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How to Use Google Sites - Tutorial for Beginners

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The ULTIMATE Google Slides teacher resource

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Google Slides has so much potential for powerful technology integration in the classroom. Check out our resources for TONS of ideas and activities!

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Guest blog post by Jen Kimbrell

My job as an instructional technology facilitator provides me the opportunity to assist teachers in infusing technology into the curriculum. I am fortunate enough to work with over twenty classrooms that are 1:1. Having a device for every student has been such a blessing to my teachers and students. I have seen such a tremendous change in the way teachers are interacting with students in the classroom. Many of my teachers are becoming facilitators. They are guiding students to create, think critically, and collaborate.

However, this does not happen overnight. Receiving a classroom set of iPads can be overwhelming. I always advise my teachers to start small. Choose a core set of apps and stick with them until students are more comfortable with the routines and procedures of the devices.

One of my favorite apps to get started is called Nearpod. Nearpod is an application tool that takes your presentations to a whole new level. Teachers can take already existing PowerPoints or PDFs and upload them to the Nearpod site to create enriched multimedia presentations with interactive features. Some of the features include adding quizzes, drawing tools, and video to the lesson. Teachers can then share the content with the students and control the activity with the Nearpod app. Students have the capability to receive the content from the teacher on their device for a great interactive lesson. There are many reasons to love this application but here are my top five reasons why Nearpod is a great way to start the journey of using devices in the classroom

1. Nearpod works on ANY device, whether students have iPads, computers, or other tablets. This is great especially for schools that allow students to bring their own devices.

2. The teacher has complete control of student devices. Yes, I said complete control. Before the lesson, the teacher provides a code for students to join the session. Once joined, the students submit their names which allows the teacher to see on the teacher iPad the names of the students that have joined. When all students have joined, the teacher can share the first slide of the presentation and begin the lesson. Students are only allowed to see the slide the teacher shares which ensures students are on task. If students try to go to the next slide the application will not allow them to do so. The students can exit the application but the teacher is notified when this occurs. This is a nice feature when just starting a 1:1 classroom or working with students in small groups, especially as it relates to classroom management.

3. Students can annotate slides to explain their thinking about a particular topic. For example, if teaching a math concept, students can show how to solve the problem by drawing it out using the pen tool feature. When the student uses the drawing tool, the student has the ability to submit their work. The teacher then has the capability of choosing a student response to share with the other students. This response can be seen on all student devices. Students can also take a quiz or poll directly on the device. Best of all, the information is saved to the Nearpod website for teacher analysis! The students' annotated slides are also saved.

4. Only have a few devices? No problem, use them in small groups. I've seen the app used for guided reading groups, researching a science project, or collaborating on a math problem. The sky is the limit! There is also a premium version that costs around $120.00 annually that will allow students to use a homework code to work at their own pace without teacher control. This code can be used at home as well so students can review the lesson again and again. Other premium features include adding websites, audio, and longer video recordings.

5. The last reason why I love Nearpod is the plethora of already-made teacher resources created just for Nearpod. These resources can be found in the Nearpod store on the app or go to http://content.nearpod.com. There are lots of great free and paid lessons for all grade levels.

If you are interested in learning more about Nearpod and how to create your own, please check out a blog post I wrote about the subject. Have you used Nearpod in the classroom? I would love to hear what you think about this incredible app!

Jen is the K-5 instructional technology facilitator for the North Little Rock School District in Arkansas. Prior to this position, she was a K-5 literacy coach and a first grade classroom teacher. She is has a master's degree in Early Childhood Education and is National Board Certified. Jennifer is the creator of the Tech with Jen blog where she enjoys sharing strategies for using technology in the classroom.

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5 Reasons to Use Nearpod in the Classroom

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Nearpod is an application tool that takes your presentations to a whole new level. Teachers can take already existing PowerPoints or PDFs and upload them to the Nearpod site to create enriched multimedia presentations with interactive features. Some of the features include adding quizzes, drawing tools, and video to the lesson.

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This tutorial will explain how you can use Nearpod in the classroom. Nearpod allow a teacher to walk students in a 1:1 iPad classroom through a presentation. Along the way check for understanding and collecting feedback from the students.

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Remember the heydays of Pokémon Go? Pokémon Go success was a worldwide phenomenon. Developers combined digital content and real-life objects for a blockbuster hit. Augmented Reality was the glue that merged video games, outdoor activities, and fun in perfectly balanced proportions. And, Pokémon Go showed that smartphone-obsessed users happily spent their time outside walking in pursuit of the next Pokémon Go challenge.

Innovation with technology:

Not all people love reading. Yet, full-length books remain popular, surviving in the era of television and digital media. Technology has been the publishers' helping hand for years. Technology keeps providing them with new ways of telling stories.

Looking back, books have come a long way from printed, text-only editions through illustrated albums and pop-up books to fully interactive multimodal stories. Now it's smartphone's turn to partner with books.

This is where Augmented Reality app development services help: Augmented Reality for publishers is the next big thing.

Books that combine text, pictures, and digital content is the latest trend and in great demand.

Many readers prefer vivid, intriguing illustrations to engage their imagination and boost creativity-a challenge for some when books have only words.

Augmented Reality book publishers have accepted the challenge.

What is possible with AR today?

To answer this question, we have analyzed which book categories are best-suited for AR. Also, we have collected a list of Augmented Reality books for your inspiration. Stay tuned!

iStorm: Wild Weather and Other Forces of Nature

The Good Fight: America's Ongoing Struggle

My Very Hungry Caterpillar AR

Thomas AR World

The Golden Rule: A Duggin Adventure

The Little Mermaid

Masters of the Sun: The Zombie Chronicles

Popar Dinosaurs 4D Smart Book

Jurassic World - Where Dinosaurs Come to Life

Alice in Wonderland

Crayola Color Alive

Ravensburger Augmented Reality Puzzle 3D

Bonus section: must-try AR visualization apps:

Do you too want an AR book?

Contact us for an estimate.

1 What books can benefit from Augmented Reality apps?

Augmented Reality is the exact point where readers become participants.

Augmented Reality adds new dimensions to almost every book, so it is read and reread, played and replayed again and again and again. And we all know, that repetition is the mother of learning.
Want you child to learn? Join the AR book train!

AR: the new growth direction for book publishers.
Augmented Reality makes it possible to add extra content that engages users to learn more on a topic:

animated 3D models

video and audio explanations

website links with interactive content

short notes on important facts

Calculator

2 AR books you might like to read

Below are several types of books that have already benefited by adding AR

Digital storytelling.

Augmented reality greatly helps different kinds of narratives. With an AR app, readers get more context about things they might have incorrectly imagined. For example, they can see how ginormous Moby Dick compares to the doomed Pequod or how Old Jolyon Forsyte was attired.

Children's literature.

This is the most successful use case of Augmented Reality for publishers to date. Children are curious. They love picture books. They love playing. They LOVE making up stories! A perfect match to become engaged AR book readers.

Gamebooks.

Users can choose an option and enjoy watching a short video flashback. The app can also show animated characters. The app showcases their skills and progress, plays different storylines, and much more. As result, AR increases playability.

Gamebooks.

Users can choose an option and enjoy watching a short video flashback. The app can also show animated characters. The app showcases their skills and progress, plays different storylines, and much more. As result, AR increases playability.

Pop-up books.

This Augmented Reality-like technology has been around for a long time on almost everyone's bookshelves. Now, static pictures appear in three dimensions, move, and even interact. The book is thin. The content, rich and engaging.

Illustrated atlases.

Children (adults too) can enjoy seeing different animals, historic buildings, the human body, and hundreds of other amazing things placed on the dining room table. View them from different angles, watch short videos, or read quick facts.

Coloring books.

Now children can color a character and interact with it on a device screen. They even make it respond to their touch. Or, they can play a mini game featuring the character they have just colored.

Augmented puzzles.

AR can be used in publishing beyond illustrated books. Puzzles, perhaps? Indeed. Players spend long hours composing a picture from thousands of tiny cardboard pieces. As an extra reward after they finish, they can aim their smartphone camera at the finished puzzle and enjoy a 360-degree picture of their achievement.

Playing cards.

Playing cards can also be interactive. Use them to play mini games, model animals, monsters, gameplay characters, collect, or make up battles and more.

3 Augmented Reality books currently published

How do you know Augmented Reality works today, not sometime in the distant future? The best way is to look at Augmented Reality books that are already out.

Check out the list below of Augmented Reality for publishers. AR made the difference for these books. Yes, it was exactly AR that prompted customers to choose that book from the bookshelf.
01 iStorm: Wild Weather and Other Forces of Nature
In her book, Anita Ganeri has collected a variety of climate disasters, from earthquakes through wildfires to thunderstorms. This Augmented Reality book for children explains how nature at its most devastating works.

Each book page describes a single phenomenon, including why it is never safe to stand near a real tornado (just ask Dorothy). Using the free app, users can activate an AR tornado and learn more about its nature. AR illustrations destroy nothing in your house and raises children's awareness of natural disasters and how they affect our Earth.
02 The Good Fight: America's Ongoing Struggle
Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt have written a book to show how much US society has accomplished as a nation in its struggle toward freedom and equality.

In order to bring the stories to life, Smolan and Erwitt collected over 180 memorable photos. They enhanced 60 of these photos with more context provided through videos and audios. These extra materials are available through The Good Fight Viewer app. When the reader points a camera at a selected photo, the app displays relevant material.

This way, authors celebrate the successes society has made and illustrate the point of how fragile each accomplishment is.
03 My Very Hungry Caterpillar AR
Several generations of children have enjoyed adventures of a book character, a very hungry caterpillar eating its way through a brief, but gloriously food-filled life. The new generation of preschoolers can raise their very own caterpillar until it turns into a butterfly.

The app reproduces the main storyline in an interactive way. App developers offer an intuitive, child-friendly design, and wide range of activities aimed at awakening children's curiosity to nature.

The app provides a non-competitive game: no dashboards, no right or wrong way to play. Just to play and enjoy.

his free AR app complements the famous series of books about Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. This app works specifically with The World of Thomas book, a marker-based AR book.
Via the app, users can see Thomas in life-size dimensions and take selfies with him.

They can also play with other characters in the book. They can fly Harold the Helicopter around the room. And even organize a mini race while driving trains to the station.

In order to activate 3D models, users must find special red boxes (markers) in the book, put the book onto a flat surface, and point the camera at the book.
05 The Golden Rule: A Duggin Adventure
just as in The World of Thomas, this Augmented Reality book for children is also based on interactive storytelling.

Through an AR app, authors wrote an immersive story about a little koala and his friends.

The app offers children fun animations, sounds, and stories. This helps increase attention span, and focus. It also helps develop motor skills, language, and problem-solving aptitude.

The app also uses marker-based AR in which book illustrations activate AR scenes.

Founders for the Danish startup, Bookandmagic, previously worked on Lego's AR app before they started their own entrepreneurial venture.

Basically, children can read the classic fairy tale. The app encourages them to do more. App users ignite their imagination by interacting, playing, and learning. Every illustration is a door into an interactive adventure.

Readers enjoy a detailed, magical, 3D universe. They can play sidequests, or search for hidden objects. The book is also an opportunity for the entire family to spend fun time together.
07 Masters of the Sun: The Zombie Chronicles
Will.i.am, known for his works with the Black-Eyed Peas, has presented a futuristic zombie thriller. He strived to integrate several technologies into one solution.

This graphic novel was published by Marvel as a traditional book with both AR and VR apps included. Augmented Reality adds special effects to comic book pages. With its help, zombies come alive and book characters start speaking with familiar voices. Many well-known celebrities performed the voice-overs.

Why do they participate? For the sheer novelty and technological creativity of the venture.
08 Popar Dinosaurs 4D Smart Book
Popar offers an illustrated book to help children discover ancient reptiles.

Children can point the camera at an illustration, discover just how large dinosaurs were, and how they really looked. They can play games of logic and read informative notes, thus gaining knowledge in a fun, easy way. And, they can take photos and share them with friends.

Included are a series of smart books by Popar. Each interactive smart book is accompanied by a special, free Augmented Reality app to enhance children's creative perception.
09 Jurassic World - Where Dinosaurs Come to Life
This is the official book tied to the movie, Jurassic World. Readers can use book illustrations to activate models of different dinosaurs. They can choose between single user, dual user (two friends - two dinosaurs), and life-size mode.

Dinosaurs "come alive"! They roam and roar. Users can take snapshots and share them with friends.

The app contains quite an extensive list of Augmented Reality dinosaurs. It is also available to those who do not own the book. You could download a sample trigger and start your AR experiences. (Unfortunately, the app no longer works properly.)

One of the best AR books is Alice in Wonderland by Design Media, UK and Parramon, Spain. And, it's a pop-up book!

Because of the fantastic nature of Lewis Carrol's story, this story perfectly suits an Augmented Reality book. The Augmented Reality mode (Virtual Reality mode also available) lets readers follow the storyline with interactive illustrations, play games, etc.

Activate your smartphones and follow the White Rabbit (but not Jefferson Airplane's)!

Crayola has a collection of amazing Augmented Reality coloring books with many of children's favorite characters including Frozen, Avengers, and many others.

Children can animate pictures in three simple steps: color a favorite picture, scan it with a tablet or a smartphone, and interact with a 3D model on the screen having the same colors.

Color Alive had such great success that Crayola introduced Easy Animation Studio. In addition to a coloring book, children get a new AR app and a mannequin. Children color a picture, then activate the app, and make a snapshot. The children can then animate the picture using a mannequin. They can change the mannequin's postures or make it move. The picture on the screen changes accordingly, so children can take different snapshots. They can even produce their own movie!
12 Ravensburger Augmented Reality Puzzle 3D
This is an extra for puzzle fans: a series of Ravensburger thousand-piece landscape puzzles accompanied by an AR app. When all the puzzle pieces are in their proper place, players activate the AR app and enjoy extra content. For example, the app provides an astonishing view of a Paris night together with notes on the visible landmarks such as the Seine, the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral.

4 Bonus section: must-try AR visualization apps

Technically, these AR startups do not relate to publishing. But we couldn't resist including them for you. They could fit in perfectly with book illustrations.
01 Histovery
Three cheers for a French-based startup, Histovery, with its inspiring example of Augmented Reality storytelling. They created an iPad app showing visitors how Chateau du Chambord looked during the time of King Francis I of France (1494-1547). The Histopad app, offered as an extra service, makes it possible to recreate a historic atmosphere showing things that do not exist in real life for example, wall tapestries, coffers (also used for a mini-game), benches, tables, and much more.

This startup was a success on Kickstarter and keeps rocking on. AstroReality offers a 3D-printed, painted Earth model and an Augmented Reality app with in-depth information on several categories. These include wind and weather, geological patterns, animals and migration, plants, environment and climate change, anthropology and human experience-plus paleodata.
The educational interactive AR globe is suitable for all ages, but even more so, for enthusiasts curious about what happened before and what is happening now to our planet.

Pokémon Go made Augmented Reality a recognizable and fun-filled technology. The fusion of books and Augmented Reality has a promising present and future. Augmented Reality mobile apps help readers engage their imagination by making characters seemingly come alive.

Even more important: just as Pokémon Go is good for one's health because it makes players walk long distances and interact with other people, Augmented Reality storybooks help children learn in an enjoyable way. They don't even realize they are learning: they are just enjoying the wonderful world of books. The app supplies them with information which they are more likely to read because it is structured, context-based, and right at their fingertips. No need to scan the whole Internet to find relevant information.

Here is great news about augmented reality software development : simple apps do not cost too much. While the next Pokémon Go or Ikea app might require months of labor-intensive development, a simple AR app can be completed in just a month. So, you can present it to your clientele-and, perhaps, almost immediately enjoy a spike in business.

Do you want the same or similar features for your app?
Add AR to your business

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Augmented Reality Apps for Books: Bringing Life Into Printing

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Augmented reality books combine physical and digital content to introduce augmented reality in education. Augmented reality companies make solutions for AR books.

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What do teachers do to get books into the hands of their students?

We ALL have or had students who struggle to find a passion for reading. Teachers will do anything to get an appropriate book into the hands of their students. We give students a reading interest inventory to find out their likes and dislikes. We go to the school library and pull a collection of books to bring back to our classroom. We even head to our local libraries to bring in books from outside of the school building with the hope that our students get excited about at least one of the titles.

Why do some students detest reading?

Many reasons contribute to this question but more often than not it is because they struggle. They struggle with decoding which obviously affects comprehension. Some students can decode but have difficulty making meaning out of the text they read.

On the other side of the spectrum, you have students who are really good readers but still don't enjoy getting down with a good book. Often times these students are used to being stimulated by video games and tech based activities. What can we do about this without replacing reading with completely digital content?

