Monthly Archives: February 2016

Teaching, Technology Integration

QR Codes Can Do More Than You Think!

I had the privilege of attending a session with Peggy Reimers at TCEA2016.  She has done some fabulous things with QR codes.  The most important point, as with all ed tech, that the activity is more about the question than the tech tool.  Here are just a few of the ideas she shared:

Find your match– Generate QR Codes to play any matching game.  This could also be used for facts that are one-liners. Ex: Which part of the story is where the problem started?  Cut the QR codes in half, with the answer on one side and the question on the other.  When students find their match, they can scan the QR Code to see if they were right.  A prompt will appear if they are correct.  The great part, the QR Code says simple statements like, “Awesome” or “Good job!”  Making the QR Codes reusable for other activities.  Even better, Reimers created a template for this.  You could use this activity for almost anything.

Ideas for the little guys–  Learning to read?  Want those wiggly bodies to get up and move?  Reimer has a number of ideas here to use QR Codes in the K-2 classroom.  My favorite was a mix and match with a numeral on top and the word match on the bottom.  When you scan the QR Code, you get a picture that shows that number in real life use (eight cookies, twelve eggs, 5 basketball players).

Mapping-  Geography comes alive when you add QR Codes.  My World Cultures classes studied Africa through QR Codes.  Credit given to Carole Pattison for creating these.  I took blue tape and made a huge shape of Africa on the floor.  In each region the students needed to study, a QR Code was taped to the floor under clear packing tape.  Students were encouraged to discover Africa through these codes.  Some were videos, some were interactive websites, and some were news stories of current events.  Students took notes and made a S’more on the political, economic, geographic, or social aspects they found.

The BEST part-There’s an add-on for QR Codes.  If you are part of the Google world, Google Sheets has a great add-on, called Generating QR Codes.  What once took eons to create a bulk of QR Codes, now takes minutes.  Follow the directions listed here:

Steps to Create Multiple QR Codes
After installing the Add-On, QR Code Generator, to your Google Sheets. Follow steps 1-6. 
1. Go to your Google Drive
2. Create a Spreadsheet and LABEL it
3. Type your words in one column
4. From the menu, Add-Ons, select QR Code Generator and click on start (remember you needed to have added (get add-ons) 
5. Highlight your column
6. Choose your options
    Size
    Save as Document
    Include value (label each of your codes)
    Draw border (lines to help you cut out the codes)
    Save as a png (creates a folder with individual codes in case you want to make an    
    activity sheet)
For more marvelous resources, visit Reimers website for tons of ideas!
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Maker Space

Quick Tips for Attending #TCEA2016

 

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  TCEA is here!  Before you go, here are a few tips to help you be prepared.

 

Take a backpack, not a purse– No fashion bags or briefcases here.  You are carrying lots of equipment while walking at least 10,000 steps. (Wear your fitbit!)

 

Bring comfort– water bottle, snacks, jacket, tennis shoes, and ibuprofen. You will be walking a lot, this is not a fashion show.  Leave the dress clothes to the presenters.

 

Cash & extra cash– cash is faster.  Extra cash for parking.

 

Charge, charge, baby– not only should you bring a fully charged device, but bring an extra portable charger for your cell phone.  Don’t forget your power cord.  It is hard to find an empty outlet at times, arrive to a session early and find the seat near the outlet- it’s a prized position.

 

Bring Google with you– Notes for Google Drive is a great extension to have loaded for this week.  The notes stay on your browser bar, to be accessed whenever needed. Note Anywhere is another great extension that allows you to add sticky notes to the website, not the desktop.  

Download the apps– the TCEA app and the Cap Metro app are handy to have.

 

Business cards for networking.

 

Hotspot– If your phone plan comes with this feature, figure it out before you come.  The wifi is often overwhelmed.
Join in the Twitter fun at #TCEA2016.  Share your learning and find networking events.

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