Are QR Codes (semacode) the future for mobile learning?

I've been reading around the topic of using QR codes (semacode) in education. This has been driven by a colleague who is undertaking a research topic on making it simpler for us to create and distribute QR Codes. So the question for me is, what role have they within teaching and learning? and How close are we to being able to deploy this technology on a large scale (from the students perspective)?

Before I tackle these two questions, it might be worth adding some context. A QR code is basically a barcode which can be read on a mobile device (using the appropriate software). This code contains a large amount of information and includes actions, i.e., open this url in your browser, phone this person, tect this number, or display this text. The example below took 20 seconds to create and if you have the appropriate software on your phone then you can read it, and it will link to the location aware area on this blog.

So background over, how might this be used in education? My first observation is that there appears to be very little literature on the topic. Secondly, the advantage of using a QR code as opposed to a url or phone number etc., for the mobile learning is that it uses significantly less space to transfer lots of information (either read on screen or download as pdfs, word documents) and it also significantly reduces the likelihood of human error when inputing long urls. Given this then the issue is more about what type of information or task can be facilitated using QR codes. The following scenarios outline a few;

• Student Bob stumbles towards his 9.00 o'clock lecture. He's very happy as he's made it a few minutes early. The lecturer is setting up, on his title powerpoint slide is the session title and the supporting QR code. This QR code links to the supporting handouts for this session. Student Bob, takes out his mobile device, hocks into the available wireless network and reads the QR code. The supporting material is downloaded to his device in preparation for the lecture.

• Student Sarah has been set a learning activity which is based around completing a number of tasks, including some web based reading, completing a few runs in an online simulator and then given the outputs from the simulation then participating in a discussion board activity. These all include linking to complex urls. In the past she has had to find a computer, log-in to the instructions area on her VLE course and work through the activities. However, her lecture has made the instructions and urls available not only in the VLE course, but also as a set of QR codes. So Student Sarah, now accesses and prints the instructions page from the VLE, then boards her train, takes out her phone and starts the work on the trip back to her parents.

• Student Gilly is reading her student "subject" society notice board on campus. Her attention is caught by a poster announcing that there are a number of debates which are being made available as podcasts from another institution, be eminent academics, on an area that she is really interested in. The poster, includes the podcast subscription address, which is also made available as a QR code. Student Gilly, takes out her phone, reads the QR code, then copies the podcast feed address into the podcatcher software on her phone. After subscribing, she walks away. Later in the day, she finds herself in a local cafe, which provides a free wireless network. Out comes her phone, she checks the podcast feed and downloads the most recent audio podcast. She then settles back, on with the headphones, clicks play and drinks her coffee.

You might agree with me that these scenarios are very appealing for the mobile learning. There are numerous other potential uses. For a recent article in Japan discussed how they'd been used in teaching sessions to provide formative feedback. This was similar to current uses of response systems. However, the use if the QR code did give the additional option of linking to a discussion board so that students could read and comment on other students comments.

So the final question is, how close are we for this technology to be available? Well, the short answer is, not close. The longer answer implies that there is a chance of rapid change which might start to make this more viable in the medium term. Studies in Japan are suggesting that a very small number of current students actually have the required phone technology. So, given Japan is significantly ahead of the rest of the world in QR technologies then in the UK the proportion of students would be even less. However, the availability of readers is going to increase as it is being shipped free with new Nokia's and there are free downloads for Mobile 6 devices etc., Interms of the creation side, then this is very very simple. So looking at both sides of the equation it looks like QR codes might have some potential in the medium term. Therefore, in preparation we should start evaluating them now.

What are other peoples thoughts?