QR Codes: Easy!

Hi everyone, I am Alyssa from Teaching in the Fast Lane. I am always looking for ways to keep our classroom fresh, and one way that has proved to be super easy, and very effective is by using QR Codes.

If you don't already know, QR Codes are scannable icons that can be found everywhere from your groceries to billboards along the highway. They can link to text, pictures, websites, or just about anything you want to easily get to.

Let's start with how you scan QR codes.

Most electronic devices that have a camera and data capability are able to scan QR codes.  In our classroom students use Ipads, my cell phone, their cell phones, and some of the newer models of Ipod Touches. Basically, anything that can be used, we use.

There are MANY apps available for scanning QR codes on these devices. They all vary just a little bit, so you have to choose the one that works best for you and your students. If you do a search in your app store for QR reader several will appear. The one that I use is simply called, "QR Reader."

To use the app you simply open the app and will see a screen like the one below.
You next choose the "Scan" option at the top of the choice menu.

Then, you hold your device over the QR code. The app will help you to center the code so that it can scan. It usually takes just a second to scan. If it is taking too much time to focus or scan then cancel your action and try again. This is usually a quick fix. 

This question asks, "Which is NOT a region of Texas?"

The answer will immediately appear in a box that is similar to the notes app on most devices. In this case the answer, "Coastal Mountains," is a text answer. As I said before you can have these codes lead to just about anything. 

Can you imagine the possibilities for classroom use? 

A few ways that I use QR codes in the classroom are:

• to make task cards or assignments self checking
• a way to send students to appropriate websites without students having to type long URLs
• storing information from student projects for others to access

I know that there are many more ways that they can be used, and I would love to hear them from you! If you have any unique ways of using QR codes in your classroom, please share in the comments below. 

Happy Scanning,

Alyssa