Using Quick Response Codes in the Classroom

Abstract

With smart device technology emerging, educators are challenged with redesigning teaching strategies using technology to allow students to participate dynamically and provide immediate answers. To facilitate integration of technology and to actively engage students, quick response codes were included in a medical surgical lecture. Quick response codes are two-dimensional square patterns that enable the coding or storage of more than 7000 characters that can be accessed via a quick response code scanning application. The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to explore quick response code use in a lecture and measure students' satisfaction (met expectations, increased interest, helped understand, and provided practice and prompt feedback) and engagement (liked most, liked least, wanted changed, and kept involved), assessed using an investigator-developed instrument. Although there was no statistically significant correlation of quick response use to examination scores, satisfaction scores were high, and there was a small yet positive association between how students perceived their learning with quick response codes and overall examination scores. Furthermore, on open-ended survey questions, students responded that they were satisfied with the use of quick response codes, appreciated the immediate feedback, and planned to use them in the clinical setting. Quick response codes offer a way to integrate technology into the classroom to provide students with instant positive feedback.

Uses of Quick Response Codes in Healthcare Education: A Scoping Review

“…The key benefits of using QR codes for healthcare education lie in the ability to provide timely, multimodal information in a cost-effective manner. Several studies demonstrated an improvement in engagement from students or faculty [19,20,22,23,26,[39][40][41][42], which may be due to ease of use, availability and immediacy compared to other available methods of accessing information. Additional benefits lie in adaptability, simplicity of creation and potential environmental benefits of QR codes.…”

“…Nine articles discussed ways in which QR codes could be utilised to enhance participant engagement [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. These can be broadly divided into those focusing on anatomy teaching, formative assessment, case-based learning and engagement with publications.…”

“…Two studies used QR codes to aid learning through formative assessment [19,20]. From questionnaire responses, over 80% of students reported that they found QR codes to be more helpful than traditional learning aids.…”

“…The majority of the aforementioned studies demonstrated how students found QR codes easy to use [19][20][21][22][23] and had a desire to continue using them in the future for classroom exercises or otherwise [20][21][22][23].…”

Uses of Quick Response Codes in Healthcare Education: A Scoping Review

“…The main uses of QR codes in healthcare education emerging from thematic analysis were as follows: Nine articles discussed ways in which QR codes could be utilised to enhance participant engagement [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. This can be broadly divided into those focusing on anatomy teaching, formative assessment, case-based learning and engagement with publications.…”