library books they read. Add a QR code to these and stick them on the book. Students can then read the reviews. You can also have students create ‘book trailers’ and turn them into QR codes using iMovie! You can also place QR codes inside books where you want the student to stop and do a comprehension check or a reading response without sending home a worksheet.
9. Homework help
Add QR codes to homework sheets that are helpful hints. For example, if the student forgets how to solve a math problem or gets stuck, they can scan the QR code for help. You can put them at the bottom of the page or right next to the problem. The QR codes can be linked to a ‘how to video’ such as a Khan Academy video or a ShowMe video you created yourself. You could also link the code to text such as the math notes that were given that day.
10. QR learning stations
You can have the students become self-directed learners by creating QR stations. The students scan the QR code to reveal the task and the students must work together to get the task complete. This builds on the 21st century skills of communication, collaboration and critical thinking. In a science classroom, the QR stations could have codes stating how to do an experiment or it could explain a task that the students had to complete. For example, using the materials in front of you, you must design an experiment in thirty minutes that demonstrates all three of Newton’s Laws and must use at least one simple machine. QR stations can work in Physical Activity (GYM), Art, Music or any classroom!
11. Great resources from Steven Anderson’s QR Code Live Binder
This Live Binder can be accessed here.
12. QR Code Hunting
http://www.englishatbarlev.com/html/qrcode.html gives a lesson idea showing how to do a QR Hunt summarising a unit on London. 7 QR codes are used in the lesson. (I used QuickMark on my PC to scan these to look at them.)
13. Qr Codes and Ideas for making them in the classroom by Karen Ogden
This is a lovely e-book publication that was recommended by Kathy Shrock and I found some lovely ideas in here. The publication can be accessed here. I’ll show a few of Karen’s many examples.
14. Video showing the modeling integration of QR Codes in the classroom
a) This is a very short video (1:45m) from Katie Nielson showing how she integrates QR codes in her classroom
b) QR Codes from a student’s perspective. This is a short 1min video showing how a student use QR codes created by the teacher
15. 40 Interesting ways to use QR codes in the classroom.
To end off the examples in this post here is a great embeddable collection of resources showing ‘10 Interesting Ways to use QR Codes in the classroom” with ideas from different teachers.
40 interesting ways to use QR Codes in the classroom from Brendan Jones
Further reading
1) Kathy Shrocks Guide to using QR Codes in the classroom
2) A collection of QR Codes on Pinterest