1. What are QR codes?
Quick Response (QR) codes are pictures that are read on a mobile device with a QR reader. Here is a picture of one:
2. How does it work?
When QR codes are read, they take you directly to different types of information. Most types of information can be stored in a code. Information that you might find useful to code in the classroom might include:
· Website Address
· Short piece of text
· Audio/Video File
· Google location
3. How does a QR code work?
Open up your QR reader on your mobile device. Hold up the reader to a QR. Then press as if you are taking a photograph. The reader will take you to the URL with the information that is associated with that QR code.
4. What do I need?
Mobile Device, QR reader installed into your device, computer with internet access.
(See Page 12 for more information about where to find QR code readers/generators)
How to make QR codes linked to Text
Open up a code generator such as QR Stuff or QR monkey.
1. Open up QR Stuff (http://www.qrstuff.com/)
2. Select Plain Text (a).
3. Type text into the box (b).
Change QR colour if desired.
4. Click Download QR code (c) and save it. Alternatively print code (d).
5. If saving - Open it and copy and paste it into document as normal.
How to make QR codes linked to Websites
Open up a code generator such as QR Stuff or QR monkey.
1. Open up QR Stuff (http://www.qrstuff.com/)
2. Select URL/Website (a).
3. Paste a website address into the box (b).
Change QR colour if desired.
4. Click Download QR code (c) and save it. Alternatively print code (d).
5. If saving - Open it and copy and paste it into document as normal.
How to make QR codes linked to audio files
1. Using Record mp3
1. Record an audio file which converts into a URL address.
· Open up Recordmp3 (http://recordmp3online.com/)
· Record audio file.
· Right click audio file to copy audio URL address (a)
2. Open up a QR generator e.g. QR Stuff (http://www.qrstuff.com/)
3. Select website/URL (b). Paste URL address into Website URL (c). Change colour if desirable.
4. Click Download QR code (d) and save it. Alternatively print it (e).
5. If saving - Open it and copy and paste it into document as normal.
How to make QR codes linked to audio files (2)
2. Using audio boom
You could also use Audioboom to create an audio file. You need to open an account to do this. (This one takes longer, but I used it successfully when I had difficulties with other site in school.)
https://audioboom.com/
1. Register for an audioboom account.
2. Sign in with username and password.
3. Click the red button to open up the recording menu (a).
4. Click ‘record’ (b) and record your audio message.
5. Add details and Publish (d). (You only need a title.)
6. Click ‘save’ (c) to save your recording.
6. Add a title and description if required (d).
7. Click ‘Publish’
8. Copy URL code (e) .
9. Open up a QR generator e.g. QR Stuff (http://www.qrstuff.com/) and paste URL code (see previous page for instructions).
How to make QR codes linked to video files
1. Download ‘Dropbox’. https://www.dropbox.com/ and set up an account.
This programme allows you to create a URL link for your video.
(You can also use You Tube.)
2. Record your video.
3. Upload your video to your dropbox account.
· Either Drag and drop your video clip into dropbox
· Or Click ‘Upload’ (a)
· Choose the file(s) you want to upload (b). Select the file and click Open (c).
· If you want to add additional files, click ‘add more files’ and repeat the process.
4. Once your videos are uploaded, click on the video you want to make a QR code for. Click ‘share’ (d).
5. Select the link (e) and copy it.
6. Open up a a QR generator e.g. QR Stuff (http://www.qrstuff.com/)
10. Select dropbox (f). Paste Dropbox link into box (g).
Change colour if desirable.
11. Click Download QR code (h) and save it. Alternatively print (i).
12. If saving - Open it and copy and paste it into document as normal.
Ideas for classroom use
The possibilities of using QR codes in the classroom are endless and are only limited by your imagination. Here are just some examples of how you can use QR codes in the classroom.
· Adding QR codes to worksheets for students to check answer/listen to instructions.
· Scavenger Hunt – Use the codes to go to information and answer a question or find a clue/ letter/word/number hunt/tables/alliteration etc
· Make displays interactive – pupil blogs or commentaries, stories/sentences pupils have written, videos of them working.
· Link to websites for pupils to access more information.
· Pupils dictate stories/sentences they have written. Link to QR codes
· Open evenings- Link to pupil recordings about the different areas of the classroom explaining what they were doing/learning.
· Use QR codes in class shops – scan items at the checkout.
· Attach QR codes to a physical object and link to multimedia about it.
· Scan a QR code to hear a book read by the teacher/class helper.
· Language Task – Pupils scan a code, read a sentence. Then choose a spelling word that completes it.
· Pupils create maths problems and create QR answer codes.
· Add QR codes to math worksheets with video tutorials of how to solve problems.
· Link child/class targets to and audio or video QR code – explaining what the target is and the steps to achieve it.
There are many free QR code activities on-line and lots more ideas on websites such as Pinterest.
I have uploaded some freebies I have found onto our Glow site – Some are American and would need to be adapted. However they still are very useful in providing lots of useful ideas.
GLOW Link : - https://glowscotland.sharepoint.com/sites/8325324/staff/technologies/SitePages/QR%20Codes.aspx?WikiPageMode=Edit&InitialTabId=Ribbon.EditingTools.CPEditTab&VisibilityContext=WSSWikiPage
ICT Blog
Visit St. Ninian’s ICT Blog to see how one school is using QR codes in school.
Scan the QR code to take you to our Blog or use the link below.
https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ed/stniniansclusterict2015/
QR Readers and Generators
Here are just some QR readers and generators which can be downloaded. Alternatively a simple Google search will bring you other options.
Experiment with the readers and generators to find the one that you are most comfortable with.
QR Code Generators
· Qr stuff – http://www.qrstuff.com/
· QR monkey – http://www.qrcode-monkey.com/
· Kaywa QR code generator - http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
· GO QR - http://goqr.me/
· Snap VU - http://snap.vu/ (includes URL shortener)
Code Readers
Mobile Device Readers
· Kaywa QR code generator - http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
· Qrafter QR Code Reader (ipad) (Available on iTunes)
· Barcode Reader (Android OS) (Available on Google Play)
· QRDroid (Android) (Available on Google Play)
· QR Scanner (iOS) (Available on Google Play)
· QR Reader (iOS, Android, Blackberry) (Available on Google Play)
· I-nigma (iOS, Android, Blackberry) (Available on Google Play)
· QR Code Reader (Android) (Available on Google Play)
Desktop Readers
Quickmark QR reader for PC - http://www.quickmark.com.tw/en/basic/downloadPC.asp QReader for Desktop (Adobe Air app)
Other Useful Sites
· QR voice (turns 100 words of text into speech) http://qrvoice.net/
· QR Treasure Hunt generator - http://www.classtools.net/QR/create.php
· QR Code Tracker and creator/ Shortens QR codes - http://myqr.co/
· Shorten QR codes - https://bitly.com/
· Shorten QR codes - https://goo.gl/
Angela Murray September 2015