Week 12- QR Codes in the Classroom

This week was all about QR Codes and how they can be integrated into the classroom. The best thing about QR codes is that they are free to create. You can create a QR code for any website, video link, audio link, image link, and other things on the internet. They are easy to create and easy to use. You just need the camera on your phone or tablet (or a QR code app) to scan it and it takes you directly to the source. In the 21st century with the growth of technology, teachers have been integrated QR codes into their classrooms to make learning more engaging and fun for the students.

You can create a QR code for pretty much anything on the internet. You could have it send the scanner to a website, a YouTube video, an audio link, an image, a game, and more. You just need the link and you can convert it to a QR code that you can use digitally or print out for others to scan. There are a variety of QR creator sources and many of them are free to use, which is one reason why teachers are increasingly incorporating them in classrooms. Since most kids have their own device and/or many schools have school-issued tablets or computers, it's easy for kids to use to quickly get sent to the correct information. It's easy for parents to use too on their phones. It makes learning with technology more fun and engaging for the students.

Another thing you can integrate into a QR code that schools are increasingly using are sign-up sheets. You can make a Google Form, create a QR code out of it, and post it around the school for students to sign up for an event or club. It's quick and easy, and on something that the kids already use everyday: Their phones. Forms can be integrated into a QR code for parents to scan as well if they need to sign up for something for their kids, such as a Meet-the-Teacher or a conference. Scanning it takes them right to the form where they can sign up with ease. This is one of the revolutionary ways QR codes can be used for schools.

Another thing about QR codes is that they are customizable. You can change their size to fit what its going on (you can make it nice and big for putting it up on the Smartboard for the kids to scan, or you can make it small for a worksheet). Another thing is that you can change their colors and designs, making them more fun. It's also easy to edit links in case the website is no longer available. This is another reason why teachers like the idea of QR codes: They can get creative with them.

Most importantly, QR codes are fun, free, and easy. Something with all three of those qualities are bound to be incorporated into the classroom. And they can be used for any grade level for any source online. There are so many benefits to using QR codes in the classroom, as long as there is good access to technology that can scan them. I will definitely use these in my future 3rd grade classroom. If I need the kids to go to a specific website, I'll make a QR code for it. If we use a specific program (like a learning game), I can create a QR code that I can then put in the room for easy access so that kids can just scan and go. Another idea, I can create an "All About the Teacher" video and turn it into a QR code that I can then place on a welcome sheet that I give to the kids at the beginning of the year. The opportunities are endless!