Exploring the Applications of QR Codes in STEM Subjects

Despite the fact that QR codes are all around us, they do not easily find their way into the classroom, so it seems more than relevant to investigate the current situation. This paper describes the findings from a scoping literature review of the research published during the last decade on using QR Codes as a digital tool in STEM education. This review aims at providing a better understanding of the advantages and shortcomings of using QR Codes in STEM subjects, exploring some of the essential characteristics of the reviewed studies, like the targeted ages, the learning outcomes, the methodological approach, etc. Based on this review's findings, we can propose some points for future research concerning using QR codes in education, like the reasons for the observed decrease in research interest in recent years or a shift in the investigation towards the teachers’ views and acceptance of this technology. Moreover, there seems to be a need for in-depth investigations exploring the pedagogical aspects of this technology. The above findings are considered valuable not only for the application of QR codes but can be projected to m-learning in general.