As a teacher who majored in curriculum development & instructional technology, I strongly feel that we, as teachers, are always too busy for everyday routines and class prep to keep updated on the technology trends. It’s a pity that we miss the opportunity to use technology to make our lives easier. Therefore, since COVID-19 pandemic began, we need to adjust ourselves to switch to online teaching. It was chaotic at the beginning. It’s good to know the SMAR model when implementing online teaching.
What is SMAR? The SAMR model lays out four tiers of online learning, presented roughly in order of their sophistication and transformative power: substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition.
Substitution: means replacing traditional activities and materials—like in-class lectures or paper worksheets—with digital versions. There is no substantial change to the content, just the way that it is delivered.
Augmentation: This level involves incorporating interactive digital enhancements and elements like comments, hyperlinks, or multimedia. The content remains unchanged, but students can now take advantage of digital features to enhance the lesson. EX.digital portfolios and Kahoot
Modification: At this level, teachers can think about using a learning management system like Google Classroom, Moodle, Schoology, or Canvas to handle the logistical aspects of running a classroom, like tracking grades, messaging students, creating a calendar, and posting assignments.
Redefinition: Learning is fundamentally transformed at the “redefinition” level, enabling activities that were previously impossible in the classroom. Ex. Virtual field trips, invite the author to chat about their work and answer questions.
References:
- Common Sense Education. (2020, April 29). Introduction to the SAMR Model. https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/introduction-to-the-samr-model
- Terada, Y. (2020, May 5). A Powerful Model for Understanding Good Tech Integration. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/powerful-model-understanding-good-tech-integration