Connecting Creativity and QR Codes
By now, it’s practically impossible to make it through the day without encountering a QR code. Whether on a restaurant menu, a box of cereal, or embedded in a blog (yep, like the one you’re reading right now!), QR codes provide instant accessibility to content. So, how can we use them to our advantage in the classroom? I love to app smash with QRs by using them to house the finished product and then share them out in a digital space.
In a previous post, we shared the “why” behind app smashing and tips for success. You can check out the post here. In addition, I recently presented a session at ISTE 2014 entitled “You Scan Do It! Connecting Creativity and QR Codes”.
Let’s take a look at how to effectively combine a couple of my favorite apps and wrap up the delivery through QR codes posted on a Padlet.
We’re going to start with Popplet – an awesome visual mapping app that allows students to creatively share their understanding using a combination of text and digital media. For more information on Popplet, take a look at an introduction here. At ISTE, participants created a Popplet that answered the question, “What does #ISTE2014 mean to me?” Next, we saved their finished Popplet to the camera roll. For those of you who need a web app version, we can do that! Just create your Popplet online at www.popplet.com and export as a jpeg.
Our next layer of creation involves Audioboo, a super easy audio recording app with great sharing features. Participants created a “boo” to extend and explain their Popplet. Below you’ll find the steps to creating your boo. Once you’re happy with the recording, Audioboo lets you upload an image – your Popplet image! After the image uploads, simply choose the share feature to capture the hyperlink to your boo.
Now you’re ready to share your creation – in comes the QR code! I use the app QR Code Maker to generate the code. Simply copy and paste your Audioboo hyperlink into the app and your QR code is ready to go. Detailed instructions are below. If you are looking for a QR creator on the web, I like www.qrstuff.com.
So, you have a room full of students eager to share their QR codes with you, but what about sharing with others? How do you collect them? In comes Padlet to the rescue! Padlet is a digital bulletin board space where your students can contribute Post-It style notes that contain text, images, hyperlinks, and videos. Creating a Padlet is a cinch – simply go to www.padlet.com and click the “create something” button, and you have a wall. From there, share the link to your wall with your students and have them post their QR code. Now you’ve got a wall full of QR codes that link to amazing student creations. And because Padlet can be embedded on a blog or website, you can share out with parents, teachers, and the world.
You can access my complete ISTE 2014 presentation here.
We would love to hear your app smashing and QR code ideas here at #etechtalk. Happy QR coding from #etcampus!