Why should I make augmented reality a part of my classroom library?

Having a few books that contain an element of augmented reality (the ability to product a unique interactive experience) to supplement the text is a great way to target struggling readers as well as those who simply don't enjoy reading for few reasons:

Seeing images, figures and diagrams come to life can help assist comprehension

Increases background knowledge

Increases curiosity

Increases excitement for learning new things

It is ENGAGING!

With that being said, I DO think it is important for children to learn how to build their reading stamina with books alone--no technology involved.

Here is an example of one of the books I mention below (same one displayed in the picture above):

Children's Books with Augmented Reality

A few years ago I was walking through the library at one of my schools and noticed the Guinness Book of World Records book that was on display. These books were MY all time favorite to read as a child. As I approached the book I noticed the 3D advertisement sticker on the front. I was THRILLED. I immediately opened my iPad, downloaded the app and called the librarian over. We spent a solid half hour flipping through the pages ooohing and ahhhing as the text literally came to life right in front of our eyes! So first up on my list are the Guinness Book of World Records Books. All books posted below are Amazon affiliate links.

It seems as though the 2016 & 2017 editions do not contain the AR component😓
Let me know if you are able to find it!

This book is appropriate for beginning readers. The main character, Ernie, wishes to be someone else throughout the book. Eventually he finds the joys of being himself. (This book reminds me a lot of Edward the Emu) Ernie's Wish attempts to makes concepts come alive like counting (pine cones drop from the tree one at a time and the voiceover asks how many they counted), colors (flowers change colors when they are touched), animation (Ernie flies off the page using a jetpack when he wished he could defy gravity), etc.

This is another book for beginning readers. It is about a little boy who refuses to go to bed because he would rather play. His parents decide to take him on a trip around the world with the hopes that he will eventually tire out. Each page is animated and the text is read aloud to the child! You can demo three of the pages for FREE by clicking HERE.

This is another great AR book for small children! This book brings the alphabet to life through print, audio and video. It reminds me a lot of the app, AR Flashcards, that Anita Goodwin blogged about HERE.

This book is ideal for any child who loves fairies (I know several girls who would be obsessed with this book😍). This one is a little different since it uses a computer's webcam instead of an app along with software that comes as a CD (no internet required). Each page spread contains three different animations.

This is a story of a knight and his friends who discover an ancient treasure map. Together the friends embark on a journey to find the most valuable treasure in the world.

This popular film is now available in a children's book and contains several 3D animations! Students will have a blast seeing their favorite characters pop out of the pages.

This is another popular film that has turned into a 3D experience! This book tells about all of the characters from both Monsters Inc. movies. It isn't a story but text appears that tells all about the furry friends.

Explore the wildlife and their habitats with this beautiful book! Learning truly comes alive with this nonfiction text. It also comes with a full set of interactive cards.

Students will have fun learning all about the basic functions of blood cells that will open their eyes to the microscopic world.

Students will take a journey through the solar system as they learn about the history of Moon exploration as well as many other exciting facts.

This book is the PERFECT text to use when teaching severe weather. Students will experience the severity of different kinds of storms and will feel like they are right in the action.

This book will make students feel like they are walking with dinosaurs! I used this one a few weeks ago during a tutoring session and the little boy I was tutoring was absolutely amazed. I hate that I didn't get any pictures of it in action😓

This book captures all of the wonders of science. Learn about atoms, elements, sound waves, gravity and so much more!

This book would be great for any geology unit as it explores issues of our planet and its origin.

Where was this book when I taught Ancient Egypt in 2nd grade? Students will enjoy 3D images, music and games as they explore the world of Egypt 5,000 years ago.

These books are great for students in grades 1st-3rd and teach them how to create origami greeting cards, ornaments, decorations and more. They can use a smartphone or tablet to scan specific pages to watch videos for each project.

I could keep going! Would any of these titles interest YOUR students?

Check out these three Google Drive products that would be great to implement with ANY of these books:

If you enjoyed this post then you might be interested in checking out my Top 10 List of Technology Themed Read Aloud Books ☺

Follow me on Pinterest to get more techie ideas:

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Augmented Reality Children's Books That Will Engage Students

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Augmented Reality Children's Books that will engage students. Grab a phone, iPad, or tablet and spice up your library with these titles that would be great for the elementary classroom!

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What is a Word Cloud? are created based on the frequency of words in a text. In order to create a word cloud, a template can be created using free website . Teachers can select a passage from a text students have read and copy and paste it into the text box on the site. The background color, layout, and font can be edited. Word clouds enable students to see key words, create headings, and provide prompts for discussion ( Echevarria , Vogt, Short, 2014). The more the word is used in the text, the larger it appears in the word cloud. Students integrate both visual and verbal information while integrating the use of technology as they create their own designs. provides support in a variety of different languages, which is especially helpful for students who are English Language Learners. Word clouds or can include key vocabulary words from a unit or theme and can be displayed in the classroom. Word clouds can also be used in introducing new stories or for making predictions. to make predictions is especially useful for students who are because it allows students to create their own predictions about particular content or discuss unknown words prior to reading.

Visual Representations

This image is an example of a word cloud for Little Red Riding Hood. This could be used to get s tudents excited about a new story or for making predictions about a text they are about to read. After students read a text, the assessment given could be to create a Wordle based on the main idea and details or theme.

Content Area Examples

Word clouds can be integrated in vocabulary, comprehension and writing. tudents can create a that includes new or unknown words to improve vocabulary, or look at the largest words in the word cloud to better understand the main idea and smaller words to analyze the details. This would improve overall comprehension, which is especially important for students who are . Those who are ELL would also benefit from using word clouds to make predicti ons. When it comes to writing, can be used as a self-assessment tool. Students can plug their writing into a word cloud site and see whether their intended main ideas came across as important, or incorporate new words for those that are often repeated throughout their writing.

A way to adapt the use of word clouds lesson vocabulary. Before starting a new math lesson, a word cloud can be displayed as students identify and discuss both familiar and unfamiliar words related to a particular concept. This activates prior knowledge and also serves as a formative assessment, because it gives insight as to what students already know and still need to learn. Students who are benefit from discussing targeted vocabulary as well as background knowledge, because it builds confidence. Students can also create their own word cloud during math as a review for previously taught content. After a math lesson, students can create a as a class by brainstorming words that describe what was learned.

strategy could easi ly be adapted in social studies when introducing new content or discussing famous speeches I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr . Rather than reading the entire speech, students can see a visual of the main ideas presented. Students who are can better comprehend the main ideas of speeches by focusing on key words and phrases that are easier to read. could be made using the U.S. Constitution, the thirteen original colonies, U.S. presidents, and more.

Science- Word clouds could be adapted for use in scien ce when introducing new content such as planets, the sun, stars, properties of matter, and more. Similar to other content areas, an be used to activate students' prior knowledge about particular science content or to review previously covered material. Students can work together to brainstorm and put together their own word cloud to illustrate what they already know or what they learned.

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What is a Word Cloud? Word c louds are created based on the frequency of words in a text. In order to create a word cloud, a template can be created using Wordle (Jonathan Feinburg ; www.wordle.net )...

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Fair reaction. For several years now, QR codes have been at the center of the popular "___ is dead" trope we marketers love to argue when talking technology. We've even debated it ourselves on this blog.

But if there's one thing the QR code debate shows you, it's that there sure isn't a consensus -- the efficacy of QR codes still hotly contested.

Nonetheless, there's no denying the popularity and convenience of the QR code. Keep reading to learn how to create your own QR code, and how you can encourage your customers to scan them when they come across your content.

What Is a QR Code?

QR codes, short for "quick response" codes, are square-shaped black-and-white symbols that people can scan using a smartphone to learn more about a product.

These encrypted squares can hold links, coupons, event details, and other information that users might want to take with them for referring to later.

QR codes usually look something like this:

Although not every QR code is shaped like a perfect square, they're most often found looking like the image above -- with varying patterns displayed inside. You'll often find them on direct mail, signage, billboards, and even commercials where you can quickly scan the code on the screen using your phone.

QR Codes vs. Barcodes

Does the rise of QR codes mean traditional barcodes are a thing of the past? Of course not. Traditional barcodes are still a common way for businesses to identify consumer packaged goods (CPGs) and manage their product inventory.

Images via Wikimedia Commons | Wikimedia Commons

However, there are a number of differences between barcodes and QR codes -- both in their uses and their characteristics. Here are three important differences:

QR Codes Are Shaped Differently

Barcodes are typically rectangular in shape, requiring scanning devices to read the barcode's data horizontally. QR codes are often square-shaped, displaying their data vertically or horizontally.

QR Codes Hold More Data

Due to a QR code's square shape, it can hold much more data than a barcode. In fact, QR codes can hold hundreds of times more encrypted characters than a barcode.

QR Codes Hold Different Data

QR codes are often used differently than barcodes. Barcodes hold key product information at the point of sale, such as the price and name of the manufacturer. QR codes offer more passive and intangible information, such as location data and URLs to promotions and product landing pages.

How Do QR Codes Work?

Originally designed in Japan for the automotive industry, marketers adopted the barcodes because of their large storage capacity and ability to translate additional information to consumers beyond what creative and/or packaging could convey.

If a consumer sees a QR code somewhere, they can take out their mobile device, download a free QR code scanning app, and "scan" the barcode to gain access to additional information, like so:

So if you wanted to create, say, a bus stop advertisement promoting your podcast, you could display a QR code on that printed ad that brings people right to your iTunes page when they scan it with their phones. Pretty simple, right?

How to Make a QR Code

The QR code creation process is pretty straightforward. Here's how to get started.

Step 1: Select a QR code generator.

There are tons of QR code generators out there. The best ones give you many options for using your QR code, and compatibility with most mobile QR code reader apps.

Best QR Code Generators

1. Kaywa

2. GOQR.me

3. Free QR Code Generator by Shopify

4. Visualead

5. The-qrcode-generator.com

6. QR Stuff

7. qr-code-generator.com

8. QR Code Monkey

9. Create QR Code by Google App Engine

Other things to look for when choosing a QR code generator are whether you can track and analyze performance, and if it allows you to design a code that's unique to your brand.

Some QR codes, for example, display logos and other icons within the code that immediately tell people what information they'll get from scanning it.

Step 2: Choose the type of content you're promoting.

Let's select one of the QR code generators above and do a walk-through together. I'll select qr-code-generator.com, one of the eight preferred QR code generators above.

First, select what type of content you want your QR code to show the person after they scan it. You can choose from one of 10 types, as shown in the screenshot below. For our purposes, we'll promote a URL that directs users to our podcast.

Step 3: Enter your data in the form that appears.

Once you select the type of content you're promoting with this QR code, a field or form will appear where you can enter the information that corresponds with your campaign.

If you want your QR code to save contact information, for example, you'll see a set of fields where you can enter your email address, subject line, and associated message.

To save a link to our podcast, we'll simply enter the URL in the field that appears, like so:

Step 4: Consider downloading a dynamic QR code.

See the option below for "dynamic"? One significant pitfall to making a QR code is that you can't edit the data it contains once you print it. But with dynamic QR codes, you can edit this data.

With a free membership to QR code generators like qr-code-generator.com, you can print a dynamic QR code, scan it, and pull up an editable form where you can modify the data your visitors will receive when they scan the QR code themselves.

