QR Code Mini Scavenger Hunt

Today I had all three of my Algebra classes use ipads to do a QR Code mini scavenger hunt.  (QR code stands for Quick Response Code.)  It was great!

I used the website  http://www.classtools.net/QR/ to create a scavenger hunt.  I entered the data into a text box and the website created the directions and QR codes for me.  It was so easy!

Here is the one that I created after we studied many topics (but not all) relating to linear functions:

http://www.classtools.net/QR/qr_generator.php?fold=47&fname=ShgPe&diff=0

I had been talking about QR codes with them for a while, but hadn't given too much information on them.  So I began each class by showing this video:

How to Use QR Codes - cnet

Then I explained that the QR codes that I created for today's class were actually not web-based but in fact they were math questions encoded in the QR code itself.  This means that no internet access was used to view the questions stored in the QR code.

Since this was my first attempt to use QR codes with my students, I wanted to start slowly.  So instead of posting the QR codes that we were going to use around the school building, I put two on each table group in the classroom.  Students used an app called Scan, which is free.  There are many more apps that also work equally well.

I should also mention that my students do not have their own devices for school use.  Students used school provided iPads from an iPad cart.  They still had to find a place to solve the problems either on paper or in another app.  Students who used another app, like a drawing program, were able to take a screen shot of each problem that they scanned and open the problem in that app. They would then solve the problem.  (I found this to be a minor challenge for me as the teacher because I didn't want any pictures stored in the iPads when my other classes were going to do the same activity. If only they had their own devices!) Other students used pencil and paper.

I projected the answers towards the end of class and students corrected their own answers.  The entire time I was able to walk around and answer questions, and give my students some individual attention.  Overall I think it was a success, and I plan on doing even more with QR codes in the future.