Teaching Tip: How to Create and Use QR Codes

April 15, 2014

Marissa Carl

Quick Response (QR) codes are specially designed barcodes that can be read by a camera-ready mobile device or computer. I like to think of them as URLs for print; by reading the “link” you get bonus information. You see them all over: food products, magazines, business cards. Almost anywhere you see information posted in two dimension, you might see a QR code.

How to Read a QR Code

In order to read a QR code you need a mobile device or computer with a camera and QR-reading software. Some examples of apps for mobile devices include:

• Scan (iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile) https://scan.me/
  
  
• Qrafter (iPhone, iPad) http://qrafter.com/get/

Google “QR reader” for your type of device and shop around.

How to Create QR Codes

You can create QR codes that direct users just about anywhere: URLs, YouTube videos, map locations, Twitter, Facebook, Dropbox or Drive, telephone numbers, email addresses, or even to plain text!

There are many free applications to help you create your own QR codes so you can share and post them on your documents.

• QR Stuff http://www.qrstuff.com/
  
  
• Google (tracks stats on its use) http://goo.gl

Google “QR code creator” for your type of computer or device and shop around.

Read more about QR codes at iTeachU: http://elearning.uaf.edu/go/tt-qrcodes

- Teaching Tip by Heidi Olson, Learning Design Coordinator