SAMR as a Planning Model

I am a teacher. For the majority of my professional life Sunday has usually involved planning on some level. Planning time includes my plan book, laptop, iPad, pens/pencils/colored markers, a caffeinated beverage, and Pandora on Disney or Maroon 5. Planning lessons also now includes a SAMR grid to help me think about how I'm integrating technology: How am I using it? How and why am I expecting my students to utilize it?

The SAMR model classifies technology use in four ways: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition.  This model, in truth, is not about technology… it’s about advancing student learning and the content through thoughtful use of technology. The goal is to have the majority of your tech integration fall in the upper tiers of the SAMR model to take students’ learning new places. That said, the model leaves room for times when using technology as a substitute might be appropriate, such as when introducing new content.

Throughout the project outlined below, note that the focus of the learning is on the task, not the technology. In the later stages of the project, some instruction on use of the tools may be needed, but would be integrated within the context of the project, not lessons created just to utilize technology. I’ve completed a sample research project unit plan in the SAMR planning grid I designed (grid was inspired by an infographic created by Megan Moore aka @mmooresjc). In the plan, I wrote answers for the “think about” questions to show the thought process behind the decisions for each piece. A blank template is linked at the end of the post, feel free to use and share it.

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