This week we dove into evaluating ourselves where we fall within the different stages of implementing Educational Technology into our classroom. I choose to evaluate myself using the SAMR model. The SAMR model was developed by Ruben Puenteura. SAMR stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. This model was developed to help teachers measure where they fall within spectrum of technology integration. In the Substitution Level, technology acts as a direct substitute with no functional change. I would say that replacement of hand written notes on the board to be able to project the notes and fill them out on a white board would fall in the Substitution Level. In the Augmentation Level, technology acts as a direct substitute with functional improvement. I would say replacement of projection technology with Smart Boards falls into the Augmentation level. Both Substitution and Augmentation fall within the Enhancement phase of the SAMR model. In the Modification Level, technology allows for significant task redesign. I would say use of apps such as Formative.com or MS One Note fall within the Modification level, these apps allow for students to complete tasks virtually with live feedback from their teacher. This feedback can be written in text or as recorded sound/video. The last level of SAMR is Redefinition, this level allows for technology to create new tasks previously unconceivable. I would say the use of MS TEAMS and apps such as Padlet would fall under this level. TEAMS allows students to work virtually in real time or at your own pace to be able to connect with other users to collaborate on work via the web. Padlet allows for different users to share ideas or work with each other and provide feedback. The last two levels of SAMR, Modification and Redefinition fall within the Transformation phase of SAMR.
Before the COVID19 pandemic, my school has made a big push to be implementing technology into our classrooms. Pre-pandemic I would evaluate myself within the Augmentation Level providing enhancement to my teaching practices. Post-pandemic, I would now evaluate myself within the Modification Level while reaching into the Redefinition Level, this has brought my practices into a transformation stage. I believe I spend most time in between the Augmentation and Modification Levels. Upon completion of this course and by the beginning of the next school year, I do believe that I will be fully in the Redefinition Level of SAMR as my district has been making a solid effort to go completely paperless with one to one technology and has been purchasing licenses of the latest Ed Tech tools for teachers to use.
Source: The International High School at LaGuardia Community College
Source: EPSD Broadcasting
My Smart Board was replaced by a wireless Promethean Board. This board has many different features including built-in timers, internet capabilities where I do not need a computer, access to different educational apps, and inking capabilities. This board was a substitution to traditional white boards however with use of the apps and screen share capabilities that can connect to the entire class it hovers within the augmentation & Modification levels of SAMR.
During the pandemic I started to implement use of MS OneNote. OneNote replaced paper & pencil notetaking and digitized the ability for students to take notes. This app also allowed for me to digitally distribute handouts and assignments. This may seem at the Augmentation Level as it is a substitute to traditional note taking and organization, however the ability for students to collaborate and the ability for me to add written and verbal feedback puts it at the Modification Level.
MS Teams has definitely transformed my teaching practices and allowed for me to teach virtually. I was able to give live lesson's with screen share capabilities. Both students and I were able to give live feedback through the chat feature. This app also housed our class through a private page. This page allowed to distribute/collect assignments, make posts, store files, and communicate verbally through a call or via text. I would say this app reached into the Redefinition Level of SAMR transforming my teaching practices. Below is an example of a daily TEAMS post to my class. This post has our MLO, important information about the skills we are learning, key terms for the target, and our daily agenda. Our actual notes are available in OneNote and in the files folder of the TEAMS page.
Source: Author's MS TEAMS Class Page
Other educational technology tools that have been implemented in my class to help bring me to the level where I'm at are: Khan Academy
Hi Joe! I really enjoyed reading how you at various points throughout the last couple of years have been able to watch yourself move through each of the levels of SAM and R (I know by next year you will be fully at that level). I like how you connected pre-pandemic, post-pandemic and your future into the levels of SAMR. Im wondering how you feel about your smart board being replaced with the Promethean Board? Do you see yourself preferring it? Was the adjustment hard? I also wasn't familiar with One Note so it was really interesting to see how it actually works with your example, I really appreciate your details noted in your post. I learned a lot.
Thank you for the nice comments. I see implementing technology as a journey and when evaluating myself I like to explain the journey and not just where I'm at in the given moment.
To answer you questions, at first the transition to Promethean was rough and it took a few PDs to get it down, however as of right now I'm loving the board. I don't spend money on dry erase markers anymore and I find my handwriting to be much nicer on the Promethean. Recently my school and Promethean launched wireless use of the board which we lost some functionality, however they are working on the issue and said they will get the technology working better than it did when we had it connected with cords.
Hi Joe! I enjoyed reading your post as a fellow Math teacher. It was very inspiring to see how you have grown with technology since Covid. I have to say, I am very jealous of your Promethean Board. I like that technically it can replace your laptop because it has the same functions. Can you get any app on it?
I have never used One Note, but it seems like a great way to build and organize all your notes. Did it take you awhile to create your notes? How do your students like taking their own notes using it? Also, what type of device do your students use? Sorry for all the questions.
Thank you for your comments. Promethean can definitely replace the laptop, its like a very large tablet that you can download any app from the Adroid app store.
One Note took me a while to get the hang of but is a great tool. My students have laptops provided by the school that have touch screens, they are like Chrome Books but I'd say they are a bit nicer. I modify all my notes so yes it does take me a while. I'm a special education teacher so all my content is modified from the general education setting. The students also had a learning curve using One Note, some love it, some do not. The ones that do not like it are the students that struggle with using tech. Thank you for all the questions, I'm happy to answer them.
Thanks for bringing my attention to Promethean. It sounds like it could be a powerful tool in the classroom. I have limited experience with smartboards, having used it in a classroom at a charter school where I work. I wasn't given any training on it, and I mostly used it as a substitution for the whiteboard. Among the things I did were to write on the screen with the stylus, play YouTube videos or mirror my laptop onto it. So, I was using it somewhere between substitution and augmentation, but, really, it just combined a couple of technologies: TV and whiteboard. It's good to hear that these devices have more functionality. Funny thing is, the district where I now work removed all its smartboards and opted for smartTV's. They didn't believe the technology had the value they needed. Of course, that was many years ago. I assume smartboards have made major improvements since then. I wonder if anyone has used them in a way that brings them closer to redefinition. I image this might include syncing the smartboards with the tablets/chromebooks students use. Maybe they could screen capture the board, display their own media, or work collaboratively with others. One thing about technology we see today is the limitless possibilities. I think we need a bigger buy-in from teachers and administrators before we reach that level. Andy
Hi Andy, Thank you for your comments. Promethean isn't a Smart Board type of device, it's much more and looks like a SmartTv but is also much more than that. It's basically like a huge tablet that you can add numerous apps to use to help facilitate learning. Our Promethean Boards have screen share capabilities and do allow for students to share and collaborate through the built in smart cast feature. I can add my whole class into a virtual holding area and pick different students to display on the screen or multiple students at that. I'd say that the Promethean Board reaches much further than substitution and augmentation if one knows how to use the features of the board. Our district is very bought in on Ed Tech, they hold PDs every institute day on tech. Our school was chosen as a Microsoft Showcase school, only 30 are chosen throughout the country.
Thanks for a fantastic peek into the technology that has helped transform your teaching. I appreciated seeing where each fell on the SAMR model for you. It's not surprising that there will be more intentional shifts towards redefinition after school closures last year. My hope is that once teachers saw the power of technology they would want to (gradually) change their practice. We'll see!
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Hi Joe! I really enjoyed reading how you at various points throughout the last couple of years have been able to watch yourself move through each of the levels of SAM and R (I know by next year you will be fully at that level). I like how you connected pre-pandemic, post-pandemic and your future into the levels of SAMR. Im wondering how you feel about your smart board being replaced with the Promethean Board? Do you see yourself preferring it? Was the adjustment hard? I also wasn't familiar with One Note so it was really interesting to see how it actually works with your example, I really appreciate your details noted in your post. I learned a lot.
ReplyDeleteHi Jillian,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the nice comments. I see implementing technology as a journey and when evaluating myself I like to explain the journey and not just where I'm at in the given moment.
To answer you questions, at first the transition to Promethean was rough and it took a few PDs to get it down, however as of right now I'm loving the board. I don't spend money on dry erase markers anymore and I find my handwriting to be much nicer on the Promethean. Recently my school and Promethean launched wireless use of the board which we lost some functionality, however they are working on the issue and said they will get the technology working better than it did when we had it connected with cords.
Thank you for commenting on my post!
Hi Joe! I enjoyed reading your post as a fellow Math teacher. It was very inspiring to see how you have grown with technology since Covid. I have to say, I am very jealous of your Promethean Board. I like that technically it can replace your laptop because it has the same functions. Can you get any app on it?
ReplyDeleteI have never used One Note, but it seems like a great way to build and organize all your notes. Did it take you awhile to create your notes? How do your students like taking their own notes using it? Also, what type of device do your students use? Sorry for all the questions.
Hi Amy,
DeleteThank you for your comments. Promethean can definitely replace the laptop, its like a very large tablet that you can download any app from the Adroid app store.
One Note took me a while to get the hang of but is a great tool. My students have laptops provided by the school that have touch screens, they are like Chrome Books but I'd say they are a bit nicer. I modify all my notes so yes it does take me a while. I'm a special education teacher so all my content is modified from the general education setting. The students also had a learning curve using One Note, some love it, some do not. The ones that do not like it are the students that struggle with using tech. Thank you for all the questions, I'm happy to answer them.
Thanks for bringing my attention to Promethean. It sounds like it could be a powerful tool in the classroom. I have limited experience with smartboards, having used it in a classroom at a charter school where I work. I wasn't given any training on it, and I mostly used it as a substitution for the whiteboard. Among the things I did were to write on the screen with the stylus, play YouTube videos or mirror my laptop onto it. So, I was using it somewhere between substitution and augmentation, but, really, it just combined a couple of technologies: TV and whiteboard. It's good to hear that these devices have more functionality.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is, the district where I now work removed all its smartboards and opted for smartTV's. They didn't believe the technology had the value they needed. Of course, that was many years ago. I assume smartboards have made major improvements since then. I wonder if anyone has used them in a way that brings them closer to redefinition. I image this might include syncing the smartboards with the tablets/chromebooks students use. Maybe they could screen capture the board, display their own media, or work collaboratively with others. One thing about technology we see today is the limitless possibilities. I think we need a bigger buy-in from teachers and administrators before we reach that level.
Andy
Hi Andy,
DeleteThank you for your comments. Promethean isn't a Smart Board type of device, it's much more and looks like a SmartTv but is also much more than that. It's basically like a huge tablet that you can add numerous apps to use to help facilitate learning. Our Promethean Boards have screen share capabilities and do allow for students to share and collaborate through the built in smart cast feature. I can add my whole class into a virtual holding area and pick different students to display on the screen or multiple students at that. I'd say that the Promethean Board reaches much further than substitution and augmentation if one knows how to use the features of the board. Our district is very bought in on Ed Tech, they hold PDs every institute day on tech. Our school was chosen as a Microsoft Showcase school, only 30 are chosen throughout the country.
Thanks for a fantastic peek into the technology that has helped transform your teaching. I appreciated seeing where each fell on the SAMR model for you. It's not surprising that there will be more intentional shifts towards redefinition after school closures last year. My hope is that once teachers saw the power of technology they would want to (gradually) change their practice. We'll see!
ReplyDelete