Step 5. Customize it.

The fun part of creating QR codes is customizing the design of the codes to your brand. Want your code to look like your logo? Go for it. Want it to reflect your website's design scheme? No problem.

Using qr-code-generator.com, we can customize our QR code by clicking the button to the top-right, as shown in the screenshot below. Keep in mind not every QR code maker offers this design option -- depending on the QR code you're looking to generate, you might find some tools limited in their functionality.

Of course, you can customize your QR code further -- adjusting the colors, adding a logo, creating social options, and more.

Keep in mind, however, that some customizations can make it more difficult for QR code scanning apps to properly read the code. It's a good idea to generate two versions of your QR code -- one plain version and another with your preferred design.

Step 6: Test the QR code to make sure it scans.

Because a customized QR code can make it difficult for some mobile apps to "read," don't forget to check to see if the QR code reads correctly, and be sure to try more than just one reader. A good place to start is the free tool Google Goggles, which takes a picture and then tells you what link or item it "reads to."

Another great free tool is QR Code Reader, which automatically takes you to whatever it "reads." Apple's Passbook also offers a built-in QR code reader on iOS 7, so you should test to make sure your code is readable there, as well.

Step 7: Share and distribute the QR code.

A QR code won't be able to do its job unless its seen. So make sure you come up with a distribution plan for sharing the code. This could include displaying it on social media, in print ads, on clothing, or in physical locations where people will pick up there phones to scan it.

Along with sharing the code, you might also want to include text instructions in your various promotions that show less tech-savvy people how to scan it. This way there's no friction if people want to scan the code but don't know how to.

Scroll down for more tips on properly displaying a QR code.

Step 8: Track and analyze performance.

Just like any marketing campaign, you should follow up on any collateral or campaigns using QR codes to see whether they're actually working. How much traffic comes from each specific code? Are people scanning your code but not redeeming their offer once they get to the landing page? Or are they not even compelled enough to scan your QR code?

Knowing this will help you troubleshoot and adjust your poorly performing QR codes to more closely mirror those that work well. I recommend you include a UTM tracking code on your URL so you can better measure performance -- this is particularly important if you use closed-loop marketing analytics, and are used to more in-depth reporting on your campaigns.

How to Use QR Codes (And How Not to)

Now that you see how simple the QR code creation process can be, let's talk about some best practices that'll help increase the likelihood your QR code actually gets used.

Display your QR code where it's convenient for people to scan.

Put QR codes in places where scanning is easy, and there's enough time for the consumer to actually scan the code. While you may often see QR codes on billboards and TV commercials, they're not exactly the most user-friendly locations. Think of places and mediums where consumers have the time to scan the code, and, ideally, a Wi-Fi connection as well.

Optimize the QR's destination page for mobile devices.

Mobile-optimize the page to which you're sending people. Consumers will be on their phone when scanning the QR code, so they should be brought to a page with a positive mobile experience.

Include a CTA that prompts people to scan your QR code.

Offer a call-to-action (CTA) with the code -- that is to say, tell people what they're supposed to do when they see the code, and what they'll receive if they do it. Not everyone knows exactly what a QR code is, and those that do won't be motivated to scan it unless they're sure there's something worthwhile on the other side.

Don't limit your QR code to one mobile scanner.

Don't require a special QR code scanner. Your QR code should be app-agnostic so anyone can scan your code with any reader. A lower barrier to entry makes success more likely for you and the user.

Use your QR code to make someone's life easier.

Don't use a QR code just for the sake of using one. For instance, it's common for marketers to think, "How can I bridge the offline experience with the online experience? Uhhh ... QR code!" That's not wrong ... but it's not always right, either.

If you have content that makes sense to deliver to a mobile user, and you have an appropriate channel to do it (see use #1 at the beginning of this section), it's more likely your QR code will drive results. For example, in South Korea, grocery store chain Tesco drove tremendous national business growth by using QR codes in subway stations (I guess they have mobile service in their subway stations) to let riders order their groceries while they wait. It's a great example of using QR codes for the right end-goal, at the right place and time.

This article from Search Engine Journal has some more examples of good times to use QR codes, as well.

If after reading this you're not convinced QR codes are the right move -- or you just want some additional ways you can connect the offline world to the online world -- consider also adding a short, memorable URL people can type in easily on their mobile phones in your creative.

The future of QR codes could also mean an evolution -- augmented reality apps certainly stem from the same concept, after all. Consider the AR News App, which lets readers augment a newspaper story into a child-friendly article by downloading an app and hovering over stories with a special marker (sounds pretty close to a QR scanner, doesn't it?).

It may be that QR codes aren't quite dead, but just the first step in a long evolution.

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Fair reaction. For several years now, QR codes have been at the center of the popular "___ is dead" trope we marketers love to argue when talking technology. We've even debated it ourselves on this blog. But if there's one thing the QR code debate shows you, it's that there sure isn't a consensus -- the efficacy of QR codes still hotly contested.

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While giant bins of brightly colored blocks, shapes, and counters used to be staples of every elementary classroom, today educators have increasingly shifted to a digital-first approach, and rely on virtual instead of physical manipulatives to help teach complex math topics through hands-on exploration.

Virtual manipulatives support student-led, personalized learning that is key to successful mathematical thinking and understanding. When they're designed with intentionality and follow solid instructional design principles, they exemplify the sweet spot of digital pedagogy-using technology to provide enhanced learning experiences that would otherwise be unattainable.
Flexibility & Versatility
Teaching with virtual manipulatives gets to the root of what makes all hands-on learning with manipulatives so effective. Students can engage multiple senses while they manipulate and arrange objects to visualize an otherwise abstract math concept.

