The SAMR Model

What is the SAMR model?

This is model popularized by Dr.Ruben Puentedura that guides teachers on how to implement technology in their classes moving from playing an enhancing role for the learning process to a transformational one. The Model is composed of four phases divided as follows:

Examples on How to Implement the SAMR Model in your technology integration in class:

My Reflection on the SAMR model :

If I want to talk about my first impression about the SAMR model I will have to say; I was surprised! I never thought about the use of technology in classes so critically and I never thought it was something as technical. If I want to reflect on my previous use of technology in my classes I will have to say it has always met one and only one objective: Making the class varied and interesting. And if I want to classify my past use of technology in my EFL classes according to this model; I’d say; it has always been ‘Substitutional’ and ‘Augmentational’. How boring!

So, all this time I have been stuck in this ‘Enhancement’ phase and I never knew of the transformational one, the one that contributes to a genuine learning, and here is where the SAMR model strikes me deepest !

The SAMR model now is my guide to integrating any technological tool into my classroom. Since it seems I have been an expert in using technology for

Learning enhancement without even knowing it, I will now work on the transformational use of technology in my EFL classes. That is;  I will move from a somewhat ‘shy’ use of YouTube videos and the online dictionaries, to an actual level of immersion and adventure with my students by jumping into Modification and Redefinition. For example: Instead of simply using a video of an interview to teach my students about job interviews and then simulate one in class, I would show them a video of an interview on TedEd, make them have a discussion online about it, create their own on TedEd itself,, and then, use Skype to interview or be an interviewee with real professionals with whom I would arrange for skype calls.

Another example is: For a R.C. lesson on Rain Forests, students watch a video about those and have a free discussion on it on their SeeSaw blogs at home before coming to class. Students visit Rain Forests in Class using Virtual Fieldtrips and their 3D glasses. Then, students are expected to work in pairs to create their own video talking about what they learned about Rain Forests, which can be later published on official Facebook pages, connecting them to larger communities and other people who have their knowledge or even more, and share their experiences.

To wrap it up, I believe the SAMR model was an eye opener and can be considered among the most valuable things I learned in this course. I still have to dive deeper into it in order to be able to better design my activities on the right scale, but I’m glad I stepped one foot into the right path of integrating technology into my classrooms.

 

Take a deeper look into SAMR :