Review: QRamel

Have you ever used QR codes in the classroom?

A QR code is a multi-dimensional barcode. My thought has been why use it? I can see it for stores and such. I get it. Plus anyone with a smart phone and a curious mind can find out what the message is but for me... QR codes do not intrigue me.

When I got asked to do this review I thought... hmmm... cute stickers but do I really (1) want to pay that much for stickers (2) have the technology to use this in the classroom (3) have the time to allow my students to use this (4) will it meet any standards and (5) is it engaging and fun?

So... I said sure. Send it on over and I will take a looksy. I left out the part where I was doubting the value of it. After all, I have a few teacher friends who are super techy that I could pass it along to and it would get some use.

QRamel offered to send me the alphabet ones in the first picture but I asked for the pirate set as well as I am working on a new product line with pirates and well... it may have just been a perfect fit for it! The animal alphabet is 1 page and the pirate set is 2. Each page is $8.99 through their site or at Amazon.

When you get the stickers... you will also need to download the free app to use with them. The app is designed for iPhones but you can easily use it on your iPad as well. The app will ask you to create an account.

After you scan the pictures, the above screen appears. This is where I was surprised with all of the options available! I can add a voice, video, text, or picture to the sticker! AWESOME! These expensive stickers just got better. You can only use one of the options and once you have it recorded... that's it. There is no editing available.

I had to come up with a way to use them that would not require a sticker per child.

For the alphabet one, I thought it would make a great review! My buddy Kindergarten Smorgasboard makes a hat for each letter of the alphabet with his students. This could then be a fun review activity. He could add the picture of him in the hat, say the letter, some words that go with it. He could even make it into a video!

Hey... Mr. Smorgasboard... 

will you sing us a song and do a dance in your cute hats?? 

What if I say pretty please??

This would be great for my ELL students too. They love anything with technology but I am afraid I do not have any cute hats or a song and dance for them.

Onto the pirate set... my plans are to create cute little pirate maps and place a QR code on each one. Then I am going to laminate them for durability. These will become the centers to go along with my new product line. I want to utilize all of the options available in the app. So one maybe a picture and yep... its a writing prompt! Another maybe directions in the form of a text, a video with a top secret activity, and an audio clip for a job well done. I am so excited to use this and create it.

So fun... yes. Multiple uses... yes. Expensive on a teacher's budget... yes. So... what do you think?