But where virtual manipulatives have a distinct advantage is in their flexibility and versatility. With a tap of a finger, dollars can be exchanged for coins. Clocks can be viewed with or without hands and numbers. A shape can be recolored, resized, and divided into any number of equal parts. Need more place counters? There's no limit with a virtual manipulative.

This flexibility means that students aren't limited to what they can see and do with physical manipulatives. Well-designed virtual manipulatives adapt, change, and work as fast as students' minds do-putting all of the focus on the learning.
A Playground for Curiosity
With virtual manipulatives, students can play, experiment, and observe in real time how changing one variable affects another. They give students an interactive playground to chase their naturally curious wonderings.

A student might wonder, "If I double the width and double the height of this polygon, does that also double the area?" Spoiler: it doesn't! "And what happens if I break apart this tens strip into single cubes?" Ah, that's why borrowing works! This give-and-take interactive journey with real-time responses and instant feedback helps students to self-construct a deeper understanding of complex mathematical relationships.
Multiple Pathways for Diverse Learners
The Science of Math has shown that math instruction can be made more accessible and effective for diverse learners by incorporating strategies that use multiple representations, visual supports, and personalized learning approaches. It's no coincidence these are the essential conditions of universal design for learning.

Virtual manipulatives effectively provide a visual and interactive approach to understanding math concepts that can easily adjust to meet individual learning needs. While one student may prefer to build with fraction bars, another may see fractions as shaded parts of a clock or maybe even jumps on a number line. Because they're used as a tool for learning and problem solving, with infinite possibilities, virtual manipulatives work for students-reinforcing conceptual understanding while allowing for diverse pathways to get there.
Making Virtual Manipulatives Work
With the increasing prevalence of technology in education, it's more important than ever to understand how digital tools and platforms can-and should-be used to effectively engage students and facilitate learning.

Like all digital tools in the classroom, the efficacy and impact of virtual manipulatives depends on good instructional design and a solid pedagogical foundation. Unfortunately, with little oversight, some virtual manipulatives available to educators online are little more than a substitute for rote memorization or passive engagement. It's important to critically evaluate how (and if) the virtual manipulatives can offer an enhanced opportunity for learning and problem solving, and weigh that alongside the valuable tactile experiences afforded by physical manipulatives.

To be most effective, digital pedagogy needs its counterpart in real-world experiences. Having students stack their cubes, excitedly anticipate the outcome as their tower begins to sway, and then hear the satisfying clatter as the cubes come crashing down on the tabletop - there's just no substitute for that! But virtual manipulatives allow for further discovery, to manipulate those cubes in ways not possible with physical manipulatives to explore more complex mathematical concepts in a digital space. Virtual manipulatives also allow for access outside of school, from almost any device. Being able to reinforce learning with further practice at home is a bonus.

With instructional design that offers flexibility and versatility, strong roots in research-based pedagogy, and a counterbalance with non-digital experiences, virtual manipulatives can offer an exciting avenue for exploring and understanding mathematics.
The Math Learning Center Apps
An example of effective virtual manipulatives are the collection we developed for The Math Learning Center. Each features a different visual model and provides a variety of ways for students to make sense of mathematical concepts. They have developed several examples of modeling math with these apps.

If you haven't considered the digital pedagogy of your product or service for educators, contact us for an initial consultation about how addressing this essential concept amplifies the effectiveness of your solution.

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Visual Math: How Virtual Manipulatives Take Learning Further

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While giant bins of brightly colored blocks, shapes, and counters used to be staples of every elementary classroom, today educators have increasingly shifted to a digital-first approach, and rely on virtual instead of physical manipulatives to help teach complex math topics through hands-on exploration.

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Screencastify is an easy screen recording tool that can be a helpful addition to a teacher's or student's digital arsenal.

This is most likely going to be used more by teachers as a way to record what is happening on screen, perhaps while adding a voiceover to guide students. As this is a simple extension it is very easy to install and use on multiple devices.

You will need a webcam to record your face, in a box-out, as well as the screen recording, but this is easily set up. Teachers can use this to create assignment guidance or teaching around digital documents, images, videos, and more -- for use in the classroom and beyond.

This is super simple to use and even offers editing, making it a viable option for students submitting assignments too.

If this is for you, also check out our Screencastify lesson plan for middle and high school to learn more.

What is Screencastify?

We have already answered what Screencastify is on a basic level. However, to provide more clarity, it is an extension that works using Google and, specifically, Chrome. That means it can, technically, record a video of anything going on within a Chrome browser window.

Except it does more. You can also use Screencastify to record your desktop, so recording something such as a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation is an option.

Yup, there's more. This platform will also allow you to record from a webcam. Thus, whatever you're doing on camera can be captured, showing your face in a small cut-out window as you talk through what's happening on screen.

What's new in Screencastify?

Screencastify added a helpful toolbar to the menu that keeps everything accessible but adds some more power to the process.

Beyond recording and editing you can now add extras such as using a pen to edit and an eraser to change, plus stickers and shape tools to add even more personality to projects.

You can now draw the attention of students to specifics by using fireworks animations, radiant effects, and more.

How to get started with Screencastify

To get started with Screencastify you'll need to download the extension from the Chrome Web Store while using the Chrome browser, and have it installed by selecting "Add to Chrome."

Once installed, you'll see the Screencastify icon in the top right of your Chrome browser next to the address bar. This is a right-pointing pink arrow with a white video camera icon within it.

Select this to get started or use the keyboard shortcut on PC Alt + Shift + S, and on a Mac, Option + Shift + S. More on useful keyboard shortcuts below.

How to use Screencastify

Once you've selected the Screencastify icon in the Chrome browser it will launch the app in a pop-up. This allows you to pick how you want to record from three options: Browser tab, Desktop, or Webcam.

