QR codes store information about a particular subject, and this information is given to the person who scans the code.
We’ve likely all seen them: small squares of black lines and white spaces that look like gibberish but are actually much more than that. These are called QR codes, and they’re used in all different fields, all over the world, and can be scanned by a cell phone camera or app. Teachers, librarians, tutors, and students have all been incorporating technology into education and learning, and QR codes are no exception. QR codes can be used at events like art shows, musical performances, tours of the building, and meet-the-teacher.
They can also be used in-class to engage kids in activities other than sitting at their desks and copying down notes or listening to a lecture. Libraries have been using QR codes outside of the four walls of their buildings, as well, posting them around town and allowing citizens to scan them out of curiosity. QR codes have the potential to be vital to kids’ success and to catapult education into entirely new realms.
Meet-the-Teacher and More School Events
Every year, students look forward to meeting their new teachers and classmates, touring their classrooms, and learning about the school year ahead. However, the beginning of the school year can be just as stressful as it is exciting, especially for parents. Using QR codes compiles information in a compact way that highlights the most important things to know. QR codes can be posted outside the classroom or inside it, at an easy access point for parents. Other popular events at schools are art shows and musical performances for the strings, choir, and band at schools.
Oftentimes, schools provide cast lists, pamphlets, or some sort of personal information about participants in these events. Replacing these with QR codes will allow parents to gather information about student artists and musicians. This incorporation of technology allows for efficiency and convenience, as most people have smartphones with the capabilities of scanning QR codes, and could even be an eco-friendly option.
Getting Kids Involved in School
Teachers are constantly trying to find better ways to keep their students’ attention and keep them interested in school, whether they are in elementary school, middle school, or high school. Several surveys that interviewed high school students found that at least a third of students are bored at school every day, and some found that a larger percentage of students fell victim to boredom.
School doesn’t have to be boring and rigid, and technology can make school a more enriching experience. Instead of sitting at a desk all day, students can move around the classroom and use their phones to scan a QR code posted on the walls and engage with technology and other students. Math teachers can post questions on the walls and allow students to work them out, and educators in other subjects can utilize these codes, too.
QR codes can be printed on homework papers to offer assistance and more information, and the codes have even been used in textbooks for audio files and digital media. QR codes can enhance the learning experience and get kids interested in and excited about school again.
Libraries’ Use of QR Codes
Many people believe that libraries are losing their place in our culture and cities, but the exact opposite is true. Libraries play vital roles in suburban communities and urban areas of the country, and they are using technology, including QR codes, to continue to reach people. These codes can be posted in the library, and around the building. Outside of the building, QR codes can be used to spread information about the library itself, the events it puts on, and the books and Internet access it offers. Inside the library, The QR code can be used to elaborate on displays and other sorts of information.
For example, say the library has a book of the week. A QR code can be placed next to the book, and scanning it can take a patron to a YouTube video reviewing the book, a news article about the author of the book, or possibly even an informational article about a topic pulled from the book. Libraries have an extremely important role in education, and they, like schools, can use a QR code to further the learning process.
A QR code may not seem like much, but the black-and-white squares offer endless possibilities for the world of education, in schools, libraries, and teachers’ classrooms. QR codes are a fascinating development in technology that can be used diversely in the years to come.
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