Getting into Learners’ Pace: QR Coded Supplemental Materials for SHS Learners in the Division of Laguna, Philippines

“QR” stands for “Quick Response”, which refers to the instant access to the information hidden in the Code. It is a two-dimensional version of the barcode, typically made up of black and white pixel patterns. Now, it has found its way into mobile marketing with the widespread adoption of smartphones. This study explored the use of QR Codes in educational setting. The QR-coded supplemental materials were used both in modular and online distance learning since both modality use weekly home-learning plan (WHLP) being distributed to students in a regular basis. They were attached to WHLP beside the General Mathematics subject for the students to scan using their smartphones. If they don’t have the scanning application in their phones, they could just encode the affixed link in WHLP through Google engines and the teacher-made brochure will automatically pop out. Upon scanning or encoding the affixed link, the learners were able to have a glance of the supplemental material. Fifteen schools, from the Department of Education, Division of Laguna, Philippines, including the home school of the author, participated. The study made use of explanatory sequential mixed method of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Findings revealed that there is a significant increase in the academic performance of Grade 11 learners in the General Mathematics when QR-coded supplemental materials were used. Both learners and teachers highly agree that QR-coded supplemental materials have various benefits in lesson preparation and understanding of key concepts and competency in General Mathematics. Themes developed are (1) Easy access is a key to understanding and learning, and (2) Less time to browse, more time to help and teach. Reflection and challenge on continuing to make ways for knowledge to be accessible was given at the end of the study.