The SAMR Model

 

Explain what the SAMR model is and why it is useful for technology integration.

The SAMR model focuses on incorporating technology into teaching in an adequate and enhancing way. The model is broken into four different tiers: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. The top two tiers, Substitution and Augmentation, work on enhancing the learning task and the bottom two tiers, Modification and Redefinition, focus on transformation. Because the teacher can decide how much change to make to the current classroom curriculum and how much technology to include, the approach can be helpful for incorporating technology into the classroom.

Choose a course that you are taking or have taken in college* and identify a learning objective or outcome for that course (it should be on your syllabus!)

The learning objective for Foundations of Reading is:

“Students will explore a range of theoretical approaches to reading and writing instruction, develop expertise in the pedagogy of literacy by thinking critically and creatively about past and current theories of reading and writing, and collaborate as a learning community to formulate and answer questions about literacy.”

Describe how you would design a digital project that aligns with the learning objective or outcome, using each level of the SAMR model as a guide. For each level, provide an example of a tool or resource that you would use and explain how it would enhance or transform the learning process or product.

The digital project for the class is to locate and research a theoretical approach that you align with the most. 

Substitution: Instead of providing the students with paper copies of the requirements for the assignment, share them with the students via email. This would enhance the learning process because the students would not have the concern of losing the assignment requirements. 

Augmentation: To present the theoretical approach, the students can utilize online platforms such as Google Slides to show their knowledge on the approach. Incorporating Google Slides will allow the students to show their understanding of the approach in different ways such as images that will enhance the learning.  

Modification: Using Google Slides will allow the students to share their work with classmates and mentors to review the knowledge they have of the approach and leave feedback for the students on the work that is completed. By doing this, it will allow the students to not feel the stress of another individual reviewing/critiquing their finished or unfinished work in front of them and will allow them to collaborate and transform the assignment into what is required. 

Redefinition: Invite experts on the specific theoretical approaches that the students have completed to attend class one day to review and give feedback on the project that the students present. This would transform the project because the students would be able to gain more knowledge on their topic from individuals who have more experience with the approaches. 

Reflect on the benefits and challenges of using the SAMR model for your project and how it would impact your learning experience and performance.

The benefits of using the SAMR model for the project would be the collaboration that it would allow the students to have between one another and outside sources to enhance their understanding of the theories. A challenge that could present itself is locating experts that would be able to speak on the variety of approaches that the students may use.