SAMR Model

In this day and age technology is a part of everything we do in life. We can take it

everywhere, we have several different ways to communicate and view the lives of those around

us, and most importantly create ways for us to learn. Even though I grew up in a time where

technology became an important part of learning, personally as well as educationally, I did not

cling to it as most did. So growing up thinking that technology could and should be

automatically implemented into the classroom was a far-fetched thought of mine. This was only

because I never saw the positive educational effects technology could have on students within a

set learning environment. I saw computers as a distraction and negative impact on my own

learning because that’s what was subliminally impressed in my memory from my after school

guardians disapproval of computer use in educational instances. Through this course I would like

to become more “tech savvy”, being able to teach my students how to use the programs, answer

questions, figure out problems that may occur, rather than it being the other way around. I would

also learn the different types of applications and programs that can be used for fundamentally

aspects in the classroom and the students could explore them in other arenas outside of the

classroom. I think the best way for you to help with that, as Professor Davola, would be to

keeping/allowing the tutorials and the step by step instructions available to us to reference during

this class and times after. The Digital Profile that was asked of us to fill out in the beginning of

the class was very insightful on how lacking I am in the tech world. So hopefully by the end of

this course I will be more advanced and in tune with tech programs and applications that can be

used to help students learn.

 The SAMR Model was a great place to start, getting to know the standards for technology

based learning as an educator and as students is very important. I’m not too sure there are many

children that know about the standards and the right they have to be able to learn through

technology in their class and schools. Before computers, laptops, t.v.s, etc. were seen as outside

privileges that had to be earned or were seldomly used for educational purposes. The SAMR

Model allows teachers to capture the interest of children in a new way. There are many different

modalities and intelligences (Linguistic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, Spatial,

Artistic, Kinesthetic, and Musical) that allow children to learn to the best of their ability.

Integrating technology into the classroom using the SAMR Model opens up a variety of ways for

each of these intelligences to be touched on. It also give students that are not fortunate enough to

have technology in their homes an opportunity to experience technology; a plus is that it is for

educational reasons. Lastly, it helps remove the negative connotation (like the one I had) and

encourages students to learn, think, and interact on a higher/advanced level.

Hypothetical Use of SAMR Model

For a simple creative assignment I may have students of a third grade class write a poem,
including pictures or a drawing to go along with it, on how a country they have been learning
about. For Substitution- I would have them type this poem up instead of writing it. They could
then digitally upload a picture that they drew or find a picture using the internet. I would Modify
this tasks using either PowerPoint, Presi, or another digital presentation app and have the
students voice record their poem with a picture or a short video to go along with it.