QR Codes

Sonia Chaidez | schaidez@whittier.edu

What is a QR Code?

• QR: quick response
• Educause definition: "two-dimensional bar codes that can contain any alphanumeric text and often feature URLs that direct users to sites where they can learn about an object or place."

Why QR Codes :

• invented in 1994 to track car parts in Japan
• popularized about 10 years ago in marketing campaigns
• made a come-back during the pandemic (especially for restaurant menus)

QR Code Facts:

• can be created for free
• paid accounts for dynamic QR codes
• do not expire
• can be scanned infinite times
• direct links to website
• mobile-phone scan ready

Where can you find QR Codes?

• restaurants
• wine bottles (19 Crimes)
• grocery stores (Amazon Go)
• Covid cards
• gravestones
• your syllabus!

Using QR Codes

Direct students to:

• course readings or videos
• slides or polls
• supplementary material
• quizzes to assess student learning
• online surveys (Google or MS forms)
• link to schedulers (Calendly)
• tutorials
• interactive activities

Activities

Gallery Walks

• Create QR codes linking to text, images, datasets, A/V related to the topic you are teaching.
• Tape the QR codes around the room.
• Provide students with guided notes sheet or reflection sheet to complete as they scan the QR codes and examine each resource.
• Discuss findings!

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Scavenger Hunt

• Make QR codes that link to questions to answer, problems to solve, tasks to complete.
• Place the QR codes in classroom, building, or campus.
• Students work in pairs or groups.
• Recording responses on paper, photos, videos, as evidence of completion of each task.

QR Code Creation

Where to Create my QR Code?

• canva.com
• bitly.com
• QR Code Monkey
• adobe.com
• and many more...
• *free and paid accounts

Create a QR Code on iphone

After I generate my QR code:

• download your QR code as a png or jpeg file
• insert into your document, website, Moodle...

Considerations:

• ensure students have access to smartphone or tablet
• work in groups where at least one student can scan

Credits:

• 7 Things You Should Know About
• 8 Ways to Use QR Codes in Higher Ed
• Little Known Story of the Birth of QR Codes

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