SAMRI, No It's not a Japanese Soldier

The SAMR model helps educators thoughtfully plan for and implement technology in the classroom to enhance student learning and outcomes. One of the most important aspect of SAMR is that it corresponds to Bloom's taxonomy. The higher levels of Modification and Redefinition require higher levels of thinking such as application, evaluation, and creation. At the highest level, technology allows for the creation of new tasks that would not be possible without that technology. For example, students could learn about the Vietnam War by video conferencing with Vietnam War veterans from both the US and Vietnam. This type of learning experience, and others like it, would be difficult to replicate without the use of technology. While technology does not always have to be used at this level, there is no question that these higher levels provide the greatest impact. Another important part of this model is that it encourages classrooms to use technology in ways similar to how it is used outside of classrooms. The jobs of the future are heavily reliant on technology, so it is imperative that technological literacy is a common component of curriculum. 

It seems to me that the greatest benefits of technology are the ability to connect people to people and people to information instantaneously in a single location. This is not possible without technology. It makes no sense that we take advantage of these benefits in our everyday lives, but don't utilize them in the classroom. Our educational system needs to catch up to the rest of society.