Wednesday, November 16, 2011

What in the world are QR Codes?

I bet you have seen these around everywhere lately.

This is a QR code.  I really didn't pay much attention to them until this afternoon. 

 I mentioned in my last blog that I work at a school that is using a great amount of Apple equipment.  In addition to all this wonderful equipment, we have a group of teachers who meet once a week (on our own time) to discuss new and innovative ways to use this technology in the classroom.  Well today, I learned how to make my own QR code.

Now I know what you are thinking!  How can this be useful in kindergarten?  Especially when the kids can't read yet and it wouldn't be feasible for the teacher to be walking around all day reading everyone's scanners.  Well, the neat thing is that when you create your own QR code...you can type in ANYTHING.  

So, my brain got thinking...what CAN my kinders read?  Sight Words!  Color Words!  Number Words! Numbers!  Letters of the alphabet!  Names!  So there began my "AH HA" moment on how I can use this amazing new technology!   

Yes, there I was, incredibly excited about inputting our 31 District Based Sight Words into the QR Code Generator so that I could create codes just like the one above.  I am going to place these codes in various locations around my room for my students to scan with their iTouches (Think of it as a "Techy's" version of read around the classroom).

If you are interested in how to create your own QR codes to use in your classroom, just click here.  It is amazing how technology keeps creating new ways for us to teach our students.  Don't forget to download a QR scanner app on your phone, iPad, or iTouch to complete this activity.

Let me know if you try this.  I would love to hear from you!

Respectfully,  

Ann

6 comments:

  1. So, I could do this with my iTouch? I only have one, but it could be the helper of the days turn each day. What a great idea! I would love to list your blog (you have great content and ideas) on my blog roll! Would you be interested in adding mine? I think the more kinder teachers, the better!
    Let me know if you're interested in "trading spots"! :)
    Krissy
    Mrs.Miner’s Monkey Business

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  2. Krissy, Hey, I would love to "trade spots" with you. I will add you to my blog roll ASAP.

    Yes, you can do this with your iTouch. It is very easy. I am actually using my own Android cell phone as well. It is really fun to see the kids so excited about learning sight words. I have them working in pairs so they help each other figure out the words. The only downside is that my kids are learning the 31 words so quickly that I am going to have to make a new set of them.

    Thanks for chatting with me. I love to hear from other kinder teachers and sharing new ideas.

    Ann

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  3. I feel a bit out of the loop because I do not have an ipad, itouch, or iphone.....so I don't understand how this will help??? Please explain more...I am saving to get an ipad for the classroom but I am not sure what or how to explain it will be more useful than the two computers I already have. suggestions...
    Sue
    theverybusykindergarten.blogspot.com

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  4. Sue,

    I felt that way too until just a few months ago. That was when I was introduced to all of this "new" technology. It is so new to me right now that even I am overwhelmed at times. That is one of the reasons why we have a group of teachers who meet once a week to discuss ways we are using all of these items in the classroom.

    The best advice I can give you is when you get a chance, you simply need to play with an iPad, iTouch, or iPhone. Download as many "free" apps as you can. Play with them. An app is very similar to a computer game but now the technology is in a mobile unit and many are free or cost very little to purchase. Also, because of the mobility of these units, you can place an iPad or iTouch at any center in the classroom and assign the students a designated app to go along with what you are teaching.

    Also, I highly recommend getting one with a camera. I have found many uses for the camera such as the QR code activity as well as creating iMovies. I even use the iPad's camera to document students work. I have taken pictures of my kindergarten's writing and can save it in a file marked with their name. It is right at my fingertips when I am conferencing with a parent and can pull it up on a screen quickly for their viewing. No more fumbling through papers before a conference to make sure they are in order. Everything is right there in the child's folder. And...those documents are portable! I can take my iPad anywhere and all my documentation is right there.

    In regards to the QR codes. At the kindergarten level, I am simply using them as a read around the room/write around the room activity. Because I am integrated this new technology, it is making my students more excited and eager to do these centers (sometimes they even cry if it isn't their turn yet). I know in the upper grades, they are using the QR codes to do more advanced activities such as vocabulary scavenger hunts where the students scan the codes to discover clues about their vocabulary words of the week. The novelty of using this mobile technology is making the students more excited about learning and eager to participate, even the most reluctant learners.

    I hope this helps you. It looks like you are already very interested in this technology especially if you are willing to purchase one of your own. Before learning all of this, I never realized how useful an iPad could be for the classroom. Now, everyday I am discovering new ways to use the iPad to make teaching more meaningful and effective.

    Ann

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  5. This is such a great idea! I am so trying this in my classroom with my iPad!!!

    kindergarten days

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  6. QR code size is the size and error correction by the building blocks for. The larger is often the most difficult QR code QR code reader to scan.

    qr code generator

    ReplyDelete