Technology and the SAMR Model: A Real-World Success Story

ABOUT THE SAMR MODEL

Educators across the nation are using the SAMR Model as they strive to personalize learning through classroom technology.

Designed by Ruben Puentedura, Ph.D., SAMR is a four-tiered path to transform traditional learning into a technology-rich

continuous learning space.

In Dr. Puentedura’s own words, “the SAMR Model links how you use a technology to the outcomes for students.”

James Wigfall, sixth-grade math and robotics teacher at Forest Brook Middle School in Houston Independent School District, is a committed advocate for the SAMR Model. He recognizes that most K-12 educators are familiar with SAMR, but says that the industry “has yet to completely embrace the totality of impact [SAMR could] have within our field.”

TRANSFORMATION

ENHANCEMENT1| 2|

3| 4|

On his path to creating a continuous learning environment for his students, Wigfall labors to introduce and ensure consistent

adoption of change. There’s the challenge of getting everyone to use the same technologies in Substitution; the need for

a keen eye to spot functional improvements made possible in Augmentation; the creativity needed to reach new goals made

possible by Modification; and the open mind needed to welcome previously inconceivable methods of learning in Redefinition.

While Wigfall has trail blazed his classroom through to the final transformative tier of SAMR, Redefinition, he notes that his

district is progressing at a slower rate, falling into the second tier, Augmentation.

You’ve likely also seen differing levels of adoption in your district, school, and classroom. And you’ve probably felt overwhelmed

by the task of getting every educator and student to the same level at the same time. To help and inspire you in this process,

we talked with Wigfall to learn about his experience advocating for and implementing the SAMR Model.

SUBSTITUTIONTech acts as a direct tool substitute, with functional change

AUGMENTATIONTech acts as a direct tool substitute, with functional improvement

MODIFICATIONTech allows for significant task redesign

REDEFINITIONTech allows for the creation of new tasks,previously inconceivable

TIPS:

Calling this the most critical phase of SAMR due to the need for implementation of sustainable foundation-based

systems, Wigfall recommends schools select the “teachers who exemplify good pedagogy [to] spearhead this

transformation.” These teachers should be empowered through outside professional development opportunities

so they can learn from fellow educational technology pioneers. He also recommends that a school in this stage

pursue a year-long cohort with another school similar in culture and student demographics.

Laptops SMART® BoardDesktops Smartphones Tablets Xbox® Nintendo® Wii

Wigfall combines his SAMR Model approach to incorporating technology in the classroom with Disney Institute’s foundational principle that “everything speaks.” He believes that every classroom touchpoint should be optimized as a learning experience, emphasizing that his goal is to have no stagnant items in the classroom. This requires deep awareness and organization of touchpoints, along with thorough classroom planning. He shared his top recommendations and tools to adopt when moving through each of the SAMR tiers.

1|The foundation of all SAMR efforts to follow, Substitution enables schools to scaffold to the next stages.

SUBSTITUTION

ESSENTIAL TOOLS:

AN ALL-INCLUSIVE APPROACH TO SAMR

1| SUBSTITUTION 2| AUGMENTATION 3| MODIFICATION 4| REDEFINITION

AUGMENTATION

Decide Now! Google Apps for Education™ program

GradeCam Google Drive™Google Classroom

2|

TIPS:

When identifying opportunities for modification, Wigfall explains that teachers must use data to make decisions.

He recommends teachers practice modification when re-teaching learning objectives that students haven’t yet

mastered: “Presenting the learning objectives with education technology-infused modifications provides for

differentiated instructional delivery tailored to all of the learning styles, when pragmatically prepared.”

Continue to track growth and the effectiveness of task redesigns through data-driven rubrics.

ShowMeNearpod Google Apps for Education™ program

Padlet Quizlet

3|

Start measuring transformation in Augmentation, the stage in which real change begins.

TIPS:

Wigfall assigns the task of measurement to the long-term leadership team of teachers, who should “create a rubric

to assess the effectiveness of their transformation. Once this has been established, the teachers should begin to adopt

the principles from their partner school by attempting to implement some of the educational technology tools within

their classrooms.” He recommends the teachers meet at least weekly to discuss the effectiveness of their efforts

along with areas for growth in their pursuit to achieve functional improvement through technology substitution.

ESSENTIAL TOOLS:

Data-driven decision-making becomes essential in Modification as teachers significantly redesign tasks.

