In my elementary school, I often find myself in the role of helping my colleagues with technology. As a Technology Leader, I support both experienced teachers that want to adopt new technologies into their teaching, and new teachers, who are comfortable with the tools, but want to collaborate on using them effectively in their classes. I find the SAMR model, by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, to be a useful tool for helping teachers who are reluctant to adopt digital tools.
Teachers are more likely to engage with technologies in A meaningful way if they are familiar. By starting with the Enhancement parts of the model. teachers find technologies easy to adopt and use in the classroom. For example, using Google Docs as their primary writing program is an easy start, as a form of Substitution for the more familiar Word. Using it in the class is easy, once students have google accounts.
Once they are using Google Docs, the sharing, and collaboration functionality, begin to Augment the experience. Teacher begin to use these features on assignments, leading to improved learning. The goal is to make the experience useful for teachers and make their jobs easier in the long run.
As teachers get more use to using digital technologies in their everyday practice, they begin to Transform their teaching. They use technology to Modify their work flow. For example, they may start using Google Classroom as a platform to collect work, and use the built in rubrics to give useful, formative and summative assessment. In class, work has become Redefined as students and teachers can incorporate peer-feedback into the writing and editing process as part of the expectations of the assignments. Work can be embedded with digital media, and edited according to suggestions.
As Teacher Librarians, collaborating with colleagues to deliver innovative education is important. So is supporting teachers to use the digital tools available to them to improve their practice. I find SAMR to be a good model to guide this support.
Happy learning!
Rupert
Helpful resources:
Shannon O
ReplyDeleteHi Rupert,
I think using google docs as a medium for writing programs is a great example. This would be a great way to eventually have students provide peer feedback as you can share docs with others for editing.
I wonder if increased use of SAMR in schools would require a big increase in tech budgets so that each student could be equipped with a laptop or iPad for everyday use.
One thing I have found in getting my colleagues using more technology, is that the chromebook cart is always booked. I used to have it whenever I wanted.
DeleteI think we do need to consider accessibility to technology in the home. I really saw this in Covid homeschool, where some kids were trying to do everything on their parent's phone. I think the learning commons has a role to play, like public libraries with services like a printing station and accessibility to computers outside of class time.
I'm elementary school. I should think the need is even greater as they get older
Zack S-
ReplyDeleteHi Rupert,
Highlighting Google Classroom is a great idea for integrating tech into the learning commons. I was able to utilize Google Classroom last year for the first time and found it extremely useful in keeping organized and using the rubrics for assessments as you noted. I also appreciate the ability to use Google Apps for collaboration between students.
My wonder is what resources are available to use to help support teachers who are struggling with Google Classroom. Could building a troubleshooting sheet lessen your responsibilities as the "go to" tech support? Thanks for sharing!
I do a tonne of that building capacity with my colleagues, but it seems very tailored to the person. I find teachers like to get comfortable with one or two thing at a time and then come back for more. Big troubleshooting sheets just get confusing for most people. That being said, there are a lot of videos on line for specific problems. During Covid homeschool, I made a bunch of resources for families and for peers on how to do things like submit work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment