SAMR
The SAMR Model gives teachers a way to look at their lessons and decide how they are using technology and if it is where that assignment needs to be in order to meet the goals set for that lesson. You don't have to be a "Tech-Know It All" to be able to move your curriculum along the SAMR model; you just need to be willing to do what is best for your class at that time and in that place. One way to look at your lessons is to compare them with a rubric - here is one you can use to help determine where you can enhance your lessons to ensure you are meeting your students' needs.
SAMR Explanation
Substitution
In a substitution level, teachers or students are only using new technology tools to replace old ones, for instance, using Google Docs to replace Microsoft Word. The task (writing) is the same but the tools are different.
Augmentation
Though it is a different level, but we are still in the substitution mentality but this time with added functionalities. Again using the example of Google docs, instead of only writing a document and having to manually save it and share it with others, Google Docs provides extra services like auto saving, auto syncing, and auto sharing in the cloud.
Modification
This is the level where technology is being used more effectively not to do the same task using different tools but to redesign new parts of the task and transform students learning. An example of this is using the commenting service in Google Docs, for instance, to collaborate and share feedback on a given task.
Redefinition
If you are to place this level in Blooms revised taxonomy pyramid, it would probably correspond to synthesis and evaluation as being the highest order thinking skills. "Redefinition means that students use technology to create imperceptibly new tasks. As is shown in the video below an example of redefinition is "when students connect to a classroom across the world where they would each write a narrative of the same historical event using the chat and comment section to discuss the differences, and they use the voice comments to discuss the differences they noticed and then embed this in the class website".
Remember Bloom's? Here is a way to combine Bloom's Taxonomy and SAMR to ensure your lessons are meeting the students' needs on every level.
Let's take Bloom's a step further and start looking at the language you could use at each level to ensure technology is enhancing your lesson.
Note that the SAMR Model isn't necessarily a hierarchy, and movement doesn't have to move up in one direction or another to improve outcomes. It isn't a ladder that needs to be climbed. It is looking at where your students are now and where you want them to be at the end of the lesson. We want the outcome to meet the goals set forth in each unit of study.
And always remember, if you would like help working on anything technology in your curriculum, fill out the Integration form below:
A special thank you goes out to the Sanger High School Tech Team. Their work gathering this information helped make this page a full, robust set of tools to help ensure that every teacher has what they need to meet the needs of all the students in Sanger ISD.