Students at a Niagara Falls school have made their work available to read simply by way of a scan using a smartphone.
The students in a Niagara Falls classroom are not only writing the traditional form of book report, but they are also making their work and their reviews available to anyone with a smartphone, by issuing QR codes to be scanned in order to view them.
This is another example of technology making its way into the classroom to broaden the interest of students.
In this instance, it is the students in the reading class of literacy coach, Anne Mardon, from LaSalle Preparatory School. Another teacher at the school inspired Mardon, who applied some of her computer knowledge and skill to help a group of fourteen students to be able to file their book reviews on the internet so that they can be read by anyone who is interested in reading reports on authors such as Walter Myers or Langston Hughes.
Through the use of a smartphone with a free reader app and the QR codes assigned to the reports, they can instantly be viewed.
The use of QR codes is becoming increasingly common on product packages and magazine ads, for instance, but they are also starting to show up for a number of uses in the classroom. These barcodes are becoming a central part of mobile marketing and smartphone shopping. The black and white squares are becoming extremely familiar to smartphone owners, who are representing a continually growing proportion of the population.
Now, teachers and other educators are discovering the benefits of QR codes in the classroom. Physical education teachers are creating videos to provide workout instructions so that lessons can be provided to many small groups at the same time, instead of to one large classroom. History teachers are bringing subjects to life by working digital content into their more traditional lessons.
Now, parents and other members of the community can share in the work of the students in their areas. According to Mardon, “Parents can go up to the bulletin board with a smartphone or tablet, and they can scan the code which will take them right to the reports.” She also explained what happens once the reports list has been accessed by the scan of the QR codes, as it is not merely a typed document. “When they click on them, they can hear the students voices. We had it set up for the district elections (in May) so they could come in, vote and hear the reports if they wanted.”
