QR Codes: Tips and Best Practices
Want to incorporate QR codes into your students’ projects? Or need to create a QR code for your own poster or infographic?
Here are easy ways to create and view QR codes, as well as a few accessibility and security best practices.
Why use a QR (quick response) code?
When you or your students are designing a poster, infographic, or flyer, a QR code is a handy way to take your audience to a Google Doc or webpage where you have posted additional information, a list of your sources, or video demos, etc.
People viewing the poster can just scan the QR code with their mobile device and go to your Google Doc or website, without having to open a browser and type in a URL.
How can we create a QR code?
Click on the “+” button > click the Quick Action called “Generate QR Code.”
Choose a color, style, and file type (.PNG is perfect for most uses).
Click “Create QR Code” (See screenshot).
The “Download” button will then be enabled. Download your QR code. and put it into your project.
That way your audience knows where the QR code will take them before they decide to scan.
Browser extension for reading/grading QR codes on your computer:
(See screenshot).
Accessibility:
Then select the QR code and hyperlink it to the destination. That way, audience members using a screen reader can follow the link easily, without the use of a QR code reader.
Security:
Are you sure who created the QR code? In a public area, someone may have pasted their malicious QR code on top of the original QR code.
You should not download files or submit info to a website you accessed via a QR code. Why? Some people use QR codes for phishing / taking people to a website that looks like a legitimate banking or other website, and then asking them for their information.
Double check before you click…
Your mobile device’s built-in camera should present you with at least a partial URL when you scan the QR code–take a moment to view it before you tap to go there. (See screenshot).
Make sure the URL is the actual one you expect, with no typos. For example, if you see ad0be.com instead of adobe.com, don’t proceed to the page.
Dr. Sarra Alqahtani, Assistant Professor, WFU Computer Science Department, shares additional important QR security tips in this article and video:
FBI, cybersecurity experts warn about QR code privacy and security concerns
Please take a moment to learn more.
As you are creating your course assignments or your own projects, consider adding a QR code as a convenient way to take your audience to additional content you’d like to share. And take advantage of this great opportunity to discuss accessibility and security best practices with your students.
Categories: Accessibility, Adobe, Apps, Express, Online Teaching, Security, Software, Tech Tip