1 Way to Create Student Independence
If you feel like you're chasing your tail trying to figure out how to stop interruptions and get students more independent, QR codes in the classroom can help you achieve this.
Read Part 1:
- Inviting other experts into your room to teach through QR codes linked to video, audio, images or documents.
WHY:
QR codes are a tool that let you invite other experts into your room to:
- Teach your students through media that you don't have the time or resources to create.
- Teach things that you have little to NO knowledge in or are not an expert in.
- Save $$$ if you don't have books on specific topics.
- Reach more students through higher engagement.
Use pre-made,
- video tutorials
- documents
- audio
- images
as the media linked to your QR codes. Remember QR codes are Quick Response codes that immediatly bring to the surface the content that the QR code is linked to.
This requires a slight mindshift in thinking, it requires you to stop thinking:
- you have to be the expert
- you have to be the one who teaches the content.
Think of it like the flipped classroom. You are moving into the role of facilitator or are able to work with small groups by either working with students in a specific spot or by roaming around the room and assisting students by staying in that center/station with the student(s).
Example:
This is a resource that uses QR codes. The QR codes are linked to videos that are books about animals. I didn't have many kid friendly books on animals so this enabled me to create a writing/research center that was age appropriate. My kinder students,
- Worked independently to select an animal
- Listened to the book
- Wrote a book on the animal they chose
- Repeated every time they visited the center but on a different animal.
I was able to,
- Save space
- Save money on purchasing books
Self-Made Videos with Audio:
Here is an example of videos with audio that I needed to help with handwriting practice. Instead of spending 10-15 minutes a day on letter formation, students were independently instructed through QR codes on letter formation. Students,
- Listened to audio on letter formation.
- Traced the letter on the Ipad as the audio instructed them.
- Traced the letter on the recording sheet using the same format.
Note:
I used this as a write the room activity in the beginning of Kinder and the kids loved it and understood! The resource wasn't originally made to have them trace directly on the Ipad. I never thought of it. They did that naturally and then I realized the resource had even more value than I originally anticipated.
I used this as a write the room activity in the beginning of Kinder and the kids loved it and understood! The resource wasn't originally made to have them trace directly on the Ipad. I never thought of it. They did that naturally and then I realized the resource had even more value than I originally anticipated.
I was able to,
- send these home for practice and it ensured students were forming their letters correctly.
- Use the time to work with other kids while students were being instructed.
- ensure students were practicing writing their letters correctly in their center/station.
I Don't Teach Primary Grades
If you don't teach primary grades and are having a hard time envisioning how this can help you, it helps to start with an area of need.
- Anytime you say, I wish I had an aid or volunteer to ________. That particular task/activity could possibly benefit from a QR code.
Ask yourself,
- "How might a QR code help me (what you want it to do) so (achieve this)."
- Jot down your ideas.
- Ask yourself, "What does it look like?"
Example:
How might QR codes instruct students so they are able to form their letters correctly.
It helps to see if what you need already exists. I needed samples of sounds made by specific percussion instruments for a 1st grade sound and vibrations unit. I had 4 problems:
- I am not knowledgable in music - at ALL.
- It is too expensive to purchase sounds for instruments.
- I have no idea how to make those sounds with the instrument physically or digitally.
- I didn't want to show a video with all the sounds.
Fortunately, a music teacher made a resource with pictures of the instruments and QR codes linked to the sounds for the instrument. Problem solved. No time wasted. My kiddos could now hear the instruments they were learning about and bring the instruments to life. See the resource below.
Next on the blog is, "Using QR codes to,
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| Link Resource |
- personalize learning
- give student more choice
- How QR codes can help you with a Makerspace in your own classroom.
Read Part 1:
