Districts that have embraced the SAMR model are setting an example that others would be wise to follow.
What Is the SAMR Model for Schools?
The SAMR model is a roadmap for technology integration in the classroom. “The model is a nice guide and framework for getting teachers to look at technology integration through a different lens,” says Michael Drezek, district technology integrator for Lake Shore Central School District in New York.
However, Drezek cautions districts from thinking of the model strictly as a ladder. While redefinition is a goal to strive for, each level provides benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s a gradual progression, he says. The lower tiers also represent opportunities for teachers to get comfortable with using tech in the classroom.
What Are the SAMR Model Tiers in K–12 Education?
Under the SAMR model, substitution, the lowest tier, is when technology is used as a direct replacement to the activity or exercise without functional change. One example is making a worksheet digital.
Augmentation is substitution but with a functional change, such as taking a photo of artwork and creating a voiceover to explain the piece, Drezek says.
“Using the technology just to use the technology isn’t moving the needle,” he says. “Using technology with a focus on learning outcomes is.”
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The bottom two levels encompass the learning enhancement, while the top levels are transformational. Modification occurs when the technology creates major changes to the task. One example is global collaboration, a priority for Drezek, who is always looking to engage students with a wider audience to show how technology can connect people.
For example, students can work with others in classrooms around the world on projects about climates or culture, generating a global conversation.
Finally, redefinition is when the technology creates new, “previously inconceivable” tasks. Drezek shares a favorite example: He worked with an English teacher to transform an examination of Romeo and Juliet. Students created a virtual reality version of the Shakespearean play. They created voiceovers and learned code, programming the characters to move and speak. The scenes also had QR codes, so students could pull up the play on their phones and augment their reality.
Integrating Technology Using the SAMR Model
When teachers want to integrate technology into lessons, the technology integration specialist’s first step is understanding their goals. What standards do they want to meet? What lessons are they teaching? These conversations allow the specialist to suggest the best tools for these goals.