QR Codes in the Media Center Professional Development Workshop

Opening Questions

QR Code Basics O QR stands for Quick Response O Works on a technology similar to that used by bar code scanners in stores O The more information the code contains, the more complex the image will be O Free apps are available for smartphones, tablets, and iPod touches to read them

What is the best reader? O I-nigma is available from the O Apple App Store O Android Market O BlackBerry App World O WindowsPhone Marketplace O Others might work better for you, so try them out!

QR Code Generators O You can input a variety of information in the QR code – websites, text, contact information

O You can post information to the Internet and link it with the QR code O YouTube Videos O Google Docs O Flickr O Facebook O Dropbox O Blog O Record MP3 O And more!

Intermission O Take 10 minute break and look around the media center for some examples of our use of QR codes!

Uses of QR Codes in the Media Center O Promotion of books by linking to published reviews, student-created reviews, or book trailers O Print them on labels and attach them to the books O Display them near the books or on bulletin boards

Uses of QR Codes in the Media Center O Reminders and information about upcoming events like author visits, poetry night, book fair, etc. O Include them on all promotional materials – posters, flyers, etc. O General information about the media center including links to a virtual tour and orientation video O Great for new students to the school!

Uses of QR Codes in the Media Center O Links to the homepage of media center website or more direct links to the OPAC, blog, news page, etc. O Have trouble getting people to visit your website? Include a QR code on bookmarks and give them out during checkout! O Contests, surveys, and other areas in which the media specialist might want feedback from the patrons O Survey Monkey, Poll Everywhere, Google Forms

Uses of QR Codes in the Media Center O Hearing the student creators of items on display talk about their inspiration, methods, or other thoughts they would like to share O Record them and post the QR code with the link near their displayed items O Tips and guides on using programs on the computers or for volunteers and aides to remember how to complete tasks O Post near to the computer terminals where users would need them

Uses of QR Codes in the Media Center O Beginning texts or s to initiate interlibrary loans, ask-a-librarian, or reserve facilities O Links to Pathfinders so that teachers and students can access those resource guides O Create hunts and other games that can be used in literacy skills instruction

What ideas do you have? O Roundtable discussion – add ideas at

Feedback O Please take this survey to give me feedback!