A New Excellent Interactive SAMR Visual for Teachers

September 2, 2014
Here is a new wonderful interactive SAMR visual for teachers. I just came across it while I was going through my Google Plus feeds and thought you may want to have a look as well. For those of you not yet familiar with what SAMR model is all about , here is a refresher for you:
 SAMR model  is a framework through which you can assess and evaluate the technology you use in your classroom. This framework is made up of 4 levels:Substitution

Substitution
This is the stage where you use technology to substitute what you could have done with pen and paper. one popular example of this is using word processor to type a story instead of handwriting it.

Augmentation
This is where technology is used to carry out learning tasks in relatively more efficient ways. the technology here only adds value to the assignment and does not transform how it is done, examples of this include using spell checker, grammar checker or electronic dictionary. This one introduces small noticeable improvement.

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 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. 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".

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Three Good Interactive Visuals on SMAR Model for Teachers

July, 2014
In today's post I am sharing with you three interactive visuals on SAMR model created on ThingLink. Besides providing iPad apps that fit in with each of the categories of SAMR: redefinition, augmentation, modification, and substitution, these apps are also hyperlinked so you can access them with one click and right from the visual itself. For more resources on SAMR please see this page.

For those you not yet familiar with SAMR model, SAMR was developed by Dr. Ruben Puentadura as a model for technology integration into the classroom. It is presumed to help teachers make a better leverage of technology in their teaching. SAMR stands for :

Substitution
This is the stage where you use technology to substitute what you could have done with pen and paper. one popular example of this is using word processor to type a story instead of handwriting it.

Augmentation
This is where technology is used to carry out learning tasks in relatively more efficient ways. the technology here only adds value to the assignment and does not transform how it is done, examples of this include using spell checker, grammar checker or electronic dictionary. This one introduces small noticeable improvement.

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 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.  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".

Here are three good interactive SAMR visuals. Hover your mouse on each visual to see the embedded links.

1-



2-




3-

Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

A Must See Chart on SAMR Model and iPad Teaching

June 13, 2014
Technology integration in instruction is a process that starts with setting out clearly defined objectives and ends with assessing learning outcomes against these objectives, and all along the way several tools and strategies are employed to attend to the overall performance of this process. Hence, the first question teachers need to ponder when thinking about using technology in class is not what kind of technology to use but what do they want to achieve behind using this technology? On a deeper level, they need to find answers to questions such as: Does this technology constitute a a good addition to the learning task ?  Can the same learning task be performed without using technology? These and several other questions  should come to the forefront when you start planning a technology-based learning activity.

Deciding on the objectives and the 'whys' behind integrating technology in your instruction is only the first step, the  second step is where you think about the 'hows' of your usage of  this technology. In other words, you need to provide sound pedagogical answers to make solid arguments for the choices of the technology you will be using in your class. In this regard, three useful approaches come to the surface: these are  TPACK, SAMR model, and Maslow model. All of these approaches provide teachers with pedagogical underpinnings to ground their tech decisions. They also act as a roadmap that guide tech practices in the learning/teaching operation. Here is a guide to help you  understand what each of these approaches is about and how it can be used in class , read this guide

In today's post the focus is on using SAMR model to guide your iPad use in class. To this end , I am sharing with you this wonderful illustrative chart I stumbled upon on Apps A Daisy blog. The chart outlines the four stages of the SAMR model and provides apps related to each of these stages together with examples of how each of these can be used to enact the ethos of that stage.  As a teacher, you can use the ideas in this chart to help you design your own teaching tasks using SAMR model and iPad. Enjoy

Source: Apps A Daisy

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

iPad Apps Aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy and SMAR Model

April 20, 2014
Here is another wonderful conceptualization of how iPad apps can be aligned with both Bloom's Taxonomy and SAMR model. Doug Loader from iSupport has created this terrific Venn diagram featuring the 3 Cs activities : Consumption, collaboration, and Creation. Doug contended that the apps that  we use fall under one of these Cs. For an effective educational use of iPad apps, Doug recommends that teachers make a concise balance between the apps and the 3 Cs posing questions such as :

• Which apps are you consuming (researching, learning specific facts) with?
• Which apps are you collaborating (sharing, building, assessing) with?
• Which apps are you creating (combining, presenting, concluding) with?

As is shown in the diagram below, Doug provided various examples of apps to be used with the 3 Cs. He also assigned the appropriate Bloom's thinking level to each of these categories. In a second diagram, Doug aligned the two models of Blooms Taxonomy and SAMR model with iPad apps. You can check this diagram here.

Follow us on :Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .