Use QR codes to keep my hyperlinks in your printed learner resource

You have probably heard about QR codes by now, and seen them in your mailbox on the weekend when the sales flyers are delivered.  If you have never heard of them (possibly if you don’t have a smart phone) you can read up about it in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code

Although I like to add them to course handouts, other teachers often ask me sceptically, do you really want to put add the QR code?  Why?

Well, blended learning is becoming more and more popular – and necessary to meet varied learning styles, and to demonstrate a little tech savvy 🙂  This means the teacher often includes online content in their class lesson.  It might be a video, or a website, or photos from Flickr, or other interesting stuff.

Well, perhaps not everyone can see the video clearly, or you have 28 students and only 25 computers, or some students might like to re-watch the video later.  Or you set it as a task in preparation for the next lesson.

If you include a QR code in your class handout on the discussion, they can scan the image and be taken directly to the website.

For example,

I have a sustainability class and we are talking about State legislation and compliance.  I want them all to go to this website and in a group select an activity that requires a permit, and in 10 mins tell the rest of the class what has to be done to get this permit.

The website address is http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/services_resources/category.php?class_id=10

Now, do I write this long url on the board for them to copy into their browser? Then help them type it correctly? 

No, I include the QR code on the class handout 🙂 I even have them on the e-learning content, because some students like to multitask, and they will scan the code for the YouTube video and watch that as well as continuing with the rest of the online text.

If I am really clever I might have a couple of handouts that have different QR codes (say one for each State in Australia’s environmental compliance department), but not describe which State the QR code links to.   Then nominate a common permit and they can research it for a State based on the code they are given.  We can then compare any differences for this permit as a class.

QR code

Communities, disaster and recovery

Burnett Heads tornado 26 Jan 2013

I live in Burnett Heads, Queensland and on Australia Day this year our street was hit by a tornado. Luckily my home is OK, but 4 neighbouring homes are now uninhabitable. I lost my 20 year old gardens to the winds.

2 days later our nearest City, Bundaberg, was flooded to a level never before recorded, 9.32m. A whole suburb has been classified with catastrophic damage and four weeks later over 400 people remain homeless.

Here is a well written account of the devastation from ABC Sunshine Coast’s reporter Kylie Bartholomew: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/02/06/3684747.htm

Community recovery

 Being a public servant, I enrolled with the QLD Community Recovery Ready Recovery program, which  sends staff from all any any QLD Government department to a disaster zone to assist the local community in getting back on their feet.  This allows the locals to get on with business and personal recovery by not stretching local resources beyond capacity.  It also helps people in major cities witness the hardship and tenacity of their rural co-workers, friends and families. (http://www.qld.gov.au/community/ )

This was my first deployment, I must say it was wonderful to see people from all different departments and levels work so collaboratively and cooperatively together with little training but sound leadership.  A great team environment that produced immediate and positive results for those affected by the disaster, and personal growth for those administering aid.  I worked in the outreach teams, with a co-community recovery person, a Red Cross rep and a Lifeline counsellor.  We visited some of the worst affected areas of Bundaberg and assisted residents in applying for aid and referrals for further emotional support.  A humbling experience. 

Birdcage in the flood debris

There are some residents who lost everything, and after their mud-filled homes were fire-hosed out by the Mud Army helpers, are now continuing with the clean up without any power or assistance, and sleeping on mats to keep their homes safe from looters.  Still so much to do, but the strength of the local spirit is amazing.  

Although I was personally affected by the tornado in Burnett Heads, with a lot of damage in our street, being able to help others through this program has empowered me to cope with our own losses and given me empathy when talking to others.

Helping others is a great way to help yourself.

Burnett Heads Caravan Shop destroyed by a tornado

How can I use experience in teaching education for sustainability? I could start class discussions on government systems and disaster management plans – how although our local caravan shop was totally destroyed, we couldn’t access the petrol in the underground tanks desperately needed to run generators when the whole town was then without power – some streets for up to 5 days. 

We can talk about the resilience of communities in disaster situations, about the impact of flood debris on the local environment (sunken boats, flood damaged cars, household rubbish).  While people are cleaning their homes, they are still washing debris into the waterways.

The beneficial use of social media also came to the fore during this event, with new initiatives, such as Adopt A Wash http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/adopt-wash-hotline-running-hot/1745126/ where those who had working washing machines helped do the laundry of strangers – all via Facebook.  I was able to post links to aid using Twitter #bundabergfloods

mailbox

In helping with the clean up, I find myself wishing we were better prepared to make use of damaged materials instead of sending everything to the waste dump. Fencing, furniture, metals products, wooden items all removed from sight as quickly as possible as part of the community recovery.  I know it’s hard to sort the volume at the time, but I wonder if it could have been separated into ‘clean’ (i.e. no biological hazard) to be sorted when the dust settles.

Want to help?

Australian Red Cross

Monetary donations can be made through Red Cross Australia http://redcross.org.au/qld-floods-2013.aspx

You can also match physical donations to someone in need via GIVIT http://givit.org.au/