Tuesday, October 31, 2017

What's the 411 on SAMR??



Technology should transform learning!!!

In the world of instructional technology we hear about the SAMR Model ALL the time!  I must admit I've heard it talked about for years but just recently got super excited about it and its implementation  into the world of #edtech.  It's really a true no brainer. So, let's dive right in!



Recently, I participated in the EdTechTeam Virtual Summit and one of the things that I talked about was the SAMR Model and how, if used correctly, will allow you to be more intentional with your technology integration in your classes!   That's the goal, right!  Someone took a screen shot of the slide in my presentation that talked about the SAMR Model and it got a lot of attention, so I knew that I needed to delve in further!


It's important to keep in mind that when we choose technology tools to use with our students that we don't just select a tool for the sake of introducing a tool.  Rather, we want to REALLY understand what it is that we want our students to know and be able to do as a result of our teaching.  THEN we can pick the tool or tools that will compliment the delivery and make it understandable for our kids. The tool is the vehicle!





Here's a quick video that I found on YouTube that provides a great snapshot of what the SAMR Model is all about!


So, let's break it down!  

The purpose of the SAMR Model  is to see and understand how technology impacts teaching and learning.  The model presents a progression  of technology integration.  One reason that I love it is for those teachers that "think" they are integrating technology by simply projecting their lessons on their interactive panels (for example). The SAMR Model, when presented to teachers, gives them a guide to REAL technology integration through the different levels. The key to the model is that students must be engaged in their learning through the technology. Integration should never be viewed as "something else to do" but rather it should be woven into the culture of the classroom.  When this happens, we are properly integrating the SAMR Model.  Of course this requires having access to technology but you can properly integrate this into your classroom practice even if you don't have access to a ton of technology.  With a little technology, you will just have to be a little creative with how you go about doing things, but it can be done!

As we go through each of the steps, think of an assignment that you have given to your students that has not required technology (examples: a worksheet, an essay, note-taking, any kinds of formative assessments, etc.).

Substitution-In substitution, technology would be introduced into the lesson, however there would be no change in the outcome of the task.  For example, instead of a student writing their notes on a piece of paper, in substitution, they would take their notes in a Google Doc or in Microsoft Word.  The content of the notes doesn't change. They are the same notes on paper as they are on the computer. 

Augmentation-In this level of the SAMR Model, the integrated technology  provides students the opportunity complete a task in a different manner. A teacher may have asked their students to write a paragraph about the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell.  If we are making it a point to augment this lesson, we could ask the students to use Flipgrid to record a video of them explaining the difference between these types of cells.  The teacher and other classmates could then provide feedback to their student's videos. 

Let's take a break!  Get it?  Break dancing?  I crack myself up!  LOL!  As students move through the SAMR Model they should become more transformative in their learning as a result of being able to integrate technology.  Substitution and augmentation should enhance the student's learning.  All this means is that what we are asking our students to do will be enhanced as a result of integrating technology.  The products that they produce are a little more "shiny and blingy" as a result of integrating technology!  Modification and redefinition should transform the student's learning.  This is where the magic happens!  This is where the transformation happens in learning and it becomes more student led rather than teacher led. Learning happens on a global level...yes, all because of technology integration!

Modification-In modification, we cross over from enhancement into transformation.  At this level, we may ask students to take what they've learned and create a blog in Google Sites or Blogger.  They would complete all of the research, all of the editing, and all of the publishing themselves while the teacher kind of takes a step back and becomes the facilitator in the learning process. Students are able to find the answers to their questions and even begin to raise awareness on topics that matter to them.  Modification gives them the instructional technology vehicles to be able to make a difference using their voice. 

Redefinition-The last phase of the SAMR Model, redefinition, allows students to produce new tasks.  They are taking their notes from the redefinition example, their Flipgrid from the Augmentation example, and embedding them into their Blog in the Modification example.  They are then sharing this blog with students in another country that they communicate with via Google Hangouts or Skype.  They are not only co-writing blogposts but they are even creating videos and posting them on YouTube.  They've researched the material to create videos, they've edited them and added a creative touch.  Together, they collaborate and create a total package, if you will, that allows them to share with the world!  Learning is totally transformed!  

So there you go!  SAMR in a nutshell!  Once I broke it down in this manner it made a lot more sense to me.  I hope it does to you now as well!   

How are you incorporating the SAMR Model into your practice?  


