Week 4 (SAMR) Model
The SAMR Model is interesting as a tool to help support teachers,
grades 6th through 8th, whose classrooms I push into as
resource to bring more technology into their lessons. I work with several teachers in the building
as a resource teacher to help special education students who are on my caseload,
but who are in general education
classrooms be more successful. As such, I am always trying to find ways help
to students access the curriculum, and one of the teachers I work with a lot
has finally agreed to let me help her bring more technology into her classroom.
Substitution: In reference to substitution, our students
have net books that they are able to use to complete much of their reading
assignments on through the SRA online programs offered through the reading
series. So, though they have textbooks,
they can actually read the story online if they wish.
Augmentation: In the case of my students, and perhaps, some
of the other students who may have reading issues , the SRA program also gives students the option to listen to the story being read to them; as
they read and follow with their eyes.
This way, it supports them in word recognition and they can spend more
mental time comprehending what the text is about. Also, they can play it over as much as they
like.
Modification: Another change since our school has taken the
new reading program is that students are able to use a program called
Accelerated Reader and Math to practice skills on the computer, they get
feedback through short immediate assessments, and are able to move to higher
levels based on their assessments. The
students seem to enjoy working with the online Accelerated program, and are
beginning to show more responsibility for wanting to improve their levels. I should also mention that with the SRA
reading program, Imagine; students are required to take their weekly
assessments online. The good thing about
this is that they are able to see immediate feedback as to how successful they
were, and students appear to enjoy taking these assessments online. This works well with students on my case load
because they can listen to the story before assessing, and have been showing
good improvements.
Redefinition: Using the net books, has allowed students to
begin to get accustomed to working in groups to complete an end project. Whereas, before every student would be
required to complete an assignment or project independently, like a book
report, or research paper; now they are working in teams to where one person
may be responsible for researching one thing and another something else. In the end, they come together in consensus
as to how they will put their project together. The person who is best at keyboarding types out
the project and sends it to the printer.
What’s missing is having a
sharing platform like Google docs, as we not there yet.
If you don't have Google Apps yet, there are other services that allow for collaboration. Keep this in mind during the wiki project.
ReplyDeleteHi Doc! I have Google Apps, and have started putting together project, I wanted to look at services as well. Though it's a lot and taking me to my edge, this is all just wonderful stuff that I'm learning, the assignment, everything. Thanks!!!
DeleteWe use Imagine It at our school also and I love all of their resources. I like that your students are using netbooks to complete research projects. What type of projects have they completed so far? Do you see yourself integrating any other Web 2.0 tools with your students?
ReplyDeleteHey Erika, just recently the students used their net books and completed a group project in which they had to pick an animal habitat to research information about on the web, including locating pictures, and responding to specific questions assigned to each member. Later, they had to decide what information as a group they would keep or discard, and make a Power point presentation to present to the classroom. One of the things I'd like to introduce the classroom teacher to is having the students create e-portfolios of their work. I have found some interesting sites for this and here's one, http://www.openschooleportfