Creating Task Cards Using QR Codes

Hey y'all!

Who is ready for this week's #TechTipsTuesday?

This week's tip is one requested by you guys.

I am excited to show you how to create your own task cards using QR Codes. These task cards have the ability to shift the responsibility of learning from your shoulders to your students.  Using QR Codes allows students to check their own work and encourages them to find and learn from their mistakes.

Let's get started.

First, you will need to decide what concept/topic you want to use for your task cards and start creating those task cards using PowerPoint.

If you don't know how to create task cards in PowerPoint, let me know.  I'll do a #TechTipsTuesday about that soon.

Now it's time for the fun part.  Creating and inserting those QR Codes.

I'm going to create a code for Card 1.  The purpose of the QR Code on task cards is to reveal the answer to students so they can check their work without needing you.  This frees you up to work with small groups or even individual students.

You may be thinking to yourself...

Can't they just scan the code and have the answer without doing any work?

Yes.  

They can.

This is why it is crucial to discuss the importance of doing the work and learning from their mistakes.  Build a sense of ownership within your students.

Because the purpose is to reveal the answer the first step in creating the code for Card 1 is to know the answer for that card.

In this case the answer is 34.54 feet.

Now that we have the answer we are going to open up a web browser and search for qr code generator.

I like to use that first option that appears in the search.  There might be one out there that is infinitely better, but that first one is free and easy to use so I'll take it.

After you've clicked on that first option you will see that there are several different ways you can use QR Codes.  They can send your students to a website, to a image, or play a song.  

The uses are endless.

For our task cards we want the QR Code to lead to text.  

Choose text and then type the answer into the blank box.

Once you have entered your text (the answer) click the green bar that says "CREATE QR CODE".

The QR Code on the right will darken up and appear black.

Below the QR Code you can customize it if you prefer a different look.  You can add a frame that says "Scan Me" or change the color if you are printing using a colored printer.  

I prefer to leave it as it is for my task cards.  

After you customize it to your liking click the green bar below it that says "DOWNLOAD JPG".

A pop up box will immediately appear saying it will download soon.  You can exit out of that at any time.

You are finished creating your QR Code.  Now it's time to insert it into your task card.

Remember we downloaded it as a JPEG.

Go back to your task cards and INSERT PICTURE

Your QR Code will be in your downloads folder.

Just choose your code and then select open.

It will be inserted into your PowerPoint and will be bigger than you need.

Your last step is to make it smaller and then drag it to the correct card.

That's all there is too it.

Now if you are still a little unsure of some steps or want a few more tips, you might want to check out this video I created showing you step by step.  I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to see it being done.

Want to try out some task cards before creating your own?

Check out these that I've already created for you.

Check out this blog post to see other ways you can use QR Codes in your classroom.

If you have any questions about QR Codes leave me a comment and I'll get back to you soon.

Five Ways to Use QR Codes in the Classroom

I used to think elementary when I heard someone talking about math stations.  Four or five years ago a mentor of mine taught me that math stations are not only doable in middle school, but middle school students still love them.  

And y'all I haven't looked back since.

I love me some stations.

What does this have to do with  QR Codes?

When I first began implementing stations I was on the hunt for activities that students could work on without me holding their hand.  QR Codes was one of those activities.

By adding QR Codes to my task cards students are able to check their answers on their own.

No more, "Mrs. Weaver, is this the right answer for #2?"

QR Codes have freed me up to work with small groups.

I have found that this type of activity also encourages students to take ownership of their learning.  Could they just scan the code and have the answer?  Absolutely.  But what do they learn from that?  This is the type of conversation we have often when we first start doing task cards with QR Codes.  Students are encouraged to do the work before scanning and then if they make a mistake and come up with an incorrect answer they are encouraged to figure out their mistake on their own.

I love seeing the growth in my students over the year using these task cards.

Quiz and Test can be scary words for students.  If I can assess my students without using those two words or without making it feel like an assessment?  Well I'm here for that.

Plickers is a great formative assessment tool.  When I first started using Plickers a few years ago it was free.  Sadly you now have to pay for the full version.

But don't let that deter you.

You can ask up to five questions at a time using the free version.  This still works perfectly as a warm up or an exit ticket type activity.  

If you have never used plickers, here's a quick run down of how it works.

Students each have an unique qr code that they use to answer multiple choice questions.  You use your device to scan the qr codes to record answers.  It's immediate feedback for everyone.  You can read more about them in this post I wrote a few years ago.

Classroom Documentation...there's a fun topic.

You can use QR Codes to help you with documentation.  I love this idea from Preppy Zesty Teacherista.

Have students scan a QR code to document no homework, or leaving the classroom for the bathroom or nurse, or being tardy.  The options are endless.

Want to get students excited about a free pencil or a fun little eraser?  And I'm talking Middle School students.

Amp up the anticipation of rewards with QR Codes.  

Students love the anticipation of not knowing what little reward they will receive.  I find it fun to watch them act like they know or remember each QR code.  Most of these rewards cost me nothing and students seriously love it.  It's a game of chance.

Last but not least, use QR Codes to help your students study and prepare for an upcoming assessment.  When you make that study guide, add a QR code to it that links students to a helpful youtube video.  

You could even have your students find the videos for you.  

When they get home and need a little extra help on that one problem, they can scan the QR code and watch a video that explains how to solve the problem.