Sunday, October 15, 2017

Creating Spaghetti Taco Moments



WOW!  I am still floating on cloud 9 from my experience presenting yesterday afternoon with EdTechTeam at their Virtual Summit!  Yesterday was definitely a spaghetti taco moment for me!  My presentation focused around the critical thinking strand of the 4 C's: communication, creativity, communication and critical thinking.  Critical thinking is often the least favorite of the 4 to present on, however, I welcomed and appreciated the charge of making it more engaging, liked and fun through this presentation.  Molly Bennett from EdTechTeam put this all day virtual experience together and it was AMAZING!  Participants literally participated in PD in their PJ's!  I learned so much from the other 11 presenters and am so eager and excited to begin implementing what I learned!  See my previous post before this one for more details and the schedule of the day!

I was truly honored to be presenting virtually alongside such #edtech leaders as Dee Lanier and Holly Clark (Hyperdocs anyone???)! Like I totally had a few fan girl moments!  Like, what did I do to be able to present with these phenomenal #edtech gurus?!?!?!?


Part of my presentation focused on choosing "tech with intent" and being intentional about what you want your students to know and understand before you choose the tool that will deliver the content.  I also talked about a video (included in my presentation) that I recently watched about a mom that works for Buzz Feed that did an experiment in which she told her kids, "yes" every day for a week.  One of her kids wanted spaghetti tacos for dinner!!  What?!?!?  Well, since she was doing this experiment, she had to say yes!  LOL!  And guess what....her kids ate, and ate, and ate those tacos some more....something they don't normally do. Her kids will ALWAYS remember the day that mom let them eat spaghetti tacos.  This got me to thinking that we should be creating those "spaghetti taco" moments in our classrooms and with our teachers.  What will they walk away and remember from their interactions with us?  Think about the teachers you had while growing up.  What made them memorable?  Was it the content, or HOW they made it interesting, relatable, and fun?

I also shared how we can integrate the SAMR (substitution, augmentation, modification and redefinition) to improve and increase thought processing with our students.  Engaging students in activities that encourage critical thinking will create those spaghetti taco moments that will drive the content.  The technical tools are not what's important.  All the tech tools do is deliver the content that we want to and are charged with getting across.

Link to my presentation: http://bit.ly/2yl9KM5

I received some awesome feedback in both the chat on the live stream as well as through Twitter.  I definitely blushed a few times at the comments that came through Twitter:

 

 

 























The event was over 5 hours long and included not only the presentations from the 12 presenters, but a TON of awesome giveaways!  If you missed it, you missed out.  But don't fret!  Because it was streamed through YouTube, you can totally watch it again, and again, and again!

All of the presentations were amazing and chalk full of information!  My presentation began at the 4:33 mark and ended around the 4:51 mark.  I would be honored if you took a few moments to check it out!


As you are putting your lesson plans together and thinking about what you want your students to know as a result of your teaching, I encourage you to think about creating those spaghetti taco moments that they will always remember....



Sunday, October 8, 2017

EdTechTeam Virtual Summit THIS Saturday!!!





This Saturday, October 14, 2017, I will be presenting virtually along side 11 other AMAZING educators during the first ever EdTechTeam Virtual Summit!  This virtual summit is being hosted by Molly Bennett, Director of Summits for EdTechTeam (www.edtechteam.com) which leads Google for Education, hands on, fast paced, high energy summits all across the world!  I am so honored to be a part of this amazing opportunity and with soooo many techie educators!  The theme and hashtag for the event is #bestyearyet !

You still have time to register for this FREE opportunity!  Click on the link below to join over 1200 of your closest friends online!  The sessions will be live broadcasted on YouTube so you will definitely be able to go back and watch it later.

To register, here's the link:  https://nvite.com/edtechteam/y21l97


This summit is going to focus on the 4 C's of instructional technology: collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.  The day will start at 11:00am with a keynote speech from Dee Lanier and then roll immediately into 1 hour sessions for each of the 4 C's that will each contain 3 mini sessions within each hour.  Click here to view the schedule for the day!


I'll be presenting during the critical thinking portion of the day which begins at 3:15pm EST on the topic of Improving Thought Processing through G-Suite.  I'll be focusing on a few key areas of of the G-Suite and how to improve the process of critical thinking with these tools!  Sessions throughout the day range from beginner to intermediate.  At the end of the 4 C's presentations, there will be a demo slam that begins at 4:30pm EST and is chalk full of quick presentations that will be sure to leave you wanting to dig in further!  Here is a Flipgrid that introduces a few of the sessions that will be presented throughout the day.

