QR Codes in Education: Transforming Classrooms into Interactive Learning Spaces
Of all the new tools available to improve teachers’ ability to reach their students, QR codes have to be one of the least expensive, yet the most useful. Instead of connecting retail customers with online information, QR codes for schools have started a disruptive trend in the education system. These days, it’s not about whether you should use QR codes for the classroom; it’s more about how teachers can benefit from QR codes for schools.
Why QR Codes Are a Natural Fit for Classrooms
A big part of their appeal comes from their ease of use. After a quick scan on a phone or tablet, students can quickly access the material that they need without cumbersome URLs or tediously long log-ins. Within a learning space, be it in physical or online, the ability to access content quickly and efficiently is extremely valuable.
Incorporating QR codes onto worksheets, posters, or whiteboards and into lessons makes the educational environment more stimulating and immersive. In elementary schools, kids no longer need to worry about extravagant web addresses — all they need to do is scan the QR code. For older students, the transition between offline and digital learning can be made almost instantaneous.
Enhancing Student Engagement
The modern learner wants an interactive experience, while a QR code delivers it. A teacher can, for instance, display QR codes around the room that direct to a video on historical events, math tutorial videos, museum tours, and many others. Suddenly, students have the power to turn repetitive curriculum into a lively, exploratory experience.
Gamification can also be applied here. Create a fun scavenger hunt or a quiz game using QR codes, and you turn the static curriculum into an exciting collaborative exercise with hands-on exploration, immediate feedback for correct/incorrect answers, because two heads are better than one, ways to define the parameters of a problem, and much more. Not only does this make learning enjoyable, but it also enhances the attendees’ ability to retain the information.
Streamlining Assignments and Feedback
QR codes don’t just facilitate learning for students—they can also streamline a teacher’s workflow. Instead of giving students a set of directions or tips to accompany an assignment, educators can save time by providing a QR code that leads to supporting resources or a digital submission link. Shaving down questions streamlines the process and empowers a greater sense of independence in the student learner.
Teachers can create QR codes with links to feedback forms or surveys, accessible rubrics, and more. When using QR codes in this way, students can scan a code on a returned assignment to view personalized comments or access the self-assessment form that corresponds to their feedback. This real-time review can help align both teacher and student evaluations and is more reflective of the assessment process.
Bridging Classroom and Home
Use QR codes to bridge the gap between school and home. Parents want to be involved, but they may not know how to access information. Teachers can place QR codes directly in newsletters, send home progress reports, etc, and parents can easily scan and access learning materials, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, learn about classroom projects, etc.
Promoting Digital Literacy
Further, an important benefit of QR codes in education is that they help in building a generation that carries digital literacy with them. Students use technology in an effective and responsible manner. Scanning a code looks like a simple thing, but when students scan a code, it shows how they can make use of the technology to enhance their learning process.
Schools or classrooms are preparing students for the technological future. Therefore, it is mandatory for students to learn how to use the digital platform or tool to gain knowledge. Digital learning is as important as the learning of the curriculum.
Cost-Effective and Sustainable
Schools are often financially constrained and may find it challenging to keep up with modern technology. Fortunately, QR codes require minimal resources to implement. Generation tools are mostly free of charge or available at a low cost, and expensive devices are not necessary. This makes QR codes an accessible and applicable tool for any school.
Additionally, QR codes help to reduce paper wastage. Instead of printing large quantities of worksheets, teachers can simply print a single QR code that students can scan. Reduced printing saves funds and is beneficial for the environment.
Looking Ahead: The Future of QR Codes in Education
With the evolution of the educational landscape, there is no reason to expect that QR codes will not continue to be applicable. They may be merged with augmented reality, such as in interactive textbooks and adaptive software. You could have a QR code in your science lab that takes you to a 3D model of the human heart, or one in your language class that links to a page with examples of dialogues.
The point is freedom. They are available for use in countless numbers of ways, constrained only by the imagination.