MODIFICATION

TOOLS:

1| SUBSTITUTION

1| SUBSTITUTION

2| AUGMENTATION

2| AUGMENTATION

3| MODIFICATION

3| MODIFICATION

4| REDEFINITION

4| REDEFINITION

Whiteboard

Aurasma Blippar® Pear Deck™

Google Apps for Education™

program

Kahoot!

Engrade

Google Hangouts™

Skype™

QR codes

Chatter Pix by Duck Duck

Moose

Google Cardboard™ VR platform

Google Expeditions

Thrive™ Powered by

Time to Know®

Tellagami® Code.org® Morfo

4| REDEFINITIONDuring Redefinition, a school achieves full-technology immersion, which allows for previously inconceivable opportunities.

TOOLS:

1| SUBSTITUTION 2| AUGMENTATION 3| MODIFICATION 4| REDEFINITION

TIPS:

Wigfall encourages a prevalence of student-led projects to “improve rigor by covering multiple learning objectives.”

This can be done through cohort-school collaboration during project execution and presentation. Student leadership

should extend as far as designing rubrics for their project assessments. Continue to empower full-technology immersion

in classrooms by assessing every touchpoint a student encounters.

Wigfall teaches at a district with significantly limited technology opportunities. When he started, his classroom had one teacher laptop and projector. These budget constraints, common in smaller districts, led Wigfall and district leaders to commit themselves to researching the most efficient technology investments. Because of the thorough research process required to meet efficiency and budget requirements, Wigfall believes SAMR adoption is often higher in smaller districts and charter schools. He recommends that large school districts partner with these smaller districts to pilot technologies before investing in them. Additionally, he insists that curriculum writers for a district establish a department dedicated to improving all lesson content through the SAMR Model. Without this district-wide commitment, adoption is likely to be slow, uneven, and inefficient.

Throughout his research process, Wigfall registered for the Donors Choose program, to which he submitted projects that provided

his students with a laptop and tablets. He attended education technology conferences to “learn how other schools were addressing

personalized learning technology needs.” At such conferences, he would request free pilots of education technology applications

and software at vendor booths, which allowed him to thoroughly test and evaluate the best options for his classroom and school.

As he discovered more opportunities for SAMR immersion, Wigfall pursued community partnerships with businesses who were

willing to support his efforts.

ADOPTION & MILESTONES

Increase rigor using Google Forms™ by providing students with remediation and intervention steps as needed after they’ve completed assignments.

Create an augmented word wall with instructional videos, notes, and practice opportunities, all embedded in images students can view on their smartphones.

Integrate Google Apps for Education™ with Aurasma to provide students with interactive stations that include built-in tutorials and remediation.

Increase classroom engagement with Nearpod, which consistently monitors student progress and understanding, encourages discussion, addresses misconceptions and errors, and highlights student accomplishments.

Allow students to use Ozobots® to create instructional tools for individual review and help classmates practice their skills.

Teach statistics using Xbox® sports games and Google Sheets™, which students can use to chart and create dot plots and box and whisker plots.

Throughout his journey leading his classroom through to Redefinition, his school through Modification, and his district to Augmentation, Wigfall has discovered innovative opportunities to integrate tools in the classroom. Consider these examples of how you can begin using real tools and successful approaches on your journey to repurpose every classroom touchpoint through technology:

Above all, Wigfall finds that the SAMR Model advances his endeavors as a life-long learner. As he discovers new

and deeper opportunities for classroom technology integration, he empowers his students to develop a similar

mindset – one that leads them toward success through endless curiosity, analysis, and optimization. Now in

Redefinition, Wigfall explains, “This method gives me the opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of the instruction

provided for the given lesson. I…constantly seek to improve my instruction [to advance] the overall knowledge

and skill of my students through differentiation, augmentation, and integration.”

MORE ABOUT JAMES WIGFALL:

James Wigfall is a graduate of the former M.B. Smiley High School. He is married to a high school English teacher, and a father of

two. James has attended Texas Southern University, Morehouse College, and Sam Houston State University. He has been teaching

for six years. Presently, James teaches sixth grade math and robotics at Forest Brook Middle School in Houston Independent

School District. He is the 2014-15 Teacher of the Year at his campus. As a McGraw-Hill Education Thrive Ambassador, James

is recognized as an educator who brings the freshest, most innovative curriculum ideas to learners everywhere.

CONCLUSION

For more information on platforms to support your teaching and learning ecosystem, visit mheducation.com/prek-12/platforms.