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QR codes A tool for accessibility?

There is a lot of information about QR codes and their use in education at the moment
Its something I’ve always been interested in. I would like QR codes to work as a tool for aiding access to information  for young people and adults with a learning disability.  
I saw a good idea for Entry 3 students studying work preparation skills at South Cheshire college

(from Teaching News)

However I’ve never yet been able to put it any of these great ideas into practice.
We don't have I pads,I phones or smart phones at college
Not many students have their own phones with the necessary software and the right contract that allows them to access the internet.
Iphone cameras are still not very good with QR codes

Incidentally if there is someone who can give me an idiots guide to the cost of accessing the web on your mobile device I’d be grateful!

So where do I start?
I thought if I can’t use phones I would try using a lap top and web cam.
I printed off some QR codes using a QR code creator:

snap.vu
 delivr

and then looked for a QR code reader for the PC.

I found 

  Flash Webcam 
Still at testing stage but works!You need a web cam and the ability to allow adobe flash You have to hold the qr code in front of the web cam. You then have to use the mouse to clik “Take a his is a Photo” - t which then takes a picture. The QR code is read and the web address /text/ phone number picture is displayed
  
 
BAR capture
When you find a QR code on the web that you want to explore you use the Barcapture crop tool. You manually drag the crop tool around the QR code and it takes a picture This then lists the text/link/phone/ geo tag but does not provide a click through . It must be copied No web cam needed.  


  QuickMark
You need a web cam. You have to hold the qr code in front of the web cam window(this will appear on your desk top .)
It takes a picture The picture appears as a link. You can then use the mouse to click on the link.
The downside for all three methods is that it still needs a learner to use a mouse to click through to a website . I would like to see  an automatic connection through to the web. 
In terms of ease of accessibility to web sites using picture link sites such as Sqworl , Tizmo or Symbaloo are still better at the moment.

The other problem is that the lap top is not that mobile, and its mine!-
To get the college laptop sorted needs a “computer person” to set it all up.
And all this takes time...

Turning a PDF into a powerpoint

Turning a PDF into a PowerPoint


Open ZAMZAR (This is a free file conversion website)




upload your PDF using ‘browse’


convert the file to .jpg




enter your email address




click convert


in a few seconds the upload will be complete


After 5 to 10 minutes look in your email inbox and click on the link which has been sent to you


You are redirected to the Zamzar website where you download the files . A five page PDF will be presented as five separate files, one for each page

Save to My Documents
Your PDF is now a series of pictures which can be inserted into a PowerPoint presentation

Using Switches

I've been learning about switches. Here is a presentation I recently shared with colleagues in a skill sharing session

Recycling

At college we run a paper recycling round and so I'm always pleased to find new recycling resources which are suitable for students with a learning disability

Thanks to Cheese potato and onion

I've discovered some new videos on recycling from Recycle now


These are a series of short animated films which explain how waste such as paper, cans, glass and food waste is prepared and processed for recycling .Although some of the language and numbers are difficult the message is simple.Recycle Now also have some Green Christmas ideas which are explained in short videos. I think my students could manage the gift bags


See my other blog entries on recycling

Advent calendar

Nature detectives has an interactive advent calendar. Behind each date is an idea for a Christmas activity

Hanukkah

Widgit has some special resources for celebrating Hanukkah suitable for young people with a learning disability. The resources can be downloaded free from their website.
There is a PDF explaining the story of Hanukkah supported by widgit symbols.
There is a craft activity :

Making a Dreidel.

There are templates available from The BBC and Activity village which are better for making the Dreidel .

The cutting and sticking bit is too fiddly for me so I will be doing a:

Star of David with lolly sticks

Clay Menorahs

Tissue paper menorahs

The BBC also has a good explanation of Hanukkah

Off limits to online QR codes

In 2008 Big Tree blog featured some work they had done on using QR codes to improve access to the internet for people with a learning disability.You can see the video below:






Now Tom Barrett at edte.ch has shown how simple it is to use flash cards with QR codes and a web cam/lap top.

He has also produced some INTERESTING ways series which you can contribute to.

I'd like to give it a go . My only hurdle will be getting the software and web cam installed on a college network computer.
Also see my Blog entry on QR codes

Mencap Snap! at Gunwarf Portsmouth

The Mencap Snap! Photography exhibition is currently on display at Gunwarf Quays,Portsmouth until the 17th November.
Also see blog entry: Snap Winners

The Specials Season 1 on DVD

The Specials have just announced that their award winning season 1 is available to buy on DVD. Cost £16.25 .My entry 1 class have really enjoyed this series.
Also see these blog entries:

The Specials do boyfriends and girlfriends

The Specials