In the classroom
- Class page and syllabus. A website QR code on the first-day handout and the classroom door, so students and parents can always find it.
- Assignments. A code on the worksheet or slide that opens the assignment in your learning platform.
- Library and research resources. Codes on shelf ends and handouts that open databases, reading lists or a how-to-cite guide.
Audio and video work well this way too. A code beside a reading can open a recording of it, for students who follow better by listening.
The quick-access slide
Keep one slide at the front of every deck with a code to your class page. When you need everyone on the same link, put it up, count to 30 and move on. Students learn the routine within a week.
Name the slide Get here and use the same code all year. Students stop asking for the link.
Across the school
- Field trip and permission forms. A code on the paper notice that opens the online form, with the paper version kept for families who need it.
- Parent sign-ups. Newsletters, volunteer slots and conference times, on flyers sent home and on the front office counter.
- Campus maps and event info. Codes at the entrance and on open house signs that open a mobile map and the night's schedule.
Some families don't have a smartphone, and some don't read English comfortably. Keep the code as a shortcut, and print the essentials on the notice itself: dates, times and what to bring.
Keep student data out of codes
A QR code's content is plain text that anyone can read. Never encode student names, ID numbers, grades or login details in one. A code should open a page, and if that page holds anything private, students and parents sign in to your school's system to see it.
Follow your school or district's privacy rules on which tools and forms you can use, and make sure any form that collects student information is one your school has approved.
What to avoid
The request-access wall. If a code opens a shared document and students see a permissions prompt, the problem is the document's sharing settings, not the code. Open the link in a private browser window before class to check.
Codes that blur on the copier. Photocopies soften the edges of the pattern. Print worksheet codes at least 2.5 cm (1 in) square, in solid black, and test a copy of a copy. The size and printing guide has more.
Make your class code today
Make a code for your class page, put it on a slide at the front of tomorrow's deck, and open the lesson with it. Watch how long it takes the room to get there, then compare it with typing the link.
Frequently asked questions
How do teachers use QR codes in the classroom?
Mostly to get everyone to the same link fast: the class page, an assignment, a video or a quiz. Put the code on a slide or worksheet and students scan it instead of typing the address.
Is it safe to use QR codes with students?
Yes, as long as the code holds only a link and no student information. Point codes at school-approved pages and check that shared documents open for students without a permissions prompt.
Why does my QR code open a request access page?
The document's sharing settings are the cause, not the code. Set the document so anyone in your school, or anyone with the link, can view it, then scan again.
What size should a QR code be on a worksheet?
At least 2.5 cm (1 in) square, and a little bigger if the sheet will be photocopied, since copies blur the pattern.