QR Code Scanners and Creators

Have you seen any of those little squares of code on a magazine, newspaper, museum picture, or other?  It would look similar to the code noted below:

The code above is a link to this blog!  Wonder how to use it?  First, download a QR (Quick Response)  scanner to your mobile device (it needs to have a rear-facing camera).  Open the QR app - and hold it over the code.  You will receive a menu with options, such as opening a web page.  Wikipedia is a great starting point to learn more about QR codes - at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code

QR scanners are available for all of the popular smartphones including the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.  I am using the app, QR Scanner, on the iPhone.

So you still might be wondering about why to use QR codes.  Think about it.  With QR code, you do not need to enter the URL of a website - just point and click.  QR codes allow the creator to share messages to users. PS, I used the Kaywa website to create the QR code at  http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

I read a blog on design thinking this morning that discussed the use of QR codes in the educational setting.  In that context, students who created a projects created QR codes to provide additional information to users. 

Wow - need to think about how I can incorporate the use of creating/using QR codes in my courses.