SAMR

       In education 250 we have currently been learning about a technology term called SAMR. This stands for substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition. Unlike TPACK, which I discussed in my previous blog, SAMR does not represent four attributes that are used together. Each letter of SAMR actually represents a different classification of technology use in the classroom starting with little effectiveness and ending with a vast amount of technology use that is extremely effective. Utilizing technology in the classroom in an effective way correlates directly to the NCTCS standard 4 element d which says "Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction. Teachers know when and how to use technology to maximize student learning. Teachers help students use technology to learn content, think critically, solve problems, discern reliability, use information, communicate, innovate, and collaborate." I believe that technology can transform a classroom if implicated in the right way, and can promote student learning to a high degree.
       The first letter of SAMR stands for substitution. Teachers that are within this classification ask themselves "what will I gain by replacing the task with new tech?" This type of teacher may simply replace a paper and pencil assignment with a computer, or a traditional quiz with an online test using an iPad. Although technology may make the task easier, there are no actual learning benefits that are added to the task through technology. The second letter of SAMR stands for augmentation. Teachers that are in this classification ask themselves "Does the tech add new features that improves the task?" These teachers finds new technology that significantly improves the quality of a task, but still does not change the original task that students are expected to do. The third letter of SAMR stands for modification. These teachers ask themselves "Does the task significantly change with the use of tech?" These teachers will use technology to completely change the task at hand, while still implementing the same content knowledge to their students. This classification uses technology to transform and engage one's classroom. The last letter of SAMR stands for redefinition. This is the highest classification, and should be the goal of every teacher. This classification of teachers asks themselves "Does the tech allow for creation of a new task previously unconceivable?" This type of teacher strives to use new technology that can allow students to be innovative and to create new things that may not be common in our world today, while still teaching the same content. If a child is able to create something that he or she has never seen before, they will likely not forget the content that is attached with that creation.
       In my future classroom, I plan to strive for redefinition in my classroom at all times. I know that it is not always easy to include tools that have been previously unconceivable, but I intend to always stay between modification and redefinition. The first two parts of SAMR, substitution and augmentation, simply involve enhancing an already existing task while the last two parts, modification and redefinition, involve completely transforming a task. I hope to always stay on the side of transformation in order to keep my students engaged and excited about learning while also providing the best possible strategies and tools in technology to promote deep understanding. Students today are growing up in a world where technology is all around them. "Properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy" (Link at bottom). Including technology into my future classroom is one of the many ways I plan to prepare my students for the world outside of education. 

Link: https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction