My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer's. Years ago, she left home and was lost for hours before a policeman found her. She didn't understand English. Please record a video about your loved one using Flipgrid,and create a QR code bracelet for them. It could make a difference.

This could also be useful for small children on vacations and field trips, medical alerts, people with autism, and nonverbal people.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Go to https://info.flipgrid.com/ and create an account.

​2. Create a grid and a topic for your loved one.  By creating a topic, you will be able to record and upload multiple videos.  You can hide old videos and update as often as you need to.

3. Allow topic guest access so anyone with the guest code can view videos in the topic.  Turn off the "Allow Recording" option.

4. Download the Topic Guest QR code and use this code to create jewelry, zipper pulls, and labels to locate your loved one.  You can also share the QR code and the link through email, social media, posters, and flyers.

5. When someone finds your loved one they scan your QR code and will have access to your grid, the topic, and all of the video responses.

PURCHASE QR CODE MEDICAL ALERTS AND MISSING PEOPLE IDENTIFICATIONS.  

I've always believed that there should be opportunities for students to learn with their heads, their hands, and their hearts.  Our students may understand the effects of the Cold War, how to balance equations, the scientific method, the proper format of a persuasive essay, how to speak another language, score a goal, mix watercolors, and play in tune but what will any of that matter if they don't develop a sense of compassion for others and pride in their work.

This year I was fortunate to continue my career in a district where I met an occupational therapist with a focus in assistive technology.  She and I were both familiar with the benefits of sensory walks for ALL children.  These walks reminded me of the painted footprints that I used to follow from the lobby to the Children's Room in the basement of my public library.  If you have never seen a sensory walk before, check out this video.

While brainstorming we began thinking, "Wouldn't this be a wonderful opportunity for kids to do something FOR kids?"  My colleague invited two special education elementary classrooms in our district to be part of our pilot program.  Then we approached a special education teacher who helps to prepare students for work study opportunities.  With her advisement, a graduating special education senior was invited to become the project manager for this endeavor.  Applying the skills that she had learned in the program, she created a Google survey for pilot classrooms, assisted with cutting and weeding the designs created by the Cricut Maker, and even created a PowerPoint presentation about proper line up procedures that she shared with the elementary students.  This student developed leadership skills that will last a lifetime.

Using the Cricut Maker to design and cut the shapes...

The Cricut Maker in action...

The student project manager teaching the elementary students about proper line up procedures...

Trying out the sensory walk before it is installed...

These first sensory walks are fairly simple designs, and we look forward to working with classrooms in other district elementary schools on more elaborate projects.  Although sensory walks are available for purchase, the benefits of this project were more far reaching...
* using technology and resources already available
* ability to customize during the creation process
* making connections among schools in the same district
* involving special education students in the process so that they can apply what they have learned in the classroom
* empowering students and educators

One day after school in my library as I was cleaning up and getting ready to leave, I discovered that the pen that had been left at the circulation counter for students to sign in with had been misplaced again.  Pens were a commodity since they had a habit of rolling off the counter, or being indefinitely "borrowed."  I remembered seeing pens with feathers attached to the top of them in my colleague's classroom to prevent pens from being misplaced.  I had the solution! I quickly ran to my computer and printed out a few copies of the QR code for our library book recommendations Flipgrid, laminated them, and attached them to the tops of some pens.  I didn't need to replace the pens until the ink ran out, and the QR code was a reminder to share their favorite books with one another.

And I snuck a few reminders into new books when I processed them too...

So excited to speak about QR codes at the Flipgrid booth in the ISTE 2019 Expo hall...

With the new Flipgrid AR (augmented reality) your videos will come alive!

Create a MixTape for each of your students, combining their responses from various topics during the school year.

MixTape CoPilots are coming!  This will make it even easier for teachers to create digital portfolios for their students.

Password protect those MixTapes so only friends and family can view them.

Create student ID badges.

Save time, and download multiple QR response codes at once.