From Call Me Maybe to Read Me Maybe

I came across this amazing library bulletin board on Google Images and decided to create it in my school . Using our new arrival books, I created some QR codes and attached them to the bulletin board and to the book themselves. Students can now scan the QR codes using their Smartphone to view the book trailer's on Youtube. 

The best thing about this bulletin board is hearing all the kids sing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen as they walk by.

A big thank to Holly Frilot for the idea! 

QR Codes are “Highly Versatile”

My Fur Babies

Blog hopping helped me quickly discover QR Codes and now I have been seeing them everywhere – even on bananas. My last QR Code post was about ways teachers are using them in schools and classrooms to engage students. To further explore the possibilities of QR Codes I ordered the book QR Codes for Dummies byJoe Waters. My favourite part of this book was discovering how versatile QR Codes are. Joe Waters mentions how they can even help you find your lost pet. I know my blog is supposed to be about my experiences as a teacher-librarian but I thought this was just worth mentioning (my dogs are my babies). I almost lost my dog last summer and it was the most scariest experience of my life. It’s unbelievable how many pets get lost per year and the small percentage that actually find their way back home. QR codes may actually help solve this problem.  Now QR Codes can be added to your fur baby’s collar that links to a free online pet profile webpage onPetHub.com. Check out the video to see how it works. The coolest thing about this is that if someone scans your pet’s QR Code, you will receive an email notification that can potentially track the scanner’s location using the GSP in their smartphone. Whoever came up with this is an absolute genius!

QR Codes are Everywhere

Clever Cupcakes

It’s so fascinating to go blog hopping to see all the ways that educators are using Quick Response codes (aka QR Codes) to support and promote learning. Since I have found so many great ways to use QR codes in schools, I thought it would be great to highlight 10 genius examples.

1. Accessing the Library Catalogue – At Grayslake campus library all you need is your smart phone and QR code reader to access the library catalog in the book stacks. College of Lake County

2. Book Reviews – Bacon lover, Chris Hyde, has his students create book reviews onto a blog which are then turned into QR codes and placed onto books in the school library. Bacon Bytes Blog

3. Links to Book Trailers – Check-out the books on display at NHS High School Library. Just scan the QR code to access book trailers via YouTube. NHS HIgh School Library

4. Scavenger Hunts – The Daring Librarian, Gwyneth Jones, created and shares a QR code scavenger hunt that can be used in the school library for ESOL students, special education classes, library orientation, and for just about any other subject. The Daring Librarian

5. Meet and Greet Tours – During Mrs. White’s meet the teacher night she created a self guided tour of her classroom for her parents and students. Mrs. White’s 5th Grade Class

6. Parent Communication – Heather Kaldis shares how QR codes can be used during Open House to establish teacher-parent communication. Pencils, Paper and Pixie Dust

7. Showcasing Students’ Work – The Nerdy Teacher, Nicholas Provenzano, shares his students’ work with a display case and QR Codes for all to see. The Nerdy Teacher

8. Interactive Bulletin Boards – Richard Byrne engages viewers into the “digital world” by using “QR codes, a puzzle, and an iPad.” Free Technology for Teachers

9. Test Reviews – Kudos to Mrs. White and her wonderful ideas on how to use QR codes effectively in the classroom. Her Grade 5 class reviews math skills using iPads and QR code created worksheets. Mrs. White’s 5th Grade Class

10. Math and Literacy Stations – Mrs. Wideen’s Grade 1 students use QR codes for addition, substation, word problems, reading and writing every week during math and literacy stations. Mrs. Wideen’s Grade 1 Blog

Happy Scanning!