The SAMR model in every day teaching life
My students are very unique. School and learning is something that they do not like to do. It is very difficult to motivate them. Until this class I would have never thought that they would use the computer or internet for anything more than typing a paper, working on a school approved math program like Dream box, or searching you tube for the latest Justin Beiber video.
After reading articles and watching the video on SAMR, I embarked on using technology in a different way in my class. At first I was using technology as a substitution for paperwork. The kids would write papers, fill in the blanks for worksheets and watch movies on famous Americans. Useful yes, no real functional change.
Since I teach elementary school special education I am limited on how global I can get with my students. I did have the children start a blog and each week I give them a topic and they write about it. So far they have written about the blizzard, sports stars they admire and next week we will vote on what the topic will be. So far we have a request for best video games. I am VERY pleased with the results so far.
In terms of the SAMR model, we are at the modification level. If I were teaching high school we would be able to move to the redefinition level because of the less stringent rules concerning internet usage and students. For us, the blog is a way to research, find videos, and learn the basics of writing. The children have reached a level where they are excited to write, they want to write and they are requesting that we blog when there is a break in the day. I can not share it globally because of their age and I have a password so that parents can view the blogs.
The SAMR model has made me look at the way I use technology and how technology allows for significant redesign of a task in the way I teach.
No comments:
Post a Comment