Scavenger Hunt Notes With QR Codes

Hello and welcome to this Tech-Integrated Strategy tutorial. Whether you’re teaching online or in a face-to-face setting, learning in the modern classroom often benefits from the digital mediation of educational activities. 

In this video, you’ll learn how to implement the Scavenger Hunt Notes instructional strategy using the QR Codes tech tool.

Scavenger Hunt Notes is located on the K20 LEARN site under the Instructional Strategies tab. This strategy enables students to move around the room to complete a note-taking task on a given topic. This is a self-paced activity where students collect the answers in any order to complete notes.

QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are scannable, square barcodes that allow students to access websites, images, and text. QR codes provide a quick and easy way to direct learners to contents without the need to type a long web address. QR Codes cards are found on the K20 LEARN site under the Tech Tools tab. 

In the How-To section, teachers will  receive hands-on instructions explaining how to facilitate a Scavenger Hunt Notes activity using QR Codes.

Step 1

Navigate to “Google Docs” and create a “Blank” document. Name this document to match your content. For this example, name the document “Student Notes.”

Step 2

This document will be student facing. Start by typing the notes that you want students to record.

Step 3

Once completed, go through the notes and remove key words. Be sure that these words can only be placed in one blank. Keep a running list of these words to add to your QR Codes’ word banks.

Step 4

Choose online resources that will provide students with the correct answers for the Student Notes. Navigate to a website, video, or text that you would like your students to access. For a YouTube video, select “share” 

Step 5

Select “Copy.”

Step 6

Navigate to https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/. This is the site for QR Code Monkey.You do not need to create an account to access the content. In “Your URL” box, highlight “https://www.qrcode-monkey.com.”

Step 7

Select “Paste” to add the web address for your resource.

Step 8

There are multiple settings that can be adjusted.  For this example, we are creating a QR code for a YouTube video. Select the “+” next to “SET COLORS.”

Step 9

Select either a single color or color gradient. For this example, select “Color Gradient.”

Step 10

Under “Foreground Color,” select the second box. There are multiple options to discover. We will only model this one.

Step 11

Select the color that works best with your theme by selecting on the color scale.

Step 12

The YouTube logo will be added, so students know that this is a video. Select the “+” next to “ADD LOGO IMAGE.”

Step 13

Select the YouTube pre-created image. You have the option to upload your own image.

Step 14

Select the “+” next to “CUSTOMIZE DESIGN.”

Step 15

Select the “Body Shape” that best fits the design.

Step 16

Select the “Eye Frame Shape” that best fits the design.

Step 17

Select the “Eye Ball Shape” that best fits the design.

Step 18

On the right side of the screen,  adjust the image quality. It is recommended that you leave the image quality slide scale at 1000 x 1000 or higher.

Step 19

Select “CREATE QR CODE.” The  customized QR Code will generate above.

Step 20

Select “DOWNLOAD PNG.” The QR Code is now downloaded to your computer.

Step 21

Navigate to Google Docs and select “Blank.”

Step 22

You can name this document to match the content. For this example, name the document “Scavenger Hunt Notes QR Resource.”

Step 23

Select “Insert.”

Step 24

Select “Image.”

Step 25

Select “Upload from Computer.”

Step 26

Select the “QR Code” image from the folder it was saved in.

Step 27

Select “Open.”

Step 28

For each QR Code, “type” the word bank that this resource is providing answers for based on the Student Notes document you created.

Step 29

Continue to add QR Codes and  word banks until you have finished completing the Scavenger Hunt Notes QR Resource.

By using QR Codes, you can provide your students with access to online resources. You are creating an activity that is engaging and provides accessibility for all learners.

Using the Scavenger Hunt Notes activity provides an interactive way for students to take notes on their learning.

Prior to class starting, you will need to print a copy of the “Student Notes” for each student in your class and one set of the Scavenger Hunt Notes QR Resources.

Each QR Code should be printed on its own page with the related word bank. For older or advanced students, consider leaving off the word bank for more of a challenge.

Hang up the posters around the room. Consider printing more than one set if you have a large class.

Each student or group of students needs a device, like tablet or phone, to scan the QR Codes. Keep in mind that with multiple students listening to videos, you might consider providing headphones.

Once class starts, explain the  Scavenger Hunt Notes strategy to the students. Inform them they will be using online resources by scanning QR Codes to fill in the blanks on their “Student Notes.”

Provide students time to walk around the room and complete the activity. Once all students are finished, go over the answers as a class.

In the next video, we will discuss Use Cases to give you some ideas for how to use Scavenger Hunt Notes with QR Codes in other grades and content areas.

Using Scavenger Hunt Notes with QR Codes is a great way to engage students in taking their own notes. They are provided the opportunity to learn in a self-paced interactive activity.

In our example, we had students take notes in an English language arts classroom over grammar rules by watching videos and completing their own notes or filling in a blank.

In a social studies classroom, students can complete a timeline of events by reading through different articles that provide details.

In a science classroom, students can create notes about a plant life cycle and the parts of a plant by accessing age appropriate images, videos, and articles.

For a math class, students can watch videos and record the steps to simplifying polynomials with addition and subtraction.

These are just a few examples of the many applications for using Scavenger Hunt Notes with QR Codes. No matter which grade level or content area you’re teaching, this Tech-Integrated Strategy has a variety of possibilities.

Scavenger Hunt Notes is an instructional strategy that can be used in the classroom for students to take notes in an interactive way.

QR Codes are available on Google Chrome and many other websites. They provide your students with a quick and easy way to access an online resource.

QR Codes make it easy for teachers to share safe resources digitally, so using them with Scavenger Hunt Notes is a great option for actively engaging students in their own learning.