Will you be joining us for this Virtual Summit?  Have you registered yet?  Be sure to share with your fellow educators as there will be something for everyone!  Join the summit so you can gain some goodies to help you have your #bestyearyet !  Can't wait to "see" you online this Saturday!  



Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Virtual Parking Lots!

Have you ever been leading either a face to face or online professional development session or teaching a group of students, only to look out into the crowd and see hands raised?  Perhaps you're in the middle of a thought or are in the middle of the concept and can't call on that particular individual at just that moment....Back channels are the answer for you....

There are 3 back channels that I'm partial to, but I'm sure there are a ton more out there.  Back channels are virtual parking lots, if you will.  Think about that large sticky poster paper that you used to have hanging back in the day and when someone had something to add to the conversation, something rolling around in their heads as you were presenting, or something of that nature, either they or you would write it on the paper to address it later at the end of the session.  Back channels provide a virtual place for this to occur and there are several things that I love about them!

First, back channels provide a transcript that can be accessed for as long as you need!  In the past, I've used them to create conversation during presentations that I was leading and was able to take the questions, feedback and general contributions that were located on the back channel and not only address them at the end of the session, but also in follow up emails and trainings as well.

Another thing I love about back channels is the collaboration that occurs behind the scenes!  Someone may type a question into the back channel and before you can even get to it to address it, someone else has already chimed in "behind the scenes" and answered it for you!  It sparks little mini collaborative conversations and a community among your audience!

Instead of stopping a training or teaching of a class to address concerns or hear a suggestion that someone has, I can pause throughout my delivery to address a group of things at one time, spark conversation around them and then continue.  No more "squirrel" moments during your presentation. You know what those are, right?  When someone raises their hand to ask you to clarify something you said and the next thing you know, you're talking about your kids, or your dog, or the pizza that you're going to order for dinner that night!  It's happened to all of us!  I've been known to engage in "squirrel" moments often!  Back channels help!
So now that you know why I love a good back channel, let's dive into a few!


Image result for todays meetwww.todaysmeet.com
This is an oldie but goodie! Today's Meet allows you to create a "room" that you can keep open anywhere from 1 hour to 1 year!  You are also able to create a transcript that can be saved or printed off for future reference.  Once you create your room, you will provide a link to your room to your audience.  Participants do not have to log in, but will just go to the link that you provide and enter in a nickname.  I often use "Beyonce" as my go to!  LOL....seriously.....Then, each response that they type gets 140 characters...think Twitter.  This tool is SUPER user friendly and easy.  This is the one that I use as my "go-to" back channel because it's easy.


Image result for padletwww.padlet.com 
A few years ago I was at ISTE (International Society of Technology Ecuators) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and ran into the creator of this amazing tool.  He was probably 18 at the time...not really, but looked like he could have been.  I could have stayed around him all day and soaked in his brilliance.  Instead, we talked about the awesomeness of the tool and he gave me a laptop sticker and a t-shirt!  LOL  Padlet was originally used in the instructional technology space as a type of virtual bulletin board but I love to use it as a back channel.  This tool has had some AMAZING updates over the years and it's easy to see why people love it so much!  People also use it to create mood boards, house their bookmarks in a visually appealing way, a to-do board, for KWL charts, story boards, org charts, and video playlists to name a few.  This tool could literally organize your life!  As a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, some of our resources have been housed in a padlet for easy access and use.  As a back channel, participants are able to simply click on the padlet that you create, which is essentially a blank canvas, and they are able to add whatever they want from text, to videos, to pictures, etc!  You give your padlet a title and can provide a description and it's then ready for your participants to be creative in what they post!  There is also a premium feature, however I take advantage of the free version.


Image result for answer gardenhttps://answergarden.ch/
This tool is one of the newer ones that I've come across but I love it just the same!  Answer Garden is a simple tool to use in that you pull up the site, give your "garden" a title and then choose if you want to create a brainstorm garden, classroom garden, moderator or locked garden.  Moderator could be an option, however you will have to approve each of the posts before they go live.  For the purposes of a back channel, I would select brainstorm garden.  In brainstorm mode, the responders are able to submit an unlimited number of answers.  Answer garden only allows for 20 or 40 character responses, so one would have to definitely be creative with their posts, however it can be done!  One thing that I do love about this tool is that as a response is entered in more than once, that word or phrase will appear larger on your garden wall.  I'm a visual learner, what can I say?

So there you go!  Three ideas for back channels that you can check out and utilize!  I'd love to hear about how you use these tools or about others that you know and love!  Are there other creative ways that you utilize tools like these?  Let me know!