Tabs are available to turn on a microphone and to embed a webcam if you want your image in the corner of the video over the top of the screen in use. Then hit record and you're up and running.

How to save videos with Screencastify

One of the great features of Screencastify offers is its easy way of recording and storing videos. When you end a recording you'll be taken to the Video Page, through which you're then able to edit, save, and share the recording.

You can also share to YouTube. On the Video Page in the Share options, simply select "Publish to YouTube" and you can connect to your account. Select the YouTube channel on which you want the video to appear, add privacy choices and a description, hit "Upload," and you're done.

You can also save to Google Drive, but more on that below.

One really nice option is the ability to link this to your Google Drive. By doing so, your recordings can be automatically saved to your Drive without having to do anything extra.

To do this, open the Screencastify Setup page, select the "Sign in with Google" icon, then select "Allow" to give camera, microphone, and drawing tools permissions, and then select "Allow" from the pop-up. Then each time you finish a recording, your video will be saved to a newly created folder in your Google Drive called "Screencastify."

Use drawings and annotations in videos with Screencastify

Screencastify allows you to draw on the screen to better clarify what you're talking about, such as within a browser tab. For example, you might have a map displayed and want to show a section or a route, which you can do using a virtual pen.

An option allows you to highlight your cursor, adding a bright circle around the icon. This can help students better see what you're drawing attention to as you move the cursor around the screen. It's a bit like a laser pointer on a real-world blackboard.

What are the best Screencastify keyboard shortcuts?

Here are all the Screencastify keyboard shortcuts you could want for both PC and Mac devices:

Open the extension: (PC) Alt + Shift + S (Mac) Option + Shift +S

Start / stop recording: (PC) Alt + Shift + R (Mac) Option + Shift + R

Pause / resume recording: (PC) Alt + Shift + P (Mac) Option Shift + P

Show / hide annotation toolbar: (PC) Alt + T (Mac) Option + T

Focus spotlight on mouse: (PC) Alt + F (Mac) Option + F

Highlight mouse clicks with red circle: (PC) Alt + K (Mac) Option + K

Pen tool: (PC) Alt + P (Mac) Option + P

Eraser: (PC) Alt + E (Mac) Option + E

Wipe screen clear: (PC) Alt + Z (Mac) Option + Z

Return to mouse cursor: (PC) Alt + M (Mac) Option + M

Hide mouse when not moving: (PC) Alt + H (Mac) Option + H

Toggle embedded webcam on/off in tabs: (PC) Alt + W (Mac) Option + W

Show / hide recording timer: (PC) Alt + C (Mac) Option + C

How much does Screencastify cost?

The free version of Screencastify provides many of the recording options you might need but there is a catch: Videos are limited in length, and editing is limited. That could be all you need, and in fact, is a good way to keep videos concise so students can stay focused. But if you're planning to do more, such as an entire lesson, you will need to pay.

In the Premium version, your unlimited recordings don't have that logo on the screen. More complex video-editing tools such as cropping, trimming, splitting and merging, to name just a few, are also available.

Pricing starts at $49 per year, per user. Or there are educator-specific plans that start from $29 per year.

For true unlimited access, however, it's $99 per year - or $49 with that educator discount - which includes as many teachers using the software as needed.

Screencastify best tips and tricks

Teach navigation
Use videos to help teach students how to navigate online resources such as databases so they can get access to more information in their own time.

Embed questions
Place questions in your videos to make sure students are listening, learning, and are able to grasp what you're presenting.

Use with Google
This system is made to work with Google Classroom or Google Drive, so you can easily share creations with students or groups, directly.

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Screencastify: How to Use It for Teaching

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Screencastify lets you screen and self record to create powerful guidance videos with ease

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As an instructor, I can use Google slides to aid in my lessons. I can use presentations, games, and interactive activities to help engage my students in the material. 

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As an instructor, I can use Google slides to aid in my lessons. I can use presentations, games, and interactive activities to help engage my students in the material. 

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As an instructor, I can use Nearpod to help measure the effectiveness of my lessons. I can give students quizzes, surveys, discussion boards, and fill in the blank activities to ensure comprehension. 

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As an instructor, I can use Nearpod to help measure the effectiveness of my lessons. I can give students quizzes, surveys, discussion boards, and fill in the blank activities to ensure comprehension. 

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As an instructor, I can use Augmented Reality to broaden my lessons. For the students who are more visual learners, I can use Augmented Reality to help them learn how to read and comprehend. 

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As an instructor, I can use Augmented Reality to broaden my lessons. For the students who are more visual learners, I can use Augmented Reality to help them learn how to read and comprehend. 

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As an instructor, I can use Wordle to teach my students relevancy and organization. I can enlist my students' help with making word clouds for a chosen topic and help them realize whether a word is relevant to the topic. 

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As an instructor, I can use Wordle to teach my students relevancy and organization. I can enlist my students' help with making word clouds for a chosen topic and help them realize whether a word is relevant to the topic. 

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As an instructor, I can use QR codes for communication with my students' parents by sending a card home with the students, and I can use QR codes as an additional resource in the classroom. I can provide answers to problems or example problems to help students who are struggling with the given material. 

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As an instructor, I can use QR codes for communication with my students' parents by sending a card home with the students, and I can use QR codes as an additional resource in the classroom. I can provide answers to problems or example problems to help students who are struggling with the given material. 

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As an instructor, I can use visual manipulatives to screen record my lessons with interactive drawings. I can also use visual manipulatives to help students who struggle with visualizing math problems. 

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As an instructor, I can use visual manipulatives to screen record my lessons with interactive drawings. I can also use visual manipulatives to help students who struggle with visualizing math problems. 