QR Codes--Be the First on Your Block to Use Them with Your Students

Have you seen any of these little squares in magazines or on products? (If not, you will now--they're starting to crop up everywhere.) What you've got here is a QR code. All you need now is a QR reader app on your phone and you can scan the code to get information (e.g. a web address, a phone number, or just some informational text). On his Thinking Stick blog, Jeff Utech declared 2011 the year of the QR code back in 2010. After reading his post I started thinking about lots of different uses for teachers and students. For instance, what if at the bottom of all the handouts you included a QR code that directed students to your SWIFT site? What if student artwork in the hallways included a QR code that provided more information about the art and the artist?

Interested? Start by reading Utech's post--he tells you how to make one (it's EASY!) and then check out this ever-expanding list of ways to use them in education being put together by Tom Barrett. Then, come back here and share an idea for how to use them with your students. (Don't forget, if you want to earn clock hours, make sure to include your first and last name AND (CH) after your name so we give you credit.)