Do you use QR Codes in your classroom?

How do you use them?

HOW TO CREATE A QR CODE

The One with Rewards

There are still a few things left on my to do list from this summer.  

Yes  I said summer.

I fall into this trap every year.  As the beginning of school approaches things get shoved to the bottom of my priority list and never seem to come to fruition before the first day of school.  

And then they never come to be.

One of those things this year was some sort of reward system for homework.  I wanted to change the way I do homework with my sixth graders.  I had them last year as 5th graders and their homework habits... well they weren't the best.

I did make an immediate change.

Instead of sporadic homework here and there, I decided to do weekly homework.  They have quickly learned the system and there have been very few occasions this year where someone doesn't have their homework.  Every Monday they receive their weekly homework.  

It looks something like this without the answers of course.  :)

It is due on Friday.  If they happen to finish before the end of the week they can turn it in early.

Every Wednesday I take the last 10-15 minutes of class and answer any questions they have about their homework.  This motivates the majority of them to at least look at it before they come to class on Wednesday.  This is some of my favorite time with them.  We have good conversation and I feel like understanding occurs during those few minutes.  

The students seem to appreciate this consistency.  There is no question about when they have math homework or when it is due.  Several parents commented during parent teacher conferences how much they like it for the same reason.

Last week's assignment was a little heavy.  

It was time to finally come up with some type of reward system.  I felt like students who completed this assignment deserved something for their effort and perseverance.  

I mentioned in my last post about my love for task cards.  A love that is almost as big is my love for QR codes.  My students love them almost as much as I do.

All that to say I created some reward cards using QR codes and they are a HIT with my students.

I have them all in a basket.  Students reach in and grab one, scan it, and then it goes back in the basket.

My students have asked every day since when they could scan again.  I actually rewarded a student today for raising her hand when the rest of the class was shouting out.  They were all very jealous and were suddenly all raising their hands.

Prizes include a new pencil, a fun eraser, a piece of candy, pick your seat for a day, free homework pass, and sit at the the teacher's desk for a day.

Simple things that don't cost me a lot of money.

I might add some other rewards as the year goes on.

If you would like to grab a copy of the QR Code Rewards, check out my TPT store.

Hope you are having a good week.

The One With QR Codes Part Two

Have you downloaded your QR Scanner App?

Did you try scanning the QR Code in my last post?

GREAT!  Let's look at how they can be used in the classroom?

1.  My first creation for using QR codes is part of my reward system.  I have created 12 QR Codes that coincide with 12 different rewards.  These rewards are things that for the most part do not cost me any money.  They are things such as eating lunch with the teacher, not wearing shoes in class, and having the night off from homework.  

I plan to print the QR codes and laminate them.  I may print more of some codes so that students have a greater chance of drawing a homework pass than they do of receiving lunch with the teacher.

After they have been laminated, students will be able to draw a QR code, scan it, and see what they have won.

I love the mystery and excitement.

For example, when students scan a code, they might be given this picture.

All done with my chevron and owl theme.

You can purchase these 12 QR Codes in my TPT store.  

2.  Create a QR Code that links to Plain Text.  You can include your email address, website, school phone number, or whatever contact information you would like parents to have.  They can scan the QR code at Open House.

3. Use QR Codes as a way for students to self check their work.  Students work out the problem and then scan a QR Code for the answer.

4. Do you have a blog or class website where you post homework?  Create a QR Code that will take students directly to that site.  Tape the code in their binder/notebook.  It will always be there if they forget the assignment or get stuck on a problem.

5. Create a QR Code that coincides with a YouTube video.  It's a great way for students to review a concept or learn a catchy song about the concept.

6. Create a scavenger hunt with QR codes around the classroom.  This would be a great way to introduce yourself at the beginning of the year.

7. Instead of a typical worksheet with questions, use QR codes.  Students match or write in the answer with the correct QR Code.

8. I LOVE the idea this blogger had.  She has students ordering fractions that are on bottle caps.  Once they have them ordered, they scan the QR Codes that are on the inside of the cap.  The code tells them where in line that cap should be located.

9. Attach a QR Code to field trip details.  Students simply scan the code and have all the information they need.

10. Link a QR Code with a song that will enhance a concept for students.

The One With QR Codes Part One

I have been fascinated with QR Codes for the past several months.  They have been popping up on Pinterest occasionally and have peaked my interest.

I love bringing technology into the classroom.  Students really enjoy it.  I really enjoy it.

If you are like I was in the beginning, you may not be sure about QR codes.

What are they?

How can they be used in the classroom?

Those were the two questions I had.

I'm sure you have seen QR codes.  They seem to be everywhere these days.

Here is an example.

Have you seen these around?

The basic idea is that you scan this code with your phone and information that has been assigned to the code is revealed.

In order to scan it you will need a smart phone, ipad, or something with a camera.

There are several apps out there to read QR Codes.

This is the one I use.

Once that is downloaded, you can scan QR codes.  If you scan the one above, it will take you directly to my TPT store.  Go ahead.  Try it!

Now what about creating the QR code?  There are several websites you can use.  

The one I have been using is http://wwwqrstuff.com

It is super easy!  You can create QR Codes for websites, Plain Text, YouTube Videos, and so much more.

The options for using them in the classroom seems to be endless.  I will share some of the uses in Part Two.