"What's This?" you say.

Did anyone check out my new "design" in the corner of my page?  Ok.  For some of you, you are thinking, 'Duh, it's a barcode.'  Yes, it is a barcode, but do you know what the techie term is for it and do you have any ideas for how these can be used in education?  (Tom, don't answer!)

The techie term for the barcode is a quick response code, often called a QR Code.   These fun "things" can be created with the click of a button ....ok, or a few clicks of a few buttons, BUT will save you many many clicks later. 

How often have you waited 3, 5, even 7 minutes for all of your students to get onto the same webpage?  Do their fingers get clicking all over the place?  Well, what if you gave them a QR Code to scan and they were all instantly on the same webpage?  Wouldn't that save you hundreds of minutes?  So, find a webpage, type it into a QR Code generator such as http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ and create your code!  Print it off, laminate a bunch of these, hand them out to your students, have them scan it into their computer or take a pic of it using a QRC Reader, and voila....you have just saved many many minutes.  QR Codes can also be generated from text, a phone number, or sms.....

What about a webquest?  Have you given your students directions for certain websites to visit throughout a certain time period and as you meander past them, they are minimizing their screens because they have done the "clicky" dance?  Make numerous barcodes and you will not to hear much "clicky, clicky, clicky" at all. 

How about having the students create a webpage and have them add their own QR Code to their webpage?  Add a QR Code to your business card....the possibilities for using these techie barcodes in education are endless (and down right cool, I'm just sayin' ).  How about getting an app on your cell phone for a QRC Reader?  There are tons to choose from and many are free....get using those cells in your classroom for learning experiences! 

Do you have a unit plan you would like to spruce up with something techie, but you just aren't sure how to?  Think about the QR Code and let your imagination run wild....if your imagination runs wild and you need assistance in reigning it in, contact me.