Inspired by a recent blog post by the amazing Richard Byrne I wanted to add a few more things to the list I wrote 3 years ago how to use QR Codes to connect with students, parents, and the community on Back to School Night and during the school year. Some of these ideas include examples, links to free downloadables, and graphics that you can snag & use in your school. I've also updated my popular How to Create a QR Code in 3 Easy Steps Infographic comic tutorial to help out! 
FREE Webinar! Also, don't miss the big announcement at the end of this blog post about a FREE #TLChat Virtual Cafe webinar - Back to School Special: Open Mic Edition and a FREE Back to School Night PowerPoint you can download and share with your teachers! This is going to be a crowdsourced presentation where we invite you to add your ideas & slides and virtually "step up to the mic" to share with our PLN!
Set the Stage: Have Parents Download the QR Code Scanning App!
In preparation for BTSN I posted on our school digital newspaper Murray Messages:
QR Codes Hit the Hill! "We embrace mobile media here at MHMS. Proof of which you’ll see in cool black and white when you visit us for Back to School Night!Have a smart phone? Be ready & download a QR code scanner app! We really like the FREE iNigma QR code reader available in both Droid, iPhone, or iPad versions. You’ll see several QR Codes around the building guiding you to different helpful websites (and maybe a secret message or two!) – be ready to scan! Want to learn more about QR Codes? Check out this handy Infographic Comic Tutorial"
Now to the list!
A while back I created a QR Code Tree that hasd all the important QR Codes for our school, last year I designed a QR Code Pocket - This was an easy way for teachers to share with parents on Back to School Night.
I've also created blank ones for you to download & insert your own QR Codes on top using MS Word, PicMonkey, or Photoshop. Everything I make is Creative Commons - so you can freely take, use, & share!
Just make sure you've set sharing permissions to "anyone with the link" and test it out beforehand - send it to a friend to try out! Or better yet, embed that Google form on a wiki or webpage and make the QR code from that URL! Scan the code on the left to give it a whirl!
3. Create a QR Homework Helpers!
Create a QR code to your school's Research Resources & Databases webpage. If you district doesn't have any, create a web or wikipage called Homework Helpers and gather some together from your local library system & feel free to nab the national sources listed on our wikipage! That way, on Back to School Night parent's will know where to go to help their kiddos with assignments.
QR Droid's free QR code generator has field for calendar events.
Complete the form to create a QR code for an event. When parents scan the code the event can load in their preferred calendar apps. Don't forget to double check the timezone!
Try it out! Scan the code above to add the #TLChat Cafe Back to School Special: Open Mic Edition FREE Webinar!
Upload all the kiddos video projects to your own or the school's YouTube channel Before you get started, secure admin support, make sure you're following your school and district responsible use policy, and/or send home a video/photo release permission slip before posting anything. If the idea of having a YouTube channel still gives you hesitation or it's blocked in your district, why not try a SchoolTube channel? I also have a Vine video channel to share our Vine Video Book Talks!
6: Virtual Classroom / Library Video Tour or Greeting
Create a video classroom, library, or school virtual tour! Post it to your blog, wiki, or webpage -let the kiddos/parents watch it to become familiar with their new environment or send to late arriving kiddos so that they feel more comfortable!
Want to up it a notch? Create a video without words - just smiling, walking, pointing -show all the important places in the school, etc or think GoPro! Here's my 2008 Flip Cam example. (No laughing at the quality now, k?) Then collaborate with your ESOL (English as a Second Language) or foreign language teacher to have kiddos narrate a script in all the different languages that can be found in your school! Embed on your blog or school webpage and share with your student services department! How cool is that?
Record or animate a library or classroom orientation with maybe a tour, expectations, highlights, procedures, and tips! Saves your voice, makes it fun, & you'll know the students get the same message without you maybe forgetting an important point. Post it to your own YouTube channel! Kiddo comes in late, after orientation, send them the link or let them watch it in class!
8. QR Photo Gallery
Whether it's Flickr, Picassa, Smugmug (since 05), or some other digital photo hosting site - let the kiddos & parents keep in touch with all the photo fun with an online gallery!
Fill in the short form under "contact" on QR Droid's free QR code generator, or the MeCard on QR Code Monkey and the code created will give parents access to your preferred contact information.
QR Code to your school website - have them handy & pass them out on BTSN - Shows you're a professional - even if you have to buy them yourself. Here's an illustrated blog post on how to create them! 5 Easy Tips to Making Out of This World Mini Moo Business Cards
My QR Code Related Posts:
The Daring Librarian: QR Code Loo Reviews & Pocket Videos
The Daring Librarian: Google+ Hangout with QR Codes!
The Daring Librarian: QR Code Scanning for Parents
QR Code Quest: a Library Scavenger Hunt
QR Code AT-A-Glance Comic Tutorial
HOT QR Codes in the Classroom & Library
MSET Conference, Colbert, Crabs, & QR Codes
QR Code Custom Jewelry, Swag
Library in Your Pocket
Sept 8th, 2014
8pm EST
- Webinar Participant Link
Back to School Special Wikipage
Download a FREE Back to School Night PowerPoint Template to give out to your teachers!
As always, thank you for reading! I'm sure I'll tweak this later - but tomorrow I go back to school and I had to knock this out before that AWESOME cra cra starts!
Cheers! ~Gwyneth
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