This is a discussion on the benefits of QR Codes. If you’d like to see how to create your own QR Code Scavenger Hunt, or how I have used it in the classroom, click here.
QR Codes are a great way for students to use technology while reinforcing learning in a school environment. It’s a simple way to turn the mundane into an exciting and active learning experience.
Probably one of the greatest challenges I face is using more kinesthetic learning activities. I tend to like order, not chaos, in my classroom. And when you have 30 students crammed into a classroom, it’s difficult to get them up and moving in a productive way.
Because space is so limited in a classroom, why not use the entire school?
A QR Code Scavenger Hunt could be done in a single classroom setting, though it’s much better to do in more space, so small groups of students can work independently.
Of course, there’s always a risk turning students loose in a school. The teacher can’t be everywhere. But the teacher can be vigilant.
More importantly, in order for this to work well, the activity must be both purposeful and challenging. Any experienced teacher will know that students who are either bored or think their time is being wasted on busy work will lead to students goofing off. And doing something that’s fun for sake of being fun isn’t the best reason to do an activity.
A QR Code Scavenger Hunt can be a great way to provide a challenging experience that is also a purposeful learning exercise.
The codes can be spread out throughout the entire school, allowing students to move quite a bit. And the clues can be whatever you want them to be: Content from notes; a comprehension question of something previously discussed; math equations; directions in a second language; characters and quotes from a book; etc.
The codes can also be imbedded onto a notes page, asking students to interpret some information presented to them.
I prefer not to “hide” the clues, but instead use some piece of content that forces students to decipher where the next clue is. This has several advantages.
First, with a linear path, you can break the class up into small groups and have them work independently, never crossing paths or “clumping up” into one massive group (which could be more disruptive and less productive). And secondly, students waste less time actually searching for the clues (the down time can lead to distractions) and more time thinking critically about the information you posted in the QR code.
I’m sure there are plenty of other advantages and suggestions teachers have about QR Codes. Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.