Share Digital Resources with Ease

Using QR codes and customized short URL’s

Ever seen one of these   and wondered what it was? Well, it is called a QR code and it is a super fast way to send someone to a web page. Watch it in action:

There are endless possibilities for using QR codes:

• Display a student project in your classroom with a link to a video of the student explaining how they created it.
• Add a QR code to your business card that links to your web site.
• Want colleagues who observe your classroom to provide you with targeted feedback through a Google Form? Hang a QR code with a link to the form on your door.

Making your own QR code is easy!

1. Copy your URL
2. Visit qrstuff.com 
3. Choose your data type (web site, youtube video, etc.)
4. Paste (or type) the URL
5. Click “Download QR Code” and your shiny new QR code is now ready to be inserted into any document!

How does someone scan a QR code?

Smartphone or tablet:

Download a QR scanning app. My personal favorite is called i-nigma. I like it because it is super fast. Fast is the point of QR codes.

Chromebook or computer:

Install a QR scanning Chrome Extension like this one.

I have Chain Reaction Club members sign in using a google form at each meeting. I could give them this: https://docs.google.com/a/barringtonschools.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduKgztPBaOdc29UWhPlPUVo8LFAqttPibsX-xmBmnPNQp8kg/viewform

But I would rather give them this: bit.ly/CRCattendance

No problem. A great way to share a web resource is with a customized, short URL. There are plenty of sites that will create a short URL, but the user still has to do a lot of typing. Instead try this:

1. Visit bit.ly
2. Sign up for a new account
3. Click the create bitlink button:
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to create an easy to type URL.