16/2: PD - SAMR Model

PD - SAMR Model

16th February 2017

Tuesday's Professional Development time slot was allocated for Departments to look into their technology use. Our eVangelist (department expert), lead the session based around the SAMR model. The aim of our PD this week was to refresh ourselves as to what the SAMR model is and to identify where we think we currently sit in the model. Below is the YouTube clip we were shown that nicely explains the SAMR model:

SAMR standing for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification & Redefinition: 

Substitution - using technology when you could complete the same task without it e.g. answering questions or writing an essay on Google Docs

Augmentation - technology slightly enhances the task e.g. students can comment on each others work 

Modification - technology now has a great impact on the task e.g. creation of videos 

Redefinition - tasks that are set would be impossible without technology e.g. QR codes for gaining new information or interactive textbooks in iBooks

Pictures above give further examples of different apps and where they may fall in the SAMR model

Last year was the first time I had heard of the SAMR model. I was interested to see how one teacher was using the SAMR model to increase her use of technology in the classroom. As this is one of my goals for the year I thought this would be a prefect way to reflect on my use of technology so far this year.

When we were asked to identify what level we are currently sitting at on the model I originally thought I was at the Augmentation stage. My example to the department was a recent lesson I have completed with my Year 9 Health class. They had been given a task to answer about themselves and find a visual way to present this. As I gave the class the opportunity to choose how they would like to present the task this meant that I would have stepped closer towards Modification. I gave students ideas as to how they might like to present. Some stayed in their comfort zone while others decided to try something new.

I suppose this discussion made me feel that maybe I'm not as far behind in the technology scene as I thought I may have been although I know there is definitely still room for improvement and creativity.