Our quick response code investigators looked into educational approaches to the barcodes.
While the humble QR code has become rather mainstream when it comes to print ads, there is an entirely different strategy being employed to use these barcodes for educational purposes.
Schools and marketers alike are finding that people are highly engaged when they can learn from a scan.
As was discussed in last week’s issue of QR Code Detective, mobile device users are always asking themselves “what’s in it for me?” when they are presented with a barcode. If they aren’t given any reason to take out their smartphones and read the quick response code, then they simply won’t. As many marketers and educational institutions are discovering, learning can be one of the most effective ways to encourage action.
Have a look at the following three successful uses of a QR code for educational purposes.
Although the following three quick response codes were all developed for completely different reasons, they all have one thing in common, which is that when they are scanned, they educate the mobile device user in a way that could be relevant and beneficial to him or her. This can be very important to spreading awareness, communicating a message, and even demonstrating a product in a way that consumers find useful and engaging.
Consider the following educational QR codes:
Los Angeles Department of Transportation: the department has opened four new free bike repair stations around the city, where there are QR barcodes displayed to teach riders how to fix a range of different problems that are common for bicycles. Though not tremendously original, it is a clever use of the codes which are easy to scan, highly useful, takes advantage of the power of video media, and are easy to share over social media. This is a great example of a well executed educational strategy.
Rivers Road High School: The school used barcodes and the local newspaper to show students who attended the prom the pictures that were taken there and instruct them regarding the ways in which they can buy copies of those photos. The barcodes were easy to scan and were aimed at the age demographic that is most likely to actually use them, while still giving the students the opportunity to show their friends and families. However, scanning does not lead the smartphone user to a mobile optimized website, and as full sized images were not available, it was challenging to view on the small device screens.
Sangster Elementary: As QR Code Press reported earlier this week, this school gave fifth graders the opportunity to create video presentations to teach kindergarteners about gardening. The videos could be accessed directly through a scan. This taught, science, technology, engineering, math, and gardening all in one combined lesson. The school also took the security precaution to use a closed system so that only the involved students and teachers could view the results of the barcode scan. The QR codes were easy enough for kindergarteners to scan, they allowed the students to share with their peers for comments, they utilized text, images, and video media, and provided a unique way to learn through teaching.
The use of an educational QR code opens a wide door for not only teaching smartphone users about a topic, but also encouraging better interaction with a brand, and engagement with a message.
