IN a unique initiative to mark World Earth Day, students and teachers of Middle School, Purani Basti, Korba, have embraced technology to reconnect with nature , by generating QR codes for trees on campus. Guided by teacher Nitika Jacob, the school identified various trees and plants on its premises, documented their botanical details, and created QR codes for each. Once scanned using tools like Google Lens, these QR codes provide scientific names, characteristics, medicinal value, and other useful information about the plants. “In today’s world, QR codes are widely used to access product information. We applied the same idea to our school’s green cover to help students learn more about trees in an engaging and tech-savvy way,” said Jacob.

 

The school’s initiative aligns with this year’s Earth Day theme, encouraging digital engagement with the environment. Trees such as Karanja, Banyan, Peepal, Mahaneem, and Sitaphal have been tagged, and information on their fruits and medicinal properties is just a scan away. The exercise not only increased environmental awareness among children but also gave them hands-on experience in creating QR codes, a step that also enhanced their digital literacy. “Children can now use mobile phones for learning while playing in the schoolyard. This is a meaningful use of screen time,” a teacher remarked. Teachers Bodhram Nishad, Kamlesh Mahobia, and Rameshwari Ratre actively contributed to the effort.