Designing, developing and testing a location aware learning activity using qr codes jan 2011

Designing, developing and testing a location aware learning activity using QR

Codes

Durham Blackboard Users ConferenceUniversity of Durham

6th January, 2011Andy Ramsden

E-Learning Development ManagerUniversity Campus Suffolk

http://andyramsden.wordpress.com

[email protected]

elltucs

andyramsden

URL

the aims

• Designing, developing and testing a location aware learning activity using QR Codes

what do we know and think?

• Who has scanned a QR Code?• Who has created a QR Code?• What do people think they are and what they can be used for?• Who has developed a learning activity which included QR Codes?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/junnibug/5156585155

An authentic activity

Activity Development Economics: Rank the countries

Purpose (why doing it)

For students to gather knowledge and the sources of information. They need to recall the relative economic rankings of various countries, and understand the basis for such rankings (comprehension). They must be able to apply these concepts and analyse the information in order to answer the question

Description (what they do)

In groups they have to answer a multiple choice question and be prepared to explain the rationale for their choice in the seminar.

In set groups, walk around the building to decode a number of QR Codes, to collect information and discussion ideas.

Resources Information sheet – including the overall question, and assistance to get a QR Code reader on a phone.

Blackboard – group management (group names and teams)

Sorting out who is what

GNP per capita 1991 ($ USA)

Growth rate of GNP per capita p.a. 1980-91

Population growth rate 1980-91

Structures of total employment 1980-85 (percentages)

Agriculture Industry Services

A

B

S.Africa. 2560 0,7% 2,5% 17 36 36

C1) A is South Korea; B is Kenya; C is Canada2) A is Sri Lanka; B is Germany; C is Thailand3) A is Sri Lanka; B is Thailand; C is Sweden4) A is Namibia; B is Portugal; C is Botswana

Look at the following table and indicate which countries' statistics are being reported in rows A, B and C.

Info Sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CPp5bSuJ7uw9ki5ptahYT6RW38fl_MT7yhJeZLtYbTc/edit?hl=en

Complete the Google Form: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEE3Tlp1YzAwU2lEeHhOT0UwZTlFbVE6MQ

Feedback and Evaluation

The correct choice is Choice 3

• How did you find the activity?

• Why would I use QR Codes and physical movement as opposed to simply giving you data sets in class?

Recap: what is a QR code?

A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The "QR" is derived from "Quick Response", as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. QR Codes are common in Japan where they are currently the most popular type of two dimensional codes.

An ever increasing number of tasks can be achieved using a QR code. The core ones are,

• Link to web site• Send an sms to a phone• Transfer a phone number• Provide more texthttp://wolseyweb.ucs.ac.uk/elttcode/

A QR Code effectively and efficiently connects the physical and electronic learning spaces on your mobile phone.

URL

• QR Code Generator• A task / activity which is appropriate for a small screen device

Recap: what is involved?

• Camera phone• Good connectivity• QR Code Reader• Money

A QR Code Reader

http://www.tigtags.com/getqr

A QR Code Generator

http://wolseyweb.ucs.ac.uk/elttcode

Recap: are students aware of QR Codes?

• Do you know what a QR Code is?– Yes: 39.8% (increase from 13.8% in 2008)

• Have you accessed a QR Code?– Yes: 9.6% (increased from 2.2% in 2008)

• students are becoming more aware of QR Codes

• more students have experienced scanning a QR Code on their device

• they find the use of QR Codes to access information very appealing compared to manual entry of information on their phone

N=2765

Ramsden (2010) - The level of student engagement with QR Codes: Findings from a cross institutional survey - http://opus.bath.ac.uk/19974/

Designing your activity

In pairs, using the design activity template and the learning sequence template start designing an authentic activity which includes the use of QR Codes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/778218478

Activity Design Templates

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WdkSZP9KRlOJv5jOw3uAZg0tmSbqP-yqnO8z6ARPcQo/edit?hl=en

What have we got?

Each group provides 2 min feedback on where they are in terms of their ideas and designs (talk through their activity design templates)

Thanks, where next …

elltucs

andyramsden

URL

Flickr Photos … with thanks

Hands in the air – Junnibug – http://www.flickr.com/photos/junnibug/5156585155

Blooming Gardenia Flower – Sean Dreiing – http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/778218478