This document provides information on how to create and use QR codes in an educational setting. It defines what a QR code is and explains that they can contain various types of digital information like web links, contacts, videos, music, and more. It then offers many examples of how teachers can incorporate QR codes into classroom lessons, activities, and projects to enhance student engagement including virtual tours, scavenger hunts, adding interactivity to displays and textbooks, and more. It also provides resources for creating QR codes and some templates to try creating codes.

1. “Read” All Over
Black, White &
Kelly Alsip Fischer
LMS - Dixie Magnet Elementary
What is a QR Code? QR Codes are easy to use!
QR stands for ‘quick response’. It * Open the QR reader app.
is a 2D code that can be read with a * Point the device at the QR Code
webcam or using the camera on so it is visible on the screen.
your mobile device. Although they *The camera is activated.
began as a black pattern against a *The correct application to handle
white background, QR codes can the data embedded in the code
now be customized to meet every will open up.
need.
What is needed to read a QR
What can be embedded in a QR
code?
code?
Mobile device - Download a QR
Almost any information can be
code reader. There are many (free)
embedded including:
apps in the iTunes store. My
* Website URL
favorites are AT&T Code Scanner,
* Email & contact information
Bakodo and i-nigma.
* Alpha-numeric text
Computer - For our Macs, we use * Voice
Quick Mark (iTunes $3.99). For * Video
PC, download free software from * Music
qrstuff.com.

2. Take your visitors on a “virtual
tour” by placing QR codes in Where can QR codes
high interest areas that are
connected to multimedia be created?
recordings.
Although there are many to
choose from, the following are
the generators used by my
students and I:
✦ http://qrcode.kaywa.com
Simple to create QR codes for
URL, text, phone numbers
and SMS messages.
✦http://www.qrstuff.com/
Allows QR codes to be
created in color. Easily
allows you to link to a website
URL, YouTube video, Google
Maps, Twitter, Facebook,
Classroom Applications SCANvenger Hunts
iTunes Link, Skype, contact
Scavenger hunts are a quick and easy
info, calendar events and
way to transform a typical lesson into
more.
Worksheets Blah! an engaging one. Visit http://
Add QR codes to worksheets to classtools.net/QR/ . Type in (or ✦http://snap/vu/
make practice engaging and exciting. paste) questions and answers. Print With a free log in, Snap.vu
Dotrythisathome.com has many the automated QR codes. Cut out will create codes and track
examples and free downloads. and hang around the room. how often your codes are
scanned. Notifications are
Check Your Work Wall of Presidents
Students can check their own work sent by email.
Students scan QR clues beneath
by scanning a poster with QR codes silhouettes to guess the correct ✦http://qrvoice.net/
containing the correct answers. president. The last clue contains the QR voice turns a typed text
answer. message into QR code and
Quick Links
reproduces the message with a
Students can quickly scan a QR code Update & Enhance Textbooks
to visit a website instead of typing a synthesized voice.
Add QR codes to textbooks to
long URL. Laminate and place codes enhance learning. Link to a video
on a ring for future use. from Encyclomedia or BrainPop.
Listen to a lecture from iTunes. Other generators to
Scan of the Day
explore:
Create a calendar with a QR code Persuasive Writing
scan of the day. My students Record a persuasive writing piece ✦http://www.snapmaze.com/
particularly like “This Day in using recordmp3.org and use the
History” and Wonderopolis. ✦www.qrhacker.com
unique URL to create a QR code.
Students create a flyer, using ✦http://delivr.com
Where Do I Find That?
Publisher or Paint, advertising their
I hear this in the library all day.
persuasive writing piece and include
Hang clue cards around that have
the code.
popular titles with Dewey numbers.

3. Art Gallery
Display art work around the building. Students can use qrvoice.net to give a
School process description or ask viewers to respond. Turn your Picturing America
series into an interactive gallery by using QR codes to ask guiding questions.
Applications
Book Commercials
Promote your school
Add QR codes to the inside cover of library books. The codes can link to
Print QR codes on school
book trailers created by your students or directly from the author. Use
stationary that opens the
ViewPure.com when linking to videos from YouTube.
school web page. Create
business cards that include Biography Boxes
school’s name, address and Students create cereal boxes to advertise their chosen biography. After
phone number. Smart phones creating a Photostory, add a QR code to the box to play the video while
will automatically import exploring the box.
contact information Include
Interactive Displays
QR codes on all
Liven up bulletin boards and displays by making them interactive. Hide QR
correspondence that is sent
codes among the display that link to Brainpop Videos, did you know
home for additional
statements, or answers to riddles.
information.
Collaboration with Special Area
Virtual Tour
Bribe the PE teacher to create videos of movement activities. Students can
Have QR codes placed in high
scan for movement breaks or PE centers.
interest areas around the
school. Visitors can take a Trading Cards
tour by scanning the codes After a mythology unit, students develop their own mythological character and
which are linked to write a myth. Record the myths by using iMovie (Mac) or Audacity (PC).
multimedia recordings. Create a trading card that includes an illustration of the character with the
QR code linked to the story.
Advertisement
A code on an event flyer can Display Boards
lead to a commercial, Students link videos or podcasts of science experiments through a QR code
webpage, or further added to a science board. After acting out a scene from the signing of the
information. Declaration of Independence, students embed the video and add a QR code to
a History Fair Project.
Dropbox
Students can scan the QR code linked to the teacher’s dropbox account to
easily transfer multimedia projects.
More Info? Show Me - iPad
Visit my “new” blog at: Work out a math problem or teach a class using the Show Me app (free) on an
iPad. “Easily explain a range of topics from math to chemistry to music theory
to basket weaving.” After your lesson is uploaded, use the given URL to
generate a QR code.
Link to Activities - iPad
or email: Use Bingobaker.com to create a bingo game. Create a QR code to the game
kelly.fischer@fayette.kyschools.us URL. Each time the code is scanned, an interactive card is randomized.
Students scan the code, get their own card and play Bingo. Great for practicing
vocabulary, key topics, math facts, etc.

4. Resources
I wish I could have kept up with the hundreds of articles and websites I have visited over the past
two years. Here are a few of the resources that helped me get started:
The Daring Librarian
http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/search?q=qr+code
40 Interesting Ways to Use QR Codes in the classroom
http://www.slideshare.net/jonesytheteacher/40-interesting-ways-to-use-qr-codes-in-the-classroom
QR Codes in the Classroom
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/04/qr-codes-in-classroom.html
10 Ways to Use QR Codes in the Classroom
http://www.classroominthecloud.net/2011/06/10-ways-to-use-qr-codes-in-classroom.html
QR Codes in the Classroom
http://www.seomraranga.com/2011/09/qr-codes-in-the-classroom/
Using QR Codes in the Classroom and Beyond
http://www.slideshare.net/bethanyvsmith/using-qr-codes-in-the-classroom-and-beyond
Notes

5. Let’s Create!
Let’s practice creating different QR codes. Follow the directions below. If you
have a Smart Phone with you, scan as you go :-)
✦Open http://qrcode.kaywa.com
✦ Under “Content Type” click on URL.
✦ In the Content box, type in the URL of your school or individual website.
✦ Click on “Generate!”
✦ Copy HTML code to embed or copy & paste into any document.
✦ Open http://www.qrvoice.net
✦ Type an introduction of yourself. Include your name,
your occupation, and what you would do today if you won the lottery!
✦ Click on the blue box with the QR image.
✦ Copy and paste the QR code into any document.
✦ Open YouTube and find a video you would be likely to show to your class.
✦ Copy the URL.
✦ Open www.viewpure.com and paste the YouTube link. Click on Create.
✦ Copy this new URL and create a QR code based on the steps above.