i-nigma

I love QR (Quick Response) codes. They can be used in great ways to get children to web sites quickly and easily which helps keep them engaged rather then having to remind them how to spell the /oo/ sound in Google.What is a QR code some of you may say. It's basically a 2D bar code that can be linked to web addresses. It can also be linked to text, emails and even phone numbers if you want.There are a host of apps that can zap QR codes that are either cheap or free. I-nigma is one I heard good reviews about a year ago and since then even the lower ability children in my class can use it independently. They don't need to tap anything once the app is open just point it in the vague direction of the QR code and a "bing" will signify that the code has been zapped.So you have the app to read them but how do you generate them? I've used www.qrstuff.com which creates the QR code in any colour you desire and of course it's free.I've used QR codes in many different lessons inside and outside. They are great for researching activities where you'd like the children to watch suitable videos online that you have already found and checked.I've also used them in a airport Role Play area where the QR codes were on different boarding passes and once scanned took the children to the location on Google Maps. From there they compared the country on the iPad to an actual REAL world map and used an rescaled metre stick to measure how many miles they they needed to fly. They also chose the type of aircraft that would be best for their journey. As you can imagine the children enjoyed acting check-in staff and didn't realise, until I pointed out to them, the range of skills they were using.

We used QR codes outside too (our wi-if just reached). The QR could sent children to different google maps that showed a continent. The children then labelled their own paper maps by comparing their map to the image on the iPad. Great as well as the current UK curriculum requires children to use aerial photos as well as maps.