Redefine and Transform your Teaching

When technology comes into our classrooms we often start by using it to do essentially the same things we have always done; Paper worksheets get replaced by digital worksheets, textbooks get replaced by web pages, etc. But we can do better that this! Used well, technology can engage and inspire our students to learn in ways that were simply not possible before. This workshop aims to help you rethink and redesign your lessons to take advantage of the technology now in your classroom.

Note: You MUST bring 2 or 3 sample units of work with you for this workshop, and you will be reworking them to make them more digitally rich.

Who are you as an educator and what's your experience with using technology in your teaching & learning?

Open this collaborative Google Doc to share and share your ideas!

After you enter some information about your own uses of technology, take a read through the other responses. Use the commenting feature in Google Docs to ask questions, make comments, or clarify anything interesting you see from other people. Are there tools or techniques or ideas you're not sure about? Ask!

If someone asks a question or comments on something you wrote, use the reply feature in the comments to respond.

What is the SAMR model?

SAMR is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and infuse digital learning experiences that utilize technology (http://www.schrockguide.net/samr.html).

SAMR for Teachers

SAMR Examples

Can you identify which SAMR level an activity is?

Using this Trello Board, collaborate with your colleagues to sort the activity descriptions into an S, A, M or R category.

You'll need to join the Trello Board with your Google account (log in using Google)

Discuss with your table buddies and drag the cards into the appropriate columns.

There are no absolutely correct answers.

Useful Tech Tools

Open this Doc and claim a tool. Your task will be to share it with the rest of the group for a few minutes, perhaps even showing an example of how you use it in your classes.

Characteristics of a Higher level (Redefinition) task

Is a rich task, includes components of research, collaboration, and time management
Has connections beyond and outside the classroom
Is authentic and speaks to a real audience
Has a clear purpose for the student - not just "busy work"
Offers students choice and a chance to find their unique voice
Uses a variety of different tools and platforms
Is difficult (or impossible) to do without the use of technology

Your Turn!

You were asked to bring a couple of your own current activities, tasks or assignments to this workshop. This should be an activity you currently give to your students.
Now that you have a clearer understanding of the SAMR model, how would you rate this activity? Where is it on the SAMR scale?
How could you modify or reinvent this task to be better? What would you change?
Consider the 4 Cs and the SAMR model as you redesign your task.
Create a 2 slide Google Presentation that outlines your original task and your newly revised task. Share this slide deck with betcher@edtechteam.com
In the final 30 minutes of this workshop you will be presenting your revised task to the group.

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