TCC 5-4 Classroom Tech Infusion: QR Codes in the Classroom

QR codes are everywhere, but did you know we can use them in class? The code at the bottom of the page is for a website with many good ideas and lots of Pinterest board links with additional helps.

One of our student entries for National History Day (NHD) had added information with URLs which were viewable when  QR codes are scanned with the iPad that was provided at the display. For those who always say “ I don't have enough technology for this,” here are some obvious options: 

Chrome Extensions

· provide the tool at the station.

· use in groups.

· with permission from administrators allow student devices.

· Invite adults/parents with devices

Another option that works when the QR Codes are stored online is Chrome extensions. The Chrome browser has this option which can be added for free at the Chrome Web Store. I use 2 different ones: right-click QR code reader and QR Code Generator. These enable you to make and add URLs to a document for students to follow using codes instead of links. You use the right-click extension to draw a square around the code and a small window appears with the URL which you click ok on. These documents can be stored in our school website file manager or in Google Drive or you can add the codes to a webpage within your teacher pages or a wiki or blog. Any page with a place to insert a picture will do.

For other options, use them to add interactivity to parent nights. You can post information in the form of codes in your room linking to student work or information that they can save to phones. Several of the generator apps will allow you to make a code with text messages so you aren’t limited to websites or online things for your displays. The project above sends viewers to videos of Washington crossing the Delaware and his speech at Newburgh.

One tip I saw at this helpful site added code to textbooks for related video tutorials. Or if you don't want to scan. Link 

As always, enjoy!

TCC 5-3 World's Colliding...in 4D

We have been sharing Symbaloo with teachers across the district this month...and  Twitter for PD use got added by a colleague, Katie Sparks Ellison (@mediasparkles), for the high school teachers...in that learning mode I tried a Twitter Chat over last weekend on Tweetdeck which  allows easier following of Twitter feeds for the same hashtag, #Symchat in this case.. The subject was Augmented Reality (AR) which is part of an art project one of our teachers is doing with  her students .using Aurasma to enhance research.. (Aurasma is on page 2 already)
During this hour long meeting (Twitter Chat) participants expanded my view of AR to include gaming, glasses/headsets used to view, and lots of apps and sites which add augmented reality to science, history, and lots of others. It was fast and short...and the others were helpful to a newcomer. My other article goes into the way I envisioned using AR previously.

And because it was a Symbaloo sponsored chat I came away with 2 AR webmixes that continue my learning. The webmix is by Bobby (Brian) Lewis and is linked here. Most of his tiles were for sites using AR for Science or Social Studies. But his first tile is someone whose blog I follow and I had just put a different post of hers on my LCHS presentation for next week on Twitter. Another tile he offered was 2 Guys and Some iPads  (@TechMinock and @Techbradwaid) whose blog led me to an alternative tool for Aurasma and Layar. It is  DAQRI 4D Studio.  Minock and Waid are

educators who have been heralding AR for use in the classroom for awhile. They were using Aurasma, but have changed tools and are recruiting teachers to join their team of advisors to Daqri...and schools to be flagship schools.  Winter Park High north of Orlando is a flagship school due to one teacher’s interest.
The blog has AR tabs including one with tutorials. I viewed one of the videos on adding 3D models as overlays instead of video. This is a feature Aurasma doesn’t have yet. It appears that they will be producing lessons for cost in the future, but the tools are free for those who want to make their own.
Our first adventure into AR will be with Jennifer Maples’ Advanced Art class at REMJHS. Her students will use their art as the trigger and will overlay a video of their process and research. We are just beginning the research, but will be sharing results when finished.
Our first adventure into Twitter for PD will be at LCHS during the day on Monday, March 9. This is will also include Symbaloo’s ability to follow an rss feed and rumor has it Twitter feeds there.
There is also an AR discussion thread,  going on at Teacher’s Engage, Intel’s community for teachers. This link may require a login. This is a site we use for our Essentials course which is beginning today. They have a classroom ready apps chart to begin with and then discuss some other ideas for lessons. Drew Minock is contributing to the discussion there.
All my work seems to be conspiring to follow the same path...I’ve learned many new things...hope you have, too.
Enjoy!