Thinking Outside-the-Box With QR Codes

by Noah Geisel

I was introduced to QR Codes by Kevin Gaugler's presentation at the 2009 ACTFL convention, when he showed off the Robert Downey Jr. cover of Esquire magazine that employed QR Codes. Simply put, I was wowed. Since then, I've seen a dramatic rise in the use of QR Codes in magazines, on busses and in classrooms but often find the application of the tool to be uninspiring. Marketers (and we educators are in the business of marketing knowledge and skills) employing QR Codes are limited only by their creativity in the uses of this tool and I, for one, would like to see people thinking more outside-the-box.

For example, I recently attended an exhibit at the Denver Art Museum and saw that in addition to descriptions of the art and artists on the placards of each piece in the show, there were QR Codes. Excited for a socially appropriate opportunity to break out my smart phone at the museum, I scanned the code and voila: the same information that was on the placard now appeared on my phone's screen, only many times smaller. Value added: zero.

Last week, I went to what was billed as a QR Code art show. More than 20 QR Codes had been enlarged and hung on the walls. When scanned, the codes linked to a cell phone screen-sized picture of each artist's work. Somewhat snazzy, but again there was no value added. Personally, I'd rather see the full-sized works.

An example of an inspired, outside-the-box approach to using QR Codes is in the photography show of Denver math teacher and travel photographer Paul Knickerbocker. Each picture in his show is named after the town and country where it was taken. Additionally, each picture's placard features a QR Code that, when scanned, links to a Google Map that Mr. Knickerbocker created on which the pictures have been geo tagged and annotated with brief descriptions of the shots. This is a use that adds value! It allows people to learn more about each picture and have multiple ways to connect with them. It opens the door to art patrons conversing with the artist without his having to be at the gallery every day. The QR Codes are used in order to bring something new to the table, not just recycle the same content to a mobile device.

As we seek out ways to engage our 21st Century learners, QR Codes are an attractive option. The challenge is not to find opportunities to integrate them but to do so in ways that, like Mr. Knickerbocker's travel photography show, enhance content and users' experiences. Failure to think outside-the-box can lead to presenting the same information on a smaller screen and that is a tough sell for the learners in our target market.

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**Cybraryman's resource page is a great starting place for educators to explore ways to utilize QR Codes in the classroom**

Report on Minorities and Mobile Internet Access

An article worth reading over at Ars Technica concerning the recent Pew survey on race and mobile Internet devices.

And this report has to be good news for those hoping to put a more positive spin on the nation's progress in providing broadband for all Americans.

The Pew report notes big shifts in the way minorities are accessing the Internet. And it's got everything to do with handheld devices. I'll let you read how Ars breaks it down.

Soon, I'd like to see a report detailing usage by region. If there was one thing I noticed on my recent road trip through the American South was the use of Wi-Fi availability in rural areas as a marketing tool for everything from motels to restaurants to campsites.

[Addendum 8:50PM EST -- A commenter here recently remarked that the sorts of broad coverage platforms needed for mass access are often prohibitively expensive and somewhat limited in what they can offer. I'd love to hear from someone working in the wireless field or in mobile Internet: what does the future hold? In a 'perfect world' scenario, what would make the best sense? And what are the immediate obstacles?]

Are we getting closer to Internet access ubiquity? Are handhelds the key to ubiquity?

And if they are, then what does it mean when schools have policies banning cellphones and mobile devices?

The full report is available here from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.