QR Codes with Foundation Learners

I spent yesterday afternoon with two groups of Pre Entry to Entry 1 learners who are completing an ICT unit.  They are foundation level learners with various different abilities and capabilities (including one learner in a wheelchair and one learner who is visually impaired)

Their lecturer had asked if they could come to the LRC to try out the QR code tour with the iPod Touchs.  http://bit.ly/xZl23t

They really enjoyed it and found it very interesting.  They enjoyed using the technology and were quite adept at scanning the codes once they had tried a couple of times.  The codes are all placed in locations that are accessible.

The iPod Touchs worked really well – the touch screens and the amount of ‘touch’ needed to use the QR code reader app was good.  Again I’m glad that we used text as the result of the scan rather than a URL as no matter the level of the learner, they want instant results.  A short informative message is ideal that can be read from the screen by the learner or by the tutor or facilitator.

(I'm now wondering whether it would be possible to have the text automatically read aloud when the code is scanned?? - I'll have to investigate).