Using QR Codes and Mobile Phones
for Learning Thomas McNealMark van ’t Hooft
2010 eTech Ohio ConferenceColumbus, Ohio
Cell Phones
Today phones are used for almost everything. Whether they are or not, people are using them like computers. They are no longer just for calling but also for surfing the internet, navigation, taking pictures, shooting video, playing games, sending text messages, checking emails and many other activities.
The Geo-Historian Project
Mobile wireless technology has drastically changed how we communicate. It also has the potential to be an educational tool for the classroom teacher.
The Geo-Historian Project utilizes wireless technology to link classrooms with local historical landmarks. Using cell phones, students can become video historians, creating a living history of real people and real places shared via wireless devices.
Our ProjectThe GeoHistorian project was created to: Investigate cell phones as an educational tool;Demonstrate how resource sites near and far (museums,
zoos, etc.) can be valuable classroom resources;Demonstrate how digital content can be used to amplify
learning at such sites;Give students the opportunity to create digital resources for
their communities.
Cell Phones as Educational Tools
Students produce short video and audio clips and web pages for cell phones.
They also create QR or 2D codes that can be scanned by a cell phone reader. Once scanned, the video, sound, or web site embedded in the code will be displayed on the cell phone.
In this presentation we will share the tools we’ve used and show you how we created the QR codes, video clips, and mobile web pages.
Trying It Out
We have not had the opportunity yet to implement the GeoHistorian project with students, but we will soon. In order to try out our ideas we created a learning activity using cell phones, QR codes, and digital content of the World War II Memorial in Washington DC (2009 NECC Conference).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M70AtlLy_ns
So What Do You Need?
QR Codes QR Code Creator and Reader Digital Content Mobile Website Smart Phone
QR or 2D CodesHere is an example of a QR Code. It looks like a checker board with white and black squares. This code can be placed on a variety of surfaces such as paper and textile, and embedded in digital sources such as websites or video clips.
QR Codes Come in Many Shapes and Sizes
Winksite http://winksite.com/site/index.cfm
Scanlife http://www.scanlife.com
QR Code Sema Code
QuickMark Shotcode
Some Examples
2D Creators and Readers
Kaywa: http://reader.kaywa.com/ and http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
QR Stuff: http://www.qrstuff.com/ QuickMark: http://www.quickmark.com ScanLife: http://www.scanlife.com
2D Creators and Readers: ScanLife
Navigate to ScanLife
http://www.scanlife.com Sign up for an account Select your carrier Select your phone Follow on-screen
directions for downloading
Creating QD or 2D Codes
Scanlife makes it easy to create codes
Just log in and click “create codes”
Name your code and add your URL
Click “publish” and you’re done
Let me show you …http://www.scanlife.com
Examples of 2D Codes
Users can create codes for video clips, sound clips, websites and just text.
Here are some examples
Formats for Video and Audio clips
There is lots of existing content you can link to, or you can make your own.
Smart phones from different carriers all have different operating systems and require different video and audio formats.
Windows mobile - Windows Media Video (WMV) iPhone - QuickTime (MOV) Android – Mpeg4 (mp4) Audio - WAVE or WAV, short for Waveform Audio
File Format
Creating a Mobile Website
Mobile website creators are also very useful for creating digital learning content for mobile phones. Examples are
•Jagag: http://www.jag.ag
•Mobisitegalore: http://www.mobisitegalore.com
•Winksite: http://winksite.com/site/index.cfm
•Wirenode: http://www.wirenode.com
•Zinadoo: http://www.zinadoo.com
Creating with Wirenode
Sign-up for an account Select create a website Select a format Save and publish to the
web. Make a note of the URL
for your 2D code
Mobile websites creator - Wirenode
For our project we have been using Wirenode, which makes it easy to create rich mobile pages and mobile websites with minimal effort.
http://atomic.wirenode.mobi
What’s New? Google Goggles! Google Goggles lets you search from your cell
phone simply by snapping a photo. Want more info on a product? Take its picture. Need info about a business? Photograph the storefront. Put simply, this thing packs some serious power, and its capabilities stretch far.
Still in beta stage Only runs on Android phones right now.
Google Goggles http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#landmark
Links
DVC Project http://www.dvcproject.org/ RCET: http://www.rcet.org WWII Memorial video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=M70AtlLy_ns Scanlife http://www.scanlife.com/us/ Wirenode http://www.wirenode.com/ Google Goggles
http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#landmark
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