Scoping Study into the potential of QR Codes in Education

  • Funded: JISC
  • Project Timetable: October 2008 to February 2009
  • Project Lead: Andy Ramsden

1. Background

A QR code is a two dimensional bar code that can be read on a mobile device, such as a camera phone. Once the device decodes the information then it will enable an action to be undertaken. For instance, this might be accessing a web page, displaying text information or subscribing to an RSS feed. For the learner this offers significant potential as it connects the physical and electronic domains.

As a technology, the creation of, and access to, QR codes is becoming easier over time. This trend is being driven by a number of factors, including more freely available web based QR code creation services (for instance, http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ ). This is combined with more developers bundling a QR reader on their mobile devices, or providing this software as a free download (http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/index.asp ). These ongoing developments have seen the use of QR codes increase in many sectors, including Media, Marketing and Education. Within the educational sector, the University of Bath has been deploying a number of initiatives. For instance;

  • we have developed a QR code generator which automatically appends a QR code to the bottom of Moodle print outs. This will then link back to the specific url of the web page within the Moodle course. The user scenario is that the student prints the page out, works up their ideas through annotating the page (a very common activity). However, instead of then finding a computer, logging on, navigating to the page and completing the activity. They simply use their device to read the QR code to navigate to the page and then complete the activity. This will save significant time.
  • the e-learning team use QR codes in a range of their activities. They use them so that staff can sign up for session using their mobile devices. For instance, on printed material (posters) the QR code is included. When read it will send a pre-written text message to the e-learning teams SMS account. The individual needs to include their University username in the text message. An alternative use is within our presentations and workshops. This includes embedding a QR code in the powerpoint slide which links to a text document. This document contains a text version of the presentation. While other QR codes which are embedded within the powerpoint slide contain contact details (vCard). Examples of use can be seen in the following presentation, http://www.slideshare.net/andyramsden/iwmw2008-workshop-session-use-of-web-20-in-teams

There are many more opportunities being discussed at the University.

2. Aims and Objectives

The broad aim is to scope out the potential use of QR codes in Education. The specific aims are of the scoping study is to unpick the technical issues surrounding the use of QR codes, to identify current and future uses, and how an academic could use QR codes now in their teaching and learning. The following broad topics will be addressed;

The technical issues

  • What are QR codes?
  • How do they work?
  • What proportion of people can access QR codes now, and in the near future?
  • What are the alternatives?
  • Is there a trend towards technical convergence?
  • Are standards emerging? If yes, at what speed? If not, then why not?
  • What factors need to be considered for an institutional implementation?

The potential use of QR codes within Education

  • How are QR codes being used in Education? (UK and other Countries)
  • How are QR codes being used in other sectors? (Media, Marketing etc.,)
  • How have QR codes been perceived by users?
  • How might they be used in Education?

Getting started with QR Codes: a lecturer’s perspective

  • What is a QR code? What will it let me do?
  • What is involved in using them? How do I create one? what will my students need to do to access them?
  • How might they be used in Teaching and Learning? This will include a number of mini case-studies.
  • What factors should I consider before using them?

3. Overall Approach

There will be a range of approaches adopted, including a desk study, based on a literature reviews In addition, the question concerned with assessing what proportion of people can access QR codes then we will run a student survey in conjunction with the Students’ Union at the University of Bath. To identify the potential within education we will organise a number of focus groups and interviews with key groups at the University of Bath. This stakeholders will include students, the students’ union, the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office, the Library, a number of academics, people participating in the QR pilots at the University of Bath, Marketing and Web Services.

4. Project Outputs

The project will produce three reports. The overall project will be completed by February 2009, although some deliverables will be in place by the end of October 2008.

  • A briefing paper, Getting started with QR codes in your teaching (6 sides) delivered by end of October, 2008. This report will focus on addressing the questions raised in Section 2, and include atleast three case studies / user scenarios.
  • A technical report (8 sides) delivered by February 2009. This report will focus on addressing the questions raised in Section 2.
  • Potential use of QR codes in Education (8 sides) delivered by the end of February, 2009. This report will focus on addressing the questions raised in Section 2, and include the focus groups and interviews.

All these reports will be made available through the JISC web site, as well as on the University of Bath’s Online Publication Store (http://www.bath.ac.uk/opus).

The key findings and outputs will also be presented in 5 video cases studies hosted on the University of Bath’s streaming service.

5. Project Outcomes

  • to progress our understanding of this technology and to identify its role to enable people to access date and complete tasks
  • to develop a number of authentic tasks around the use of QR code technology in teaching, learning and administration
  • to identify the opportunities, the costs and obstacles involved in using QR codes to access data and complete tasks.
  • to provide a starting point, with a selection of indicators for how QR codes could be effectively and efficiently deployed in an institution