Google+ Hangout with QR Codes!

We had an exciting day a few Friday's ago when we used Google+ to hang out with the 2nd grade gifted inclusion kids at Ms. Mensing's class from Sonoran Sky Elementary in Scottsdale, Arizona! Whew! That's a mouthful! But these kids were AWEsome! I taught a brief lesson on QR Codes in the Classroom (and Library!) all about where QR Codes came from, how they are different than regular bar codes, and how they are being used all over the world to transmit information like Text Messages, Video, and URL Web links via Mobile Media!

QR Codes in the Elementary Classroom

View more presentations from gwyneth jones

Say What!? Audio QR Codes!

After that my 6th graders in Ms.
Torsani's Math class held up to the camera special QR Voice audio codes & written
messages they composed for the kids! QR Code Voice is a really cool
new resource! You just type in a short message (100 Characters) and
click and Voila! You get a QR Code that when scanned reads out in a
robotic voice your message! Scan the QR code on the left to see what
it says! (Download the FREE QR Code APP i-nigma
for both iPhone & Android! Click link or search on the App
store for i nigma QR)

Ms. Mensing's kids scanned the QR codes using both iPod touch generaton 4's (like we have here at the MHMS Daring School Library!) and iPad 2's! (we don't have any of those yet, but I brought mine in! - Thanks, Santa!) they were very engaged with the learning and it was a lot of fun!

Ms. Mensing and I became friends when we were both at the Google Teacher Academy this past summer in Seattle Washington. That's her next to me & Miss Critter Sharpe (and another teacher friend) She's the one with the long blonde hair & fabulous pearls! I'm peeking out from behind the sign - NINJA Style! We had a great time learning together and I'm so glad we could use Google+ to hang out with our kids.

Then... I got the BEST PRESENT EVER in the mail! A big envelope of
drawings & letters from Ms. Mensing's class! SQUEE!

See ALL the cool pics here!

Thank you Ms. Mensing & Ms. Torsani for an amazing video chat adventure! We're gonna have to do that again! Hmmmm next time MATH!???
---------------
Personal UPDATE: I would like to thank all my dear friends, Tweeps, & beloved readers who have sent me kind messages during this difficult time since I posted my Gramma fell ill around Thanksgiving. Sadly, she passed away on Tuesday morning and we've been grieving & celebrating her life this week and will be having a memorial service next week in Western PA.
I was very close to my sassy, fun, blingtastic silly Gramma, we were true kindred spirits and I will miss her SO much! She was my partner in crime, secret keeper, & my cheerleader. She rode a mule trap to her one room schoolhouse, grew up on a farm & a coal mining town, she got married reeely young to get off the farm, worked in a munitions plant in WWII, traveled around the country in an RV after her second marriage at age 68....and did high kicks with the seniors dance crew on the stage. I know wherever she is she's kicking up her heels & stirring the pot in a cute way!
A lovely tribute post about our Amazing Grace was written my dear Aunty Lynn that says it all and more.
(pictured: Aunty Lynn, me, & my beautiful and adored Mom, Laurel)

This is the song she sang to me as a tot sitting on her lap:
"A tiny turned up nose
Two cheeks just like a rose
So sweet from head to toes
That little girl of mine

Two arms that hold me tight
Two eyes that shine so bright
Two lips that kiss goodnight
That little girl of mine

No one will ever know
Just what her coming has meant
Because I love her so
She's something heaven has sent

She's all the world to me
She climbs upon my knee
To me she'll always be
That little girl of mine"

Bonnie Owens Lyrics - That Little Boy Girl Of Mine Lyrics
Bonnie Owens Biography

My dear Mom, Laurel & her beloved Mom our Amazing Grace.