TECH4ARTED
The Hidden Identity in QR Codes
Pixelated square images, known as QR Codes, have become the latest technology trend in education. They originated in Japan. QR stands for “Quick
Response,” so named because it links
to a website faster than you can type.
With the help of a camera built into a
mobile device, a “scan” of a QR code
can connect to information online,
download a document, or view an
image. You can quickly and easily create QR codes and focus on curricular
content while actively engaging your
students with technology. Take a look
at “QR codes at a Glance” on Flickr
to get started (
http://goo.gl/4rzbI), or
watch this clever YouTube explanation on how QR codes are used around
NYC (
http://t.co/nAC7fvh). Try scanning the QR image on this page and
link to the video directly.
Theresa McGee
Create Your Own
A simple QR code generator to try
is called Create QR Code (createqr-
code.appspot.com). Just type in text
or a URL link and click “Create QR
Code.” Instantly you have your own
QR code!
Beyond the Classroom
Create a QR code linking each •
student to his or her personal Artsonia gallery. Art teacher Suzanne
Tiedemann from Brunswick Acres
Elementary School in Brunswick,
New Jersey, had each of her elementary students create their own QR
code linking to their individual
Artsonia gallery. She then uploaded
each code as a work of art on Artsonia for student access from home
(
goo.gl/5swJ1) Suzanne used QCre-ate (
tinyurl.com/ColorQR) to let her
students choose the color of their
QR code.
Make an interactive art show. In •
addition to the descriptions that
accompany student displays, a QR
code can be added for students and
parents to scan and connect to
related educational content. As long
as you have open or guest Internet
access for your event, parents can
bring their smart-phones and iTouch
devices from home, connect to Wifi,
and scan away. Visit
goo.gl/3R9uE
to see some examples of QR codes
used at a student art show.
Promote your art program. Art •
teacher Ian Sands from Apex High
School in Apex, North Carolina,
added QR codes to his blog and as
posters around school to help interested students learn more about his
art classes (
goo.gl/AGyxi).
Create QR code artwork with your •
students. Visit these links for some
examples:
goo.gl/OvQ3U and
goo.gl/A1vaA.
QR Code Readers
There are many free QR code readers, although my preferred reader is
ScanLife. To download ScanLife, type
getscanlife.com into your mobile
device’s Internet browser. You can
also use a computer webcam to read
QR codes with a free software download (
tinyurl.com/QRwebcam).
Interactive Classroom Ideas
Create learning extensions and •
introductions. Create QR codes
based on content covered in class
and link to video or other online
interactive learning activities.
Hide QR codes in reading materials. •
Codes can be taped to pages in art
books. Students explore the books,
find the codes, and absorb the content in order to answer the mystery
questions embedded in the codes.
Engage in a virtual tour using art •
images on display in your classroom. A QR code next to an art
print will take students into a
museum for a virtual tour or to a
location on a Google map.
Print out and tape QR codes to dif- •
ferent sites on an old, roll-up world
map. Students can scan and discover
the type of art created in each location.
Connecting art curriculum to our
visual culture is an exciting concept
for students to explore. Create authentic learning experiences and disguise
otherwise ordinary learning as a
fun activity. For additional resources
on QR codes in education, visit
goo.gl/FzaBd.
Theresa McGee is an art teacher at Monroe
Elementary School in Hinsdale, Illinois.
She also co-authors the art education blog
teachingpalette.com. tmcgee@d181.org
