Ms. Chang's Class Website

WHAT ARE QR CODES?

Origination

QR Codes are 2-Dimensional bar codes that were first introduced in 1994 in Japan by the Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave, for the auto industry to track vehicles during the manufacturing process.

These codes made their way to the United States and were first noticed around 2009. They have increased in popularity as the use of mobile devices has increased. Applications of these codes have been seen in print advertising, marketing, business, and now in education. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code

How do these codes work behind the scenes?

Components of a QR Code

Special Areas on the codes:

Flow of info on a QR Code

The diagram illustrates the placement of the message characters within a QR code. Starting from the lower-right corner, the first four bits define the encoding used (in this case, 8 bits per character). Next is the length of the message (17; dark stands for 1, but the masking process used in this symbol inverts alternate rows). Following that is the message itself, then the end-of-message marker, and finally the error-correcting codes.
(http://hitechanalogy.com/qr-codes-efficient-encoding-data/)

How much data can they hold?

(Geek-speak: Data capacity depends on the datatype (mode or input character set), version (from 1 to 40), and error correction level.)

Maximum data for a version 40 / Low-level error correction is:

• Numeric – max 7,089 characters
• Alphanumeric – max 4,296 characters
• Binary – 2,953 characters

Built-in error correction

(Geek-speak: Codewords are 8-bits long and use the Reed-Solomon error correction algorithm.)

There are four correction levels:

• Level L (Low) – 7% of codewords can be restored
• Level M (Medium) – 15% of codewords can be restored
• Level Q (Quartile) – 25% of codewords can be restored
• Level H (High) – 30% of codewords can be restored

The higher the error correction, the lower the storage capacity.  This error correction is what allows us to customize creative QR codes with logos and designs, yet still retain their readability.

How do you scan them?

There are three ways to scan QR codes:

• Smart phone reader – download a FREE or pay-for app for your mobile device
• Traditional phone – Take a picture of the QR code with your phone’s camera and email to http://snapmyinfo.com.  They will decode it and send you back a message with the code information.
• Desktop computer with webcam – install software and use webcam to scan

QR CODE CREATION PROCESS

Simple Code Creation

QR Code Generator: http://keremerkan.net/qr-code-and-2d-code-generator/

When the website opens, you will see this page…scroll down to see the Code Generator form.

This QR code generator site gives you many options for the code actions you can choose from – browse to a website, send a text message, vCard and so much more.

Step 1: Choose an action

Step 2: Code Type field – leave on QR Code

Step 3: Your next field choices will depend on the Action you choose in Step 1. If your action is ‘Browse to a Website’ then your field choice will say ‘Web Site URL’. If your action is ‘Create a vCard’, for example, your field choices expand to hold more information. (see example below)

Step 4: If your Action choice was ‘Browse to a Website’, your next choice will be to opt in for a URL shortener.

Some web addresses are quite lengthy. Remember that the more data you put into a QR code the denser the code blocks become and the longer it takes for code readers to process the URL information. By using a URL shortener like goo.gl or bit.ly, you have less data to put into the code, which means a faster processing time for the readers.

Step 5: The next field controls the Error Correction Level that we talked about earlier – Low, Medium and so forth.

If you plan on customizing your code in such a way that a lot of data may be removed, you need to choose a High level of error correction to compensate for the loss in datadue to customization. But remember, this limits the amount of data capacity you have to work with.

Example customizations:

http://goo.gl/aZU8v – link to a tool to create customized codes without Photoshop skills.

Step 6: The Block Size field adjusts the overall size of the code. The larger the code, the easier to read from a distance.

Step 7: The Output Type allows you to choose from different file types for your new code.

Step 8: Use the color picker to choose a foreground and background – selecting with or without transparency OR enter the hexadecimal color code directly.

Step 9:  Choose ‘Generate’ to create code. You can then right-click and copy the code for use in a graphic software program for customization or to include in whatever project you desire.

