Using QR Codes in your Lab sessions

I've been a "busy bee" recently talking to lots of people, both at the University of Bath, and other institutions about how they might use QR Codes in their learning, teaching and administration. Interestingly, a number of people at different institutions have suggested that they might use it to with supporting students using lab equipment or in lab sessions. For instance, Dr Jo Badge at the University of Leicester is thinking of attaching QR Codes to various lab equipment. The QR Code would allow the student to effectively and efficiently access instructional videos on how to use the equipment. 

With this emerging idea I thought I'd better test if it worked. I haven't got a video of using lab equipment, but I do have one (donated by Dr Julie Letchford ... thanks) which discusses how to interpret the results of an experiment. The deployment would be slightly different. Given that this is not a generic video about using a piece of equipment, but information related to a certain experiment the QR Codes could be included within the specific lab instructions, as a QR Code glossary sheet / booklet, or made available for that experiment only as laminated cards on the benches. The user scenario would be that the student simply hooks up their phone to the wireless network available in the lab, scans the QR Codes when / where appropriate to access short and snappy instructional videos.

I think you'll agree, if you scan the QR Code below, you can quickly the material downloads and plays on your device. In this situation (where it is not streamed) you can also save the avi file, and start to build up a collection of videos to review later on your device.

It would be really interesting to capture your thoughts on the experience. So please use the "comments", to feedback on the good, the bad and the ugly.

Access a short, avi file via this QR Code

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