Classroom Tech Tip: The SAMR Model

  While most educators can agree that technology is becoming increasingly useful in our classrooms, it's hard to know how to use it effectively. Dr. Ruben Puentedura developed the model SAMR, which is an acronym for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Each of these components represent the ways in which you can categorize your use of technology in the classroom. The goal is to encourage you to aim for higher levels of technology integration to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Let's break down each component with examples.

1. Substitution: At this level, technology is used as a direct substitute for traditional tools without adding significant changes to the learning task. Examples:

• Students use Microsoft Word or Google Docs to write an essay instead of pen and paper.
• Using a virtual, interactive map such as Google Maps instead of a physical map/globe to explore an area of interest.

While substitution isn't a bad thing, and can sometimes help improve student engagement (some students prefer using computers and tablets over paper), the technology doesn't add any functional improvement to the task; it merely replaces it. Let's aim higher!

2. Augmentation: Technology at the augmentation level provides functional improvements to the learning task. It adds some extra benefits or features compared to traditional methods. Examples:

• Students use a spelling and grammar check tool in a word processing software to improve the quality of their writing.
• Using an educational apps on tablets to practice math skills with instant feedback and progress tracking.

Augmentation is a step in the right direction. It gives some practical use and value in moving forward with technology. Now, we'd like to take a bigger step--or really, more of a leap--into the next steps. We are no longer looking to just enhance our lessons through technology, but to use it to transform the process. Let's see how this works.

3. Modification: At the modification level, technology allows for significant task redesign. It enables new forms of learning that were previously impossible without technology. Examples:

• Instead of presenting a research project using a traditional poster, students create a website or a multimedia presentation to showcase their findings with interactive elements. 
• Conducting virtual field trips through interactive web platforms that allow students to explore museums, historical sites, or scientific environments virtually. 

As you can see, the goal of modification is to make a significant change to the original task that will enhance or change the learning experience for your students. In both cases, while it might take some more work to set up, the students are getting real-world skill practice such as collaboration, media literacy, and visual aids that they otherwise would not get.

4. Redefinition: The highest level of technology integration is redefinition, where technology allows for the creation of entirely new learning tasks that were inconceivable without it. It transforms the learning experience in a way that goes beyond the original task. Examples:

• Participating in global collaborative projects with students from different countries through video conferencing, shared online documents, and real-time collaboration tools.
• Engaging in simulations or virtual labs where students can conduct experiments, make observations, and analyze data in a virtual environment. This is very common in Physics labs, where through VR, students can interact with elementary particles or electromagnetic waves that we otherwise can't create in a classroom.

Technology at this level opens up new possibilities and changes the way students learn and interact.

The SAMR model encourages educators to strive for higher levels of technology integration, moving beyond substitution and augmentation, to leverage technology's transformative potential and promote more meaningful and engaging learning experiences. It is much harder to reach these last two levels, primarily because of the amount of effort and creation that goes into these projects. We cannot always reach Redefinition, but we should always strive for it when possible.