Generating a reliable code

Click image for Best QR Code Design Practices video

Customizing Using Photoshop

Click image to view Custom Code Designs in Photoshop video

PROJECT IDEAS

Education

• CTE classroom – QR codes on equipment leading to videos explaining how to operate
• FCS leader – Code on “egg” babies with video instructions on care / rules
• Math – books with codes that show teacher going through steps to work out problems
• Science – codes to lab procedures and rules; codes on skeleton leading to information on body parts
• English – codes to research paper references
• Social Studies – historical tours, student PBLs (research historical landmarks, write about them and get permission to post the QR codes about the information)
• Campus – scavenger hunts, campus tours, Open House activity, Staff introductions, Program area introductions
• Correspondence – code to your classroom website, code to “department happenings” in your school’s Parent Newsletter
• GPS tours/hunts (geocaching) – use GPS tracking to find a QR code, have students answer a review question and if they answer correctly they get the GPS coordinates to the next QR code and review question. They could carry a mobile device/mp3 player with podcasts they created to help them answer the questions.
• Book reviews – codes with information about the authors, stories
• CTSO’s – service project: “Adopt a Class” -  have a book collection for an elementary school class. Have each student record themselves reading their book in a podcast. Create a QR code to their podcast and place code inside the book. Give the books to the class as gifts.
• PE – Have students create videos demonstrating exercises, various sports, specific athletic skills….then create QR codes for students to scan for review and practice.

Business & Marketing

• Flyers, posters
• Invitations, Ads, TV ads
• Product details
• Contact information – business cards (also – put QR code on the back to portfolio)
• Special offers
• Advertise Events
• Competitions
• Coupons
• Twitter, FB, LinkedIn
• YouTube videos – corporate and personal
• Portfolios

Some creative business/personal ideas being used

• Codes on wine bottlenecks that take the user to information or recipe websites based on their location as indicated by geolocation in their phones.
• Codes on grave markers – this has been big in Japan and now in Israel. There is a Seattle monument maker who will add a QR code to your order for $65.00
• In Seoul, Korea subway stations – There are virtual grocery stores where commuters can scan codes from shelves with photos of groceries and then have the groceries delivered to their homes!!

WHERE ARE WE HEADING IN THE FUTURE?

http://www.statesman.com/life/how-qr-codes-work-1647201.html

According to this article dated July 25, 2011, Near Field Communication technology is on the rise. This gives you the ability to transmit or receive information when you wave a phone near a sticker or sign that can speak to the phone. The author says that QR codes will have a 2-3 year life cycle once this technology takes hold, but they will always be around while URLs are around.

Basically, you purchase these RFID tags (stickers) and program them with the data you want. They are reusable and do not need to be regenerated every time you make a change in the information.

More info: http://www.nearfieldcommunication.org/

QR Codes vs. NFC Tags: http://www.nearfieldcommunication.org/qr-codes.html

Click image to watch NFC video

OPEN DISCUSSION - #NACTEqrcodes2012

What ideas do you have?

RESOURCES

Links to more QR code resources

• http://goo.gl/aZU8v – link to a tool to create customized codes without Photoshop
• http://mashable.com/2011/07/23/creative-qr-codes/#209079-PacMan
• http://tinyurl.com/ykprc9a-what is a QR code & why do you need one
• http://goo.gl- URL shortener tool
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6sAofRTbaE&NR=1-designer codes video
• goo.gl/5GUA1- 50 Uses for QR Codes in Education
• www.livebinders.com – do a search for public QR Code in Education ‘binders’ of information
• How to customize a QR code: http://www.howtogeek.com/?post_type=post&p=96226
• http://www.qrstuff.com – will make colored QR codes
• http://www.tagmydoc.com
• http://www.good.is/post/four-ways-qr-codes-could-revolutionize-education/
• http://tinyurl.com/7hqeshk – QR codes for wikipedia in all languages
• This information in an ePub: http://swcta.net/changcl/files/2011/08/QR-Codes-in-Education.epub