After becoming a Pinterest addict last spring, I very quickly realized that almost all of those teachers who post adorable projects, lessons, classroom management strategies, etc., are bloggers too! So, I jumped aboard several of my favorite blogs and now spend plenty of time oohing and ahhing over some pretty innovative ideas...
Today, I came upon teacher Farrah Kilgo, resident blogger at Think*Share*Teach who shares her journey as a fourth grade teacher, including how she implements a variety of Web 2.0 applications. Check out this post where she documents her first attempts at using QR codes in the classroom. If you have never played with QR codes before (You've likely seen them everywhere --- check out the bananas next time you're in the produce section :), download the i-nigma app for your phone and bookmark this QR code generator in your Diigo account.
Basically, QR codes are barcodes. Using an app, like i-nigma, you can scan the QR code on your phone or tablet, and it will send you to a link with more information. How does this work in the classroom, you might ask? Well, Farrah shares how she provided students with a math activity, asking them to rename each fraction using lowest terms. Next to each problem, she has a QR code positioned, so the kiddos can check their answers. Yes, you can link the QR code to answers! This means that your students are getting immediate feedback! To make some QR codes (it takes 10 seconds and all it requires is some copying and pasting), go experiment with this FREE QR Code Generator.
If you're interested in another take on QR code implementation, you're welcome to take a peak at this website I created for a QR Code scavenger hunt. Go here for a brief summary. Same idea as Farrah's, except you can post clues throughout the school building. Each time a student(s) arrives at the appropriate destination, they scan the QR code for the next clue.
I'll be subscribing to Think*Share*Teach, so I can nab some more great ideas!
Thanks for sharing Think*Share*Teach, what a fabulous resource! One of my favorite things about this whole blogging project thus far is discovering how many creative teachers there are sharing their ideas with fellow educators. Each idea is unique and can be tweaked to fit your own classroom. It inspires me to create my own blog to share ideas, trials and errors as well as successes with my little munchkins!
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