Okay, so I am on spring break this week, which means I only have to work for three days! The one strange part of not being in just one school district is that my calendar no longer dictates work. I'm okay with that though because I am absolutely loving my new work. I think that I am making a difference on a much larger scale than would have been possible at my former district. Okay enough about me, let's talk tech...
*Disclaimer! Your curriculum should always drive technology integration. Do not find a tool and then bend over backwards to make it work. Not every tech tool works for everything you teach.
Everyone once and a while I hear someone mention SAMR model of technology integration. Well that sounds all fancy, like most pedagogical catch phrases, but Garth and I have always been doers, not definers. Alas, it is now my job to define what I have done so others can replicate, collaborate and make it their students' own. All that being said, I really like the SAMR graphic. It is simple, it helps teachers know exactly where they are with technology integration and I think it will help teachers feel that they are moving towards student-owned learning. The idea is pretty simple. Technology integration broken into four categories. Two categories enhance (motivate) learning, while the other two transform (inspire) learning.
Every teachers goal should be to get to the "Redefinition" category of SAMR, but that will not happen overnight. My recommendation is to approach this one grading period at a time. Once every nine weeks, you should be instructing a lesson in the "Redefinition" category. For at least two weeks every nine weeks, your use of technology should be allowing "Modification" of learning. Every day, your classroom needs to be a place where technology integration "Augments" or "Substitutes" traditional teaching and learning.
When you are really ready to change teaching & learning. Apply the SMAR model to your student's work, not your own. After all, this is about kids constructing knowledge and becoming inspired life-long learners. When you start to see your students implementing technology at the "Transformation" stages of SAMR, then you will see real change in education.
*Disclaimer! Your curriculum should always drive technology integration. Do not find a tool and then bend over backwards to make it work. Not every tech tool works for everything you teach.
Everyone once and a while I hear someone mention SAMR model of technology integration. Well that sounds all fancy, like most pedagogical catch phrases, but Garth and I have always been doers, not definers. Alas, it is now my job to define what I have done so others can replicate, collaborate and make it their students' own. All that being said, I really like the SAMR graphic. It is simple, it helps teachers know exactly where they are with technology integration and I think it will help teachers feel that they are moving towards student-owned learning. The idea is pretty simple. Technology integration broken into four categories. Two categories enhance (motivate) learning, while the other two transform (inspire) learning.
Every teachers goal should be to get to the "Redefinition" category of SAMR, but that will not happen overnight. My recommendation is to approach this one grading period at a time. Once every nine weeks, you should be instructing a lesson in the "Redefinition" category. For at least two weeks every nine weeks, your use of technology should be allowing "Modification" of learning. Every day, your classroom needs to be a place where technology integration "Augments" or "Substitutes" traditional teaching and learning.
When you are really ready to change teaching & learning. Apply the SMAR model to your student's work, not your own. After all, this is about kids constructing knowledge and becoming inspired life-long learners. When you start to see your students implementing technology at the "Transformation" stages of SAMR, then you will see real change in education.
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