Using QR codes in eLearning

Have you ever seen these blocky little icons hanging out in the corner of an ad or on a product box? That’s a useful little tool called a QR code.

A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) designed to be read by smartphones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, a URL, or other data.

Some of the reader apps I have used include:

• -i-nigma (for Apple iPhone and Android)
• -Barcode Scanner for Android
• -The Kaywa Reader (for LOTS of phones)
• -Qrafter for iPhone (my personal favorite)

I often scan these QR codes with my iPhone to get more information on a particular product, or just to see if the code is a link to something unexpected, like a crazy YouTube video.

I started thinking; what if we use these in our training materials? We could these little QR codes to open a world of additional learning for our customers!

I thought of several ways we could use these in our eLearning and training content:

-Use QR codes on user conference handouts that lead the user to an eLearning module which supplements the content found on the handout. For example, a Quick Reference Card or activities handout from conference session on HTML5 would have a QR code that leads the user to training modules on the same topic.

-[fully digital] Use a QR code on a Quick Reference Cards attached to full-length eLearning courses, so that the user can see associated short eLearning modules on a related subject. We often have verbiage in classes specifying that there is more related information in a  short module, or in supplementary materials found on our support site, so the QR code could lead them there.

-Use a QR code in trainer-led materials, leading the trainer to eLearning content on the subject in which they are training.

I think there are many possibilities here. I delivered my schtick (technical term) on using QR codes in this manner to the group at our weekly and it was very well received; everyone jumped in with ideas on how we could use this kind of technology. It’s a fun way to promote DL materials for those who don’t already have a subscription, and a good way to lead existing customers to other materials.

Quirfy has a free tool to create your own QR codes. Give it a try!

What are some other ways these can be used in eLearning?