Thursday, August 1, 2013

Tune into Technology: QR Codes & August Currently

Today I am linkin' up again for "Tune into Technology Linky: QR Codes" with Kristin at iTeach 1:1 as well as Alyin and Amanda at Learning to the Core.  I'm super duper sad this is the last one of the summer.  I have LOVED readin' how everyone else uses technology in their real lives and in the classroom.
                                      
Let me start off by sayin' I came to school today because the cleaner dude is at my house (don't judge...I'm highly allergic to dust...plus, it's so worth the money!)  When I walked in, I saw the dreaded "spot".  The place that appears about twice a year on the carpet between mine and my bestie's room.  "THE AIR CONDITION' LEAK"!  UGH...I thought I would be super smart and leave up my bookshelves with books on them.  You know, less work for the Fall return...I'm dumb.  

Enough about that.  Let's get to the good stuff: QR codes.  I've dabbled a little in makin' my own, but sometimes I prefer buyin' other people's QR task card packets on TpT.  I figure it saves me time and I'm supportin' someone else. The kids really do enjoy them or maybe it's just that they like to get ahold of my cell phone to use the app.  I also love findin' QR codes when I'm out and about.  It's like a little scavenger hunt.

Two years ago, my district outfitted all of the classrooms with new technology with the help of the community, votin' for a half cent sales tax increase.  YAHOO!  I love me some technology!  The district decided that they would like to video tape some of the teachers & students usin' the new technology.  The first two videos have NOTHING to do with QR codes, BUT the district made QR codes for these videos and put them on posters all around the community for people to see.  Pretty neat to just walk up to a poster, scan it, and BOOM you're watchin' a video of a classroom sayin' "Thank You".  The last video DOES have to do with QR codes and shows how the students are usin' them in a third grade classroom.

Video one: Me and my sweet little rockstars that I taught for THREE years. I sure do miss them. They were sponges when it came to introducin' somethin' new with tech.

Video two: My bestie with her group of kids that she will be startin' her third year
with these babies. It's been fun watchin' them grow and learn as digital citizens.

Video three: My other podmate and bestie usin' technology and QR Codes. It was Pajama Day that day...please excuse some of the outfits.
                                          This is the product from the above video.                                            
                                      
Last year, my Video three bestie also started out the year with the students writin' their "All About Me", drawin' a self-portrait, and addin' a QR code.  I think I will also start out my first week with this activity.

Overall, I WILL be makin' more of an effort for my students to be makin' QR codes this year. I have a techie GENIUS in my class that writes code for a hobby. I can pretty much guarantee that he will help me teach everyone else how to make QR codes or I can ask my pod besties. If I was really smart, I would've made the videos into QR codes! Haha

I am also linkin' up with Farley from Oh' Boy, Fourth Grade... for August's Currently.

 

16 comments :

  1. I love that you and your team took the time to make those videos to say thank you. They are pretty adorable. I was also thinking about doing some sort of back to school QR activity. What will the QR codes link to? I was thinking maybe a Photobooth video would be cool. Thanks for linking up!

    Kristin
    iTeach 1:1

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    1. I think a video of the kids reading their All About Me would be cute too!

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  2. I love these videos, reminds me I must start taking videos of what we do in my room. I am still a QR code virgin, haven't used a single one. They look so interactive in the classroom, not sure how I could incorporate it without smart phones or ipads. They are banned at my school, sigh.

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  3. I love those thank you videos, what a sweet idea! *Plus, I was so excited to hear what you sounded like!*
    Erin
    Short and Sassy Teacher

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    1. I sound like a dork...a big dork. I was yelling OMG when I saw it. I said...I don't look and sound like that! Lol!

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  4. Replies
    1. That's really what I'm leaning towards. I don't like that they only have 2 USB ports and no HDMI's on the Airs.

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  5. Awesome ideas, Alison!! I am saving this to come back and refer to later! Thanks for sharing :)

    Lauren
    The Sweetest Thing
    Follow me on Bloglovin'!

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  6. Color ink is definitely a must have for me too...I totally forgot to add that! Hopefully your books dry!

    Hunter's Tales from Teaching

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    1. I think they are goin' to be okay. This really does happen at least twice a year, but I am limited on wall space, so it's the only place I can keep my bookshelves. :/

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  7. QR Codes = Greek to me! Looks like something else I will have to learn! This old dog can only learn so many new tricks!! I guess I will have to rely on the short people in my room to lead the way on this one!

    Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. You're doin' great learnin' new tricks! QR codes are fun!

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  8. Ohhhhh... QR codes on their self portraits is a great idea! I love to have the kids draw themselves at the beginning of the year and then at the end of the year. Such a great comparison. So adding a video of them signing an introduction and information about themselves would also be a great comparison as well! I'm totally doing that!

    Great tech videos! So important for the community to see!

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    Replies
    1. Oh..that WOULD be awesome for them to sign their introduction! I'd love to see that!

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