A QR code (an abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional code first designed for the automotive industry. They are another type of barcode and are useful as they link you to extra information and save you from needing to type URLS into your smartphone or iPod Touch. You can store the information and read it now or later. Smartphone users open their QR reader app and it scans the code and delivers the information to you. It might be a web link with lots of information, a YouTube video or just some text to read.

Brendan Jones provides …

The following information comes from Lindy Hathaway from the ACT, Australia.

QR code generators
There are lots of free QR code generators. Teachers and students can make their own QR codes to use in lessons, tasks and presentations. QR codes can be placed on information posters, Glogsters, scientific models, on signs near artworks and photos, on book covers, points of interest…

Bitly
The excellent URL shortener Bitly allows you to shorten, share, track and analyse your URL links. It also creates QR codes for these links. Copy the URL into the box on the home page and click . Underneath your shortened URL, click . You will see the QR code that has been generated for this shortened URL. You will also see analytics for the URL, e.g. who has clicked on the link (countries) and when; how it was shared (Twitter etc).

Google
Google has a URL shortener & QR code creator. Copy in the URL, click and then click

Kaywa
Copy in a URL, text, phone number or SMS and click “generate”. Then you can save the code, embed it, print it, etc.

Quikqr
Here you can email your QR code from the site.

QRpedia
Officially launched in Sept 2011, it uses QR codes to deliver Wikipedia  articles to users in their preferred language (usually the language on their phone). Used in various museums etc mainly in the US, UK and Spain. Paste a Wikipedia URL into the box to create a language-detecting QR code. Put the code wherever you want it to be read (e.g. on an exhibit or poster). People can use the QR reader app on their smartphones to scan the code and be directed to the Wikipedia article.

Primary students use QR codes to get to websites easily….cute!

And Rosalie Knox from the ACT, Australia sent this in — I found this Livebinder on QR codes and their uses in education and thought it was very interesting.

Thanks Lindy and Rosalie.