Cracking the QR Code

Some of you who are following my Diigo bookmarks will have noticed that since late yesterday I've been busily bookmarking anything I can find about QR codes! I was inspired by a fellow educator Jarrod Robinson, who has been integrated QR Codes into his classroom teaching since January this year, and who has happily shared some resources on twitter to help get me started on the QR code trail.

So what have I learnt so far? I'll answer that with a few questions I have had to ask myself.

What are QR codes? Sort for Quick Response codes, QR codes work kind of like a barcode where you can quickly access information using your mobile phone. QR codes can store business cards, URLs, images, phone numbers and lots of other stuff that I probably haven't come across yet. In fact according to, Software and internet analysis: QR Codes and other 2D barcodes (June 2009) from Becta, QR codes can store up to "4,296 alphanumeric characters" which is apparently more than what the normal barcode is capable of.

So what do you need?
1. A mobile phone
2. A QR code reader like KAYWA - which is free to download onto your phone

How does it work?
1. You start the application on your phone which then enables your phone's camera
2. Hover your phone camera over the QR code
3. The phone will capture the QR code and display the information stored in the QR code and if it's a URL redirect you to it using your phone's browser.

How to you find or make your own QR codes?
You can find QR codes on website or on print material. For example the magazine "Teachers' Toolkit" has their QR code on the bottom right of their print magazine.

The thing I really like about QR codes is that you can create your own using a tool like the KAYWAR Generator. You can then embedd them on your own sites, or even print them off. Here's is one for browsing my blog for you to play with:




Now I haven't exactly done a stellar job explaining what these little beauties do, so I'd suggest wandering over to Jarrod's blog to learn a little more and for a better explanation.

If you'd like to learn more, here are some more resources:

• Barcodes on Wikipedia - I never realised there were so many!
• QR codes on Wikipedia - I was surprised with the use of colour and artworks that have been integrated into QR codes.
• Software and internet analysis: QR Codes and other 2D barcodes (June 2009) from Becta - definitely read this one, as it covers some issues of educational uses of barcodes but also talks about the emergence of 2D codes.
• Ignatia Webs blog for ideas for integration into the classroom
  
• 7 Things you should know about QR codes from educause
• Getting started with QR codes from the University of bath
• QR codes @ Bath University for case studies
• 2D Code - site with great community examples of how codes are being used in everyday life
• Why use QR codes
  

Finally you may also notice that you can now view this blog on your mobile by scanning the QR code which I have embedded over on the right hand side.


So let me know you thoughts about QR codes, if you found any of the resources useful or if you are currently using QR codes in your teaching and learning - I'd love to hear from you.