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Using a QR code to deliver support material during a lecture.
posted Wednesday, 11 June 2008
As some of you are aware I've been experimenting with different uses of QR codes in face to face teaching.
A scenario that I've just tested is the following ... providing the presentation as a text file which the audience can download at the start. This is achieved simply by creating a QR code that links to a txt file on the web. Therefore, the person would use the QR reader on their phone, scans the image, and then open the text file in their browser.
So what is in the text file? The text file is the outline of the presentation (slide titles, bullet points) and the text from the slides comments area. This is simply created by ensuring I've added comments to each slide, then using the 'send to' word option in Powerpoint. Once opened in word I strip out the columns I don't require and convert the table to text. The I save as a text file and upload it to the web. In my case this is hosted in the University's Learning Material Filestore. I then create the QR code from the url. The QR code is then cut and pasted onto the first slide of my powerpoint.
So what might people do with it? In a sense what ever they like. For instance, they might download it and use it to give the structure for their electronic notes. Alternatively, from the accessibility perspective they might then use this with their adaptive technologies, such as screen readers, or screen magnifier.
Surely you ask, does this simply add to the staff admin burden? Well, yes and no. If you design this in when developing the powerpoint then it is very little work. It may take as little as 5 minutes.
So, what lessons did I learn from using it? Firstly, I needed to make the QR code very large on the screen if it is a large lecture theatre. However, it might be too close for people at the front. So a little user testing will be needed. But this isn't surmountable. An example is available from www.slideshare.net , search for the eatbath-present08 tag.
How did the audience find it? I've no idea, I didn't ask and I didn't see anyone using their phones. However, I do think that this does highlight a good potential use. I'd suggest that the marginal costs of producing the linked QR code is very low. I'd suggest that the benefits outway these, especially if you uploaded the txt file to your VLE.
A scenario that I've just tested is the following ... providing the presentation as a text file which the audience can download at the start. This is achieved simply by creating a QR code that links to a txt file on the web. Therefore, the person would use the QR reader on their phone, scans the image, and then open the text file in their browser.
So what is in the text file? The text file is the outline of the presentation (slide titles, bullet points) and the text from the slides comments area. This is simply created by ensuring I've added comments to each slide, then using the 'send to' word option in Powerpoint. Once opened in word I strip out the columns I don't require and convert the table to text. The I save as a text file and upload it to the web. In my case this is hosted in the University's Learning Material Filestore. I then create the QR code from the url. The QR code is then cut and pasted onto the first slide of my powerpoint.
So what might people do with it? In a sense what ever they like. For instance, they might download it and use it to give the structure for their electronic notes. Alternatively, from the accessibility perspective they might then use this with their adaptive technologies, such as screen readers, or screen magnifier.
Surely you ask, does this simply add to the staff admin burden? Well, yes and no. If you design this in when developing the powerpoint then it is very little work. It may take as little as 5 minutes.
So, what lessons did I learn from using it? Firstly, I needed to make the QR code very large on the screen if it is a large lecture theatre. However, it might be too close for people at the front. So a little user testing will be needed. But this isn't surmountable. An example is available from www.slideshare.net , search for the eatbath-present08 tag.
How did the audience find it? I've no idea, I didn't ask and I didn't see anyone using their phones. However, I do think that this does highlight a good potential use. I'd suggest that the marginal costs of producing the linked QR code is very low. I'd suggest that the benefits outway these, especially if you uploaded the txt file to your VLE.
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