My first idea to use QR codes was for a scavenger hunt on UCF’s campus for students new to the campus to physically explore the campus and learn about the resources by using QR codes at the specific offices (Cauley, 2011). Miller also references scavenger hunts as a normal response as a way to utilize QR codes within the classroom (2014).  Since I found my idea as repetitive, and not that creative, I wanted to look deeper into ways I could use QR codes to help promote learning. Miller’s list of twelve ideas helped me jumpstart my brainstorming (2014):

• Teaching students to effectively utilize QR codes and other virtual reality (VR) options could help when students start creating research posters. Using technology to strengthen undergraduate research posters for STEM-related projects could help students communicate their technical research to a wider audience by using exemplars (Miller, 2014).
• I have used QR codes to help in saving trees and assigning class assignments (Miller, 2014; Cauley, 2011). Since I work in a small office, saving money on ink and paper is a large concern. For a long URL to a class assignment, I would shorten the URL and post the QR code on a Powerpoint presentation. This way, students could follow to the assignment whichever way they were most comfortable with on their mobile device.

Cauley’s list emphasizes QR codes to assign homework assignments or to link to important forms (2011). I utilize QR codes to mostly help with completing in class assessments (Cauley, 2011).  I do believe that giving a student feedback via QR code would be an interesting and individualized experience (Cauley, 2011). I would be willing to try giving a QR code for feedback on a student’s writing connected to a video of me giving solid, individualized advice on how they may be able to better their writing. This effort could help me build rapport with my students.

References

• A Miller. (2014, January 5). Twelve ideas for teaching with QR codes. [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/QR-codes-teaching-andrew-miller
• P Cauley. (2011, September 3). QR codes and education. [Blog]. Retrieved from https://itbabble.com/2011/09/03/qr-codes-and-education/