So the next generation of learning had arrived or maybe something a bit like that....
The idea that you can provide a range of resources and links across a range of platforms with a simple barcode sounds wonderful. The challenge was to integrate it in a meaningful way into the classroom.
First things first, following inspiration from @MarcFaulder on his Enabling Environments Blog I took a load of TES iboard resources and used the QRStuff website to barcode up the websites. The idea was to use the sheets of QR codes as extension activities to fit in with the topics we were covering in class.
I had even spent time colour coding the tiny barcodes with blue for maths, yellow for science and red for topic learning. I printed these off using the photo printing wizard on windows xp having 9 per page so that there were plenty of codes to scan! I then did a very teachery thing and got busy with the laminate!
Next job was to read the 200 pixel squares so that all the hard work I had put into them could be read and the links could be used by a rowdy bunch of 6 year olds. I installed the dansl QR reader on the laptops that have an integrated webcam and began testing them.
Things I found out.
It is hard to put the QR code in front of the integrated camera.
The red and yellow codes didn't work at all.
Sooooo I reprinted them all in black and set up my easiview at a fixed distance so that the QR codes could be read more easily. This worked much better! The children loved doing it and played the games to support their learning with a new vigour!
The next challenge? To use QR codes in the natural environment to support learning. Can we find a device that will read the codes in situ rather than always taking them back to the classroom to scan? Oh an a nice idea from @ICTAST to use QRcodes inside books which bring up a book review. As long as you can fit the book review into 140 characters that is!
Still 140 characters seems the way forward nowadays!
No comments:
Post a Comment