Scan & Learn! Use of Quick Response Codes & Smartphones in a Biology Field Study

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to introduce and develop a teaching method and process that incorporates quick response (QR) codes and smartphones into field trips for biology classes. The teaching process using QR codes and smartphones consisted of four steps. The first step was the selection of a suitable field study site and identification of species at the site. For this study, a tidal mudflat in Korea was selected and 24 species were identified at the field site. The second step was the generation by the instructor of QR codes for the 24 species, construction of QR code sheets for the species, and installation of a "QR code decoding app" on students' smartphones. In step 3, students explored and identified species at the field study site using the QR code sheets and shared their results with classmates via a social network system (SNS). The final step was the presentation and discussion of results in follow-up classes. The teaching method developed for this study led to active classroom discussion via smartphone social-networking services. Besides detailing the "scan and learn" teaching method and process, the paper offers a quick checklist for teachers and simplified specifics for the creation of a customized and illustrative field-study guidebook that motivates students.

Investigating the use of quick response codes in the gross anatomy laboratory

“…Both national and international undergraduate institutions have used QR codes within educational settings for a variety of purposes (Susono and Shimomura, 2006;Chaisatien and Akahori, 2007;Lee et al, 2011;Pulliam and Landry, 2011;Benedict and Pence, 2012;Bonif acio, 2012;Dixon et al, 2013;Schultz, 2013;Haran, 2014). Recent research involving the implementation of QR codes in education has focused on the codes' abilities to provide "access to information at the point of need" (Lombardo et al, 2012).…”

Pengembangan Modul Berbasis Qr Code Technology pada Materi Sistem Reproduksi Manusia dengan Terintegrasi Kepada Al-quran dan Hadits sebagai Sumber Belajar Biologi Kelas XI Sman 1 Punggur

“…Modul adalah bahan ajar cetakan yang dirancang untuk memudahkan siswa belajar mandiri, oleh karena itu modul dilengkapi pentunjuk penggunaan dan konsep-konsep pembelajaran, dalam hal ini peserta didik tidak harus memerlukan bimbingan guru untuk menelaah isi modul karena prinsip penggunaan modul dalam pembelajaran adalah bersifat belajar secara mandiri (Rayandra, 2011). Pemilihan menggunakan QR code berdasarkan penelitian Seorang peneliti dari Korea (Lee, 2011) menyatakan bahwa menggunakan kode QR dan smartphone yang diterapkan di kelas biologi dapat memberikan keuntungan yang banyak, guru dapat membuat penyesuaian kebutuhan kelas dan buku panduan bergambar untuk situs studi lapangan terpilih yang ada serta mudah digunakan sesuai untuk tingkat siswanya.…”

Full Issue PDF Volume 38, Issue 10

“…Biology and chemistry educators are engaging students by incorporating SPTs into their course curricula (J. Lee et al 2011;Benedict and Pence 2012). Specifically, biology students explore a field site, photograph flora and fauna, and acquire more information by using their smartphone to scan QR codes on field sheets (J.…”