12 Days of QR Codes Asynchronous Discussion (12/1/21-12/12/21)

Starting on December 1, 2021 (9 am ET) and ending December 12, 2021 (4 pm ET), Chrissie Klinger (Career Pathways Group Moderator), Ashly Winkle (Integrating Technology Group Moderator), and Nell Eckersley (Director of the New York City Support and Technical Assistance Center-STAC) will be facilitating an asynchronous discussion around QR Codes. 

QR codes are being seen all over communities, workplaces, and even on food packages. This purpose of this discussion is to help adult education professionals have a better understanding of QR codes, learn how to use QR codes to enhance lessons, and identify how to prepare adult basic education learners to interact with QR codes in their community and workplaces.

Our special guest, Nell Eckersley is the Director of the (STAC) for state funded adult education programs and the Instructional Technology Specialist at the Literacy Assistance Center. She is also an Ed Tech Adviser for the Ed Tech Center at World Ed and has worked nationally as the Technology and Learning moderator and trainer for LINCS and as a Google Applied Digital Skills trainer for COABE. Her particular areas of interest are strengthening digital literacy skills for adult education practitioners and students, integrating technology into the adult education classroom via mobile devices, and digital inclusion for all.

In preparation for this event, please put any questions you might have about QR Codes in this discussion thread so they can be addressed during the 12 Days of QR Codes discussion. 

Comments

QR stands for "Quick Response" and it is a special type of barcode that can be scanned my most smartphone cameras. QR codes act like a bridge from the physical world to the virtual world. We see them on flyers, water bottles, food containers, and even on appliances. By pointing our smartphone camera at the QR code we can quickly be directed to online information. 

Over the next 12 days we will dig into QR codes and why it's important for adult learners to know how they work. We encourage group members to add questions and comments in the thread. Although, we will share many different tools and resources this week, we do need to let you know that, "The content or opinions expressed in this presentation do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply an official endorsement by the U.S. Government." 

Not sure what a QR code even looks like? Here's a sample of a QR code we made that if scanned by a phone camera will take you to the LINCS homepage. 

I am so old school to technology when it comes it to the smart phones. I had to have a friend tell me how to download this so I did not have print out tickets with this on it. It is really true even though I do not want to admit the world is going to this. I appreciate your input and as I read down I found the dryer very humorous. Kimberly M.

Welcome to day 2 of the 12 Days of QR Codes Discussion!  Today we’re looking at where we find QR codes.  Where have you seen QR codes?  They’ve been around since 1994 when they were first used in car manufacturing, but weren’t brought to public use until smartphones became common and the ability to scan a QR code arrived in our pockets.  QR codes are usually a shortcut to get you to an online space like a website.  To scan a QR code you need a device to scan the QR code (the camera or QR code scanner app on your smartphone) and access to the internet*.  

Marketers were the first people to see a public use for QR codes, replacing URL’s on products with the little QR code squares that took up less room and made it easier for consumers to get to the URL without having to type it into a search engine.  But not many consumers scanned most of these QR codes.  Have you ever scanned a QR code?  If you have, what spurred you to do so?

Marketers have cooled on QR codes but businesses and educators have come up with some creative and useful ways to use QR codes and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the use of QR codes has exploded.  In this Wakelet https://wke.lt/w/s/KC7tEm I have included some examples of where you might see QR codes.  These include:

  • Medical offices for patients to check in or access materials
  • On bus stops to take you to a website showing where buses are on their routes
  • In flyers and other promotions to give access to online job applications
  • In libraries to replace handed out lists of books and other media
  • In restaurants to give patrons access to paperless menus, allow food ordering and paying online
  • In community organizations to give easy access to government benefits and resources
  • On product packaging to link to easier to read nutrition information 
  • On airplane boarding passes
  • In museums to give access to additional information about artists
  • In stores to give access to coupons and discounts
  • In or on books to give the reader access to multimedia experiences or answer keys etc.

What are the best uses of QR codes that you have seen?  What made them useful?

*QR codes can direct you to text files which don't require internet access

The most recent place I have been surprised with a QR code is the inside of my dryer door. It's small and barely noticeable, but I am able to scan it with my smartphone camera and go to their website to register my appliance and determine the meaning of error codes that might show on the appliance.  

I am curious if the QR code is printed on the bag or just on paper inside the bag? I haven't seen QR codes printed on soft material yet and wonder if they are harder for a smartphone to read or not. It's great to hear you are seeing better outreach outcomes through the use of  QR codes!

 

The 3rd edition of the Ventures book series uses QR codes in their paper books and workbooks to bring students to recordings of conversations. No more cueing up a CD! And on a personal level, I love finding QR codes in natural areas and gardens that bring you to a mini guided tour of the area.  

A few years ago I was a holiday cookie party.  I made QR codes that directed the scanner to the recipes for the cookies I had made.  I was just thinking that if I was having a class party where students were all bringing foods from their home countries, students could make QR codes that would direct the scanner to the recipes they had written up in a Google Doc or a text file.

I have used QR codes for a long time in my classes to monitor class attendance. I create a Google Form with the class attendance roster. The Google Form populates a Google Sheet that date-time stamps the student attendance check-in. The QR code takes the student to a Google Form, and the student "self certifies" that they attended the class on the given day. If there is no student QR check-in, the student did not participate in the class. Examples: Google Form Attendance Tracker and QR Checkin Poster. The QR Checkin Poster is laminated and posted near the classroom door. The students accept responsibility for managing their class attendance record and my method creates accountability, and reduces class disruptions by using valuable learning time to complete administrative chores such as taking class attendance. 

QR Codes for Attendance: 

 

QR Codes are great for storing and retrieving data. One idea for using QR codes in our adult ed class is for attendance! Want to know how? Follow these steps:

 

  1. Create a Google Form.
  2. Include important information such as
    1. Name
    2. E-mail Address
    3. Attendee or Student ID
    4. Time in/ time out
    5. Date
  3. Click the “send” button to create a URL.
  4. Create a QR Code for your form's URL (I like using the Google one, but there are lots to choose from!) by going to the QR code generator and entering the URL.
  5. Test your QR Code to make sure it works correctly.
  6. Share with your students (depending on your situation you can print the code on paper or just share it on a screen)
  7. Students will then scan the QR code and complete the information requested.
  8. Export attendance to Google Sheets.


 

If you try using QR Codes for attendance in your class, let us know how it went!

For a deeper dive into creating QR codes for attendance, continue the discussion on the Integrating Technology group.

 

A number of technology tools have QR codes built in as one of the sharing options which makes it easier than ever for us to make QR codes to get people to our online content.  Below are some examples.  See images on this Wakelet.  What other tech tools have you come across that offer QR codes as a way to share content?  How have you used the QR codes?

 

Like all things tech, QR codes are not without safety risks.  QR codes are basically images containing stored pieces of information. Unfortunately,  useful content can be shared just as easily as malicious content. Here are some risks you should be aware of when using QR Codes:

 

  1. Hackers can easily manipulate you into scanning a code that contains a URL with malware
  2. QR Codes could also lead you to a phishing site where hackers might obtain your personal information.
  3. QR Codes can be used to download fake or malicious apps that might cause harm to your device or present an opportunity for hackers to steal your information.

 

Make sure you know who created the code before you scan it! If it is from someone you don’t know or have never heard of, refrain from scanning it until you have more information! Technology can make our lives easier, but when in the wrong hands, it can make it much more difficult, so always proceed with caution!

  • What safety concerns have you had when using QR Codes?
  • How do you teach your students to use QR Codes safely?

For a deeper dive into digital safety when using QR codes, join the discussion on the Integrating Technology Group.

 

Reference: https://news.trendmicro.com/2021/08/25/what-are-qr-codes-are-they-safe/

 

Another area of security around QR Codes is the scanner itself.  Most new Android and iPhones have built in QR Code scanners.  But even though my Android phone has a built in scanner, I find it doesn't always detect the QR Code I want to scan so I have downloaded a QR Code Scanner app.  There are many, many QR Code scanner apps out there so how do you choose? I wanted one that can detect malicious QR Codes, keep a history of the links that I've opened using the QR Codes scanner, but I also didn't want the QR Code Scanner accessing a lot of the data on my phone.  I saw some that wanted permission to access my contacts for example.  Not for me.  After some researching I found the QR Scanner (Privacy Friendly) from the SECUSO Research Group for Android which only requests permissions to use the phone's camera, vibrate function, and flashlight. Kaspersky Lab Switzerland also has a QR Code Reader and Scanner which is generally well thought of.  It keeps a history and also warns if the link is suspicious.  It also has both Android and  Apple versions.

 

 

A fun way to use QR codes can be for career exploration activity, "Who do you want to be? Instead of directing them to a career link, how about playing a game like "Would Your Rather?".

  • Create a set of "Would you rather..."questions such as the following:
  • Use direct links to a career site like O*Net 
  • Create a QR code of each of the links ( I like to use Google QR Code Generator).
  • Create a card with the question on top and the QR code beneath it. 
  • Post the cards around your classroom so that students can scan the ones that would interest them.
    • It might look something like this:


       
    • Once they scan the ones that interest them, supply them with a document with guided questions  to help them explore that career. Maybe include questions like...
      • What career interests you?
      • How much does it pay?
      • What education does it require?
      • What experience do you need?
      • What skills do you need?
      • Etc.

What other ideas do you have for using QR Codes for exploration?!

Another way to use QR codes in workforce marketing. This is a great way to get people to online resources with a quick scan of their phone! We recently had a tables set up at a conference and created flyers with QR codes to direct participants to some of our online resources. Here are some examples of ways to use QR Codes for marketing:

Can you think of other ways to use QR codes for marketing in the workplace?

The United States Department of Education explains STEM skills as, "Preparing to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, making sense of information, and knowing how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions. These are the kinds of skills that students develop in science, technology, engineering, and math, including computer science—disciplines collectively known as STEM/CS. If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers can understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students' skills, content knowledge, and literacy in STEM fields is essential." 

On the USDOE STEM resources list, The Introduction to Stackable Credentials page 5 has a visual to show how individuals can stack credentials and skills overtime to move through a career pathway, including careers in the STEM fields. QR codes can be used by adult practitioners to link to various resources for learners to explore STEM careers or link to STEM skill building activities. Practitioners can go one step further with STEM and QR codes by having adults make QR codes themselves. 

A great example of how to build STEM skills and get learners making QR codes themselves is in the Teaching Skills that Matter (TSTM) Toolkit lesson titled- Event Planning Integrated and Contextualized Learning. In this project-based lesson STEM skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and communication are practiced while planning an event. An "artifact" that could be generated by the learners is a flyer for the event. Many event flyers have QR codes, so learners could work on creating the code, adding it to the flyer, and testing the code. 

What other ideas do you have on how QR codes and STEM skills can come together?

Helping adult learners understand how to use QR codes can help with health literacy. Since the pandemic, many doctor's offices have gone to contactless check-in and have patient's scan a QR code when they arrive. Additionally, pharmacies and other health-related facilities put QR codes on posters, bags, and packaging that allows adults to link to information about medications, medical procedures, and medical advice. 

Here are some ways you can combine QR codes and health literacy in the adult education classroom:

  • Have leaners read about health related topics and have QR codes at the end that connect to additional information, videos, or websites. 
  • Have learners do a project-based learning lesson where they research a health-related topic and create a Wakelet board around the topic. Have them use Wakelet's QR code generator to share their QR code with classmates. Have the learners scan and look at the Wakelet boards their classmates put together. 

What other ideas do you have for combining QR codes and health literacy?

One of the frustrating challenges I've experienced when presenting to a large group or working with a group of people for whom I didn’t have email addresses, is how to get everyone to the same place online at the same time. 

  • How do I get my presentation slides (filled with live links) to participants without making stacks of paper copies of my slides?  
  • How do I help participants join me in an online space like Padlet without having at least a few folks struggle with typing in the correct URL?  
  • How do I help everyone respond to my online evaluation at the end of the workshop?  

After trying various things, I discovered QR codes.  Not only did QR codes offer the answers to all these questions, they also added a Wow! factor that actually made participants more excited about what they were learning. It was even worth taking time to explain what QR codes are and how to scan them. 

The next time you are putting together a professional development presentation, consider including QR codes that link to:

  • your Google Slides, Prezi, PowerPoint or Keynote slides saved to the cloud.  You can include the QR code on the first few slides of your presentation and make time for participants to scan them, or you could even hand out the QR code printed on a small piece of paper--still a lot less paper than printing out the whole slide deck.
  • online activities like a shared Google Doc, Padlet, Jamboard, Flipgrid etc.  Again you can include the QR code in your presentation slides or on a handout.
  • the workshop evaluation using Google Forms, Survey Monkey, MS Forms, Mentimeter etc. It is so helpful to get evaluation data electronically rather than having participants fill out paper forms.  The date is much easier to review and compare when in a spreadsheet rather than lots of individual paper sheets. 

One thing to note:  All of these types of content are mobile friendly.  As most people will be scanning the QR codes with their phones, they will be accessing the content on their phones too so you want to make sure that whatever it is you are sharing with a QR code works well on a small screen.

How have you used QR codes in professional development?  Have you seen QR codes used in workshops you’ve participated in?  Were they useful?

 

Another way to use QR Codes in instruction is to create a Scavenger/Treasure Hunt.  For this activity individual QR Codes are placed around the classroom or another specific space.  The QR Codes themselves take the scanner to a question that has to be answered or a task that needs to be completed.  Students can work individually or in groups to find the QR Codes, scan them, and respond to the prompt.  Here’s an example of QR Codes that take you to history questions: Modern World History Overview.  

When designing your QR code Scavenger Hunt consider these elements (list from Scavenger Hunts: Creating a QR Code Hunt!)

Purpose: What is the purpose of your scavenger hunt?

  • Subject specific apps
  • Teach objectives
  • Integrate mobile devices

Type: What type of Scavenger Hunt is it? Is there a theme?

  • List of objects to find
  • Fact finding
  • Solving a problem
  • Completing tasks
  • Photographing
  • Videoing
  • Audio Recording

Locations(s): Where will the hunt take place? What are the boundaries?

  • Inside
  • Outside
  • (1) Classroom
  • Multiple rooms

Participants: Who else will be involved? Do you need judges?

  • No one
  • Other staff members
  • Other

Structure: How do you want this to work?

  • Synchronous (a class period)
  • Asynchronous (posters around the school)
  • Teams
  • Individual
  • Time limit
  • Participant Safety
  • Scoring
  • Rules
  • How to win

List Submissions: How do you want to receive the completed tasks?

  • Handed in piece of paper
  • Email 

Another helpful resource is How to Set up a QR Code Treasure Hunt which uses the ClassTools QR Code generator tool to make QR codes that connect to text files which means access to the internet is not required to scan these QR codes.

Have you ever created a QR Code Scavenger Hunt?  What tips can you share?

 

For an ESOL class I did a version of this type of scavenger hunt.  The QR codes connected to audio recordings made with Vocaroo (could also use any phone voice recorder that allows the sound files to be shared).  I printed out the QR code and a photo of the speaker (could be classmates or other staff etc) and hung the pieces of paper down the hallway of our building.  Students had to scan the QR codes and answer a couple of questions regarding what they heard on the audio recordings.  This was a great listening comprehension activity as well as an opportunity to get to know one another and practice scanning QR codes.  

Leading up to the QR code scanning part of the lesson, students also wrote up a short paragraph about themselves, learned how to make audio recordings, and how to share the links or QR codes for the recordings with me. The QR codes in the hallway were also available for others to scan, to learn more about the people we serve in our classes.  Including the photos made the QR codes more appealing.

See and example here

A big thank you to Nell and Ashly for helping our community explore QR codes this month. We hope to get some feedback on the discussion for the last day. We look forward to community members thinking about the questions below and responding in the discussion thread. 

What was something new you learned about QR codes through this discussion?

What else do you want to know about QR codes?

What ideas did we share that you might try?

Any additional tips that you have for adult education practitioners that may want to use QR codes with adult learners?

Hi Chrissie, Ashly, Nell, and others,

Thanks for this informative discussion!

After reading about QR codes on the dryer door, I checked to see if there was one on the refrigerator we bought last month. Sure enough, just inside the door, there was a code leading to a video about proper installation of the fridge.

I remember back in the "dark ages" of doing professional development (just a few years ago in fact!) where I would lug a suitcase full of handouts and wonder what the best way would be to share a PowerPoint presentation. Nell's Day 10 post has given me several outstanding ideas, thanks! 

This was a wonderful idea for a holiday event! In that spirit, to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas, I will start with day five and say: 

On the fifth day of QR codes, this LINCS group gave to me:

5 awesome ideas,

4 QR codes to explore,

3 amazing presenters,

2 ideas to adopt, 

and 1 amazing discussion resource to archive!

 

Thanks again,

Steve Schmidt, Moderator

LINCS Reading and Writing Group