QRazy

QR codes have been around for several years now. A few years ago I was exposed to the potential for incorporation into my classroom activities and began to search for ways to use them. This proved to be a challenge simply because there were not enough devices my students could use to read the codes. So i resorted to using them mostly when I gave presentations at workshops.  I felt very limited with my use of QR codes then because when I do a presentation I like to be able to tell people first hand all the great ways they can use something. I don't like to say you can use a tool without ever having used it in that way myself. In my current job I find myself doing that more and more. A big part of my job is and will be discovering new tools and assisting teachers with developing lessons centered around the use of that tool.  
Recently more people in our district have realized the potential of QR codes for classroom use.  Even more recently our administrators began to see the potential. Because of this more recent realization, every teacher was asked to post a QR code outside of their classroom door. They really were not given specific instructions about the content of the code, so there is a wide variety of information posted.
Most of the codes contain some kind of contact information. With parent-teacher conferences approaching at many of the sites the teachers opted to give out contact information in the code. Basic information like name, number or email.  Others provided a direct link to their class webpages.
As I roamed down the hall I noticed one teacher had several codes plastered to her window, each with a different day written under the code. Each code took the students to a form, video, or some other activity for the lesson that day. I think that teacher also had a sub that day.
Then I decided to make a stop by the restroom (I know, more than you need to know) and guess what is plastered on the wall in the restroom. There between the towel dispensers was another code reminding students to put their paper towels in the trash can.  I personally don't want them scanning QR codes in the restroom with their iPad, but someone thought it was a good idea.
Today I ran across another use for the QR codes. One of the kindergarten teachers decided to make video clips for the sight words and posted them to YouTube. She then put a QR code linked to the video next to the sight word. This is the best method I have come across as I worked my way through the schools. I have included a link to one of the videos below.