It is increasingly recognised mobile learning (m-learning), in its variety of forms, is shaping, and being shaped by, the way we live, work and learn.

However, m-learning implementations are often heavily "keypad" dependent. The protracted and often clumsy method of accessing stored information and services through the limited input functionalities of mobile phones is time-consuming, frustrating and affects uptake of these m-technologies. To increase the impact of m-deployments a number of institutions are using Quick Response (QR) Codes to provide learners with speedy and ready access to information, services and assessments that are location sensitive.

What Are QR Codes

While the information contained in a normal bar code is presented in a horizontal direction, the information contained in a QR code is presented in both the vertical and horizontal direction.  This means substantial more amounts of information (such as website addresses, text and numerical information, and contact details) can be stored within the code. The contained in the QR code can de-coded by a "smart-phone" with an embedded camera and code reading software installed.  And example (for Wintec Research Archive is shown in figure 1 on the right.

Benefits

Embedding QR codes into learning environments, both physical and electronic, will enable learners to move from one place to the next, and to be able to use readily-available, handheld computing devices and communication technology to access localised content anywhere and at anytime.

About The Speaker

Dr John Clayton is a New Zealand e-learning educator with extensive knowledge of deploying, using and evaluating e-learning technologies. He is currently the manager of the Emerging Technologies Centre at the Waikato Institute of Technology and for the last three years has been a member of the New Zealand Ministry of Education e-Learning Reference Group.

Dr Clayton has been the project leader of a number of significant government funded e-learning deployment projects including the Open Source Courseware Initiative and the Open Source Learning Object Repository Project. He has recently led New Zealand Ministry of Education research funded projects investigating The Role of e-Learning in Building Workforce Capability to Meet Regional National Industry Needs and a second project investigating E-Learning Activities in Aotearoa / New Zealand Industry Training Organisations. He has recently completed the ICT PD Cluster Programme Research Review Project.

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