Technology Integration Learning
Not just "Tech for tech's sake!
What do we really mean when we talk about "technology integration?"
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To me, the term means that technology is not taught as a separate class, but integrated into the classroom. It also means that students use technology to learn content and show their understanding of content, not just their expertise with a tool.
Four Levels of Technology Integration Learning:
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Sparse: Technology is rarely used or available. Students rarely use technology to complete assignments or projects.
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Basic: Technology is used or available occasionally? often in a lab rather than the classroom. Students are comfortable with one or two tools and sometimes use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.
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Comfortable: Technology is used in the classroom on a fairly regular basis. Students are comfortable with a variety of tools and often use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.
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Seamless: Students employ technology daily in the classroom using a variety of tools to complete assignments and create projects that show a deep understanding of content.
Adapted from: Hertz.M.B What Does “Technology Integration” Mean? Mar, 16, 2011 Edutopia
SAMR Model for Tech Integration
The SAMR Model for integrating technology into teaching, developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, has gained a good deal of exposure in recent years. “SAMR” is an acronym that stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. The SAMR model provides a technique for moving through degrees of technology adoption to find more meaningful uses of technology in teaching and move away from simply using “tech for tech’s sake”. [1]
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Enhancement:
Using technology to enhance Learning
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Substitution:
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Teach acts as a direct tool substitute, with no functional change.
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What will I gain by replacing the older technology with the new technology? [2]
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Augmentation:
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Tech acts as a direct tool substitute, with functional improvement (enhanced productivity)
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​​What will I gain by replacing the older technology with the new technology? Have I added an improvement to the task process that could not be accomplished with the older technology at a fundamental level? [2]
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Transformation:
Using technology to transform learning. Transforming learning promotes higher-order thinking skills such as analyzing, evaluating and creating which are essential to common core state standards and 21st century learning.
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Modification:
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Tech allows for significant task redesign
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​​What will I gain by replacing the older technology with the new technology? Have I added an improvement to the task process that could not be accomplished with the older technology at a fundamental level? Does this modification fundamentally depend upon the new technology? [2]
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Redefinition:
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Tech allows for the creation of new tasks, previously inconceivable.
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​​What will I gain by replacing the older technology with the new technology? Have I added an improvement to the task process that could not be accomplished with the older technology at a fundamental level? Does this modification fundamentally depend upon the new technology? How is the new task uniquely made possible by the new technology? [2]
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[1] Walsh.K 8 Examples of Transforming Lessons Through the SAMR Cycle Apl 20, 2015 Emerging EdTech
[2] What Is the SAMR Model? Jul 12, 2016 Common Sense Education
E.g.: Twitter & the SAMR Model
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Substitution:
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Students use a Twitter hashtag to engage in a discussion (instead of engaging in a face-to-face discussion).
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Augmentation:
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All students engage in the discussion over an extended period (e.g., 1-2 weeks) The learning period is no longer limited into 20 minutes or a course’s length.
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Modification:
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Students critically analyze the archive of the discussion. Everyone has opportunities to speak out their opinions and be able to discuss with everyone.
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Redefinition:
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SMEs (subject matter experts) are invited to join the discussion and share their expertise. Perspectives from SMEs are added into the discussion, which is hard to get in a face-to-face discussion.
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Adapted from: Cash.C, Courduff.J, Hessling P, McElroy.D, Poth.R.D, Trust.T, Williams.M.K, Fox.J, Poyo.S The Top 10 Tools Every New Teacher Needs!
E.g.: A Classroom Task: Creative Writing
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Substitution:
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Had students write a story using a WORD processing program, students are substituting a handwritten story for a typed story. (The task is the same with no real change in students' engagement)
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Augmentation:
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Had students write a story using a WORD processing program, students are substituting a handwritten story for a typed story. The could use features such as Spell check and tools for formatting. (The task is the same but the technology augments it with enhanced productivity) .
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Modification:
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Had students to use Google Doc to write their stories, students can then share their stories with their peers and provide real-time feedback. (Here technology has significantly modified the original task by introducing the benefits of student collaboration) .
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Redefinition:
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Had students transform their written task to multimedia productions after creating storyboards, students film scenes, edit clips and add music they can publish the videos and receive feedback from voices across the globe. (Technology redefines the story writing tasks to include media creation, critical thinking, collaboration and communication.)
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Adapted from:What Is the SAMR Model? Jul 12, 2016 Common Sense Education
“Technology can be a powerful tool for transforming learning. It can help affirm and advance relationships between educators and students, reinvent our approaches to learning and collaboration, shrink long-standing equity and accessibility gaps, and adapt learning experiences to meet the needs of all learners (p. 3).”