Enriching Education with QR Codes for Books
Physical books are wonderful, tactile things. From children’s pop-up storybooks, to illustrated cookbooks and exam study guides, you can’t beat a real book versus a digital alternative. But that’s not to say there isn’t a place for technology amongst avid readers. In fact, combining the two – the real book with a digital resource – could be the ultimate way to enrich the learning experience.
Lots of people will still choose a hard copy book over an electronic version. And of course, textbooks continue to play an important role in students’ lives. But there remains this obsession with technology that most of us are never going to lose, and for sure, it’s something we should all be embracing. So how about combining the two?
QR codes are the way forward here. Scan-able with any smartphone camera, their sheer versatility makes them a breeze to use in so many ways, and the benefits are huge. Let’s explore a few ways in which authors and publishers can harness the potential of QR codes for books.
Learn more about this subject
Reading around a subject is beneficial as it helps you develop a deeper knowledge and greater understanding of the topic in hand.
Instead of a ‘suggested reading list’ which, let’s face it, will always be a bit ‘take it or leave it’, educational QR codes can be used to take the reader directly to related resources.
They can also be used to link to photo galleries, diagrams, graphs and charts that would otherwise take up valuable and costly print space in a book.
Elaborate & engage with video
Videos are way more engaging than static images or text. They help us better understand concepts, and make the information we’re taking in stick.
The easiest way to elaborate on a subject in a text book, or to demonstrate a technique, such as cooking or an exercise move, is to link to a video. And the simplest way to link to a video is by using QR codes in books. It makes a lot more sense than directing someone to a web link that they’ll then have to go away and laboriously type into a browser.
Even better if the video features the book’s author, building trust and respect with the reader and putting a face to the name. A ‘meet the author’ piece is a great idea for engaging with the readership, sharing the back story and showing where the expertise behind the book came from. Excellent also for children’s books, helping kids relate and appreciate where the stories came from.
Add tests and quizzes
Every good self-help or text book has a test or quiz section. So, instead of writing the answers in, looking them up in the back of the book and calculating scores or marks manually, how about making the whole thing interactive by using QR codes in books?
It could be something as simple as ‘scan to reveal the solution’. Or readers scan a QR code that takes them to an online test, where they enter their answers and get automatically calculated scores.
The scores could all be aggregated and shared with subscribed users to add a touch of competition. You could even take this a step further and connect readers with each other on a forum, perhaps exchanging tips, solutions and recommendations.
Looking to list build? Tests that reveal personality traits and the like can be scanned from a self-help book and taken online, with the results disclosed in exchange for an email address.
Review the book
Most people won’t even think about buying book without a recommendation or review. So why not make it easy for your readers to review your book by including a QR code that takes them directly to your review platform of choice, or a page that offers a choice so they can choose their favourite?
You can also use QR codes to build your social media following by taking readers straight to your platforms with a simple scan. No more faffing around trying to search for you on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. With a scan, they go straight to the platform where they can follow you or join your group and start engaging.
Order the next in series, see the trailer
Book trailers are a fantastic way to rustle up interest in an upcoming title and are known to command millions of views on YouTube and similar platforms.
The great thing about QR codes is that they’re dynamic, which means you can update them anytime you like, without having to reprint the code. So you can change your trailer for the latest upcoming title, and the code you printed in your book months or even years ago will continue to show whatever you want it to show.
Using QR codes in books is also a good way to get pre-orders for a next-in-series, or cross-sell related existing titles. Simply use the code to send the reader to Amazon (other online booksellers are available), where they can place their order directly.
Ready to enrich the learning experience with QR codes for books?
Ban.gl QR codes for books can be used in multiple ways, and offer so many benefits to authors, publishers and readers alike. From reader engagement to boosting book sales, there is plenty you can use the Ban.gl educational little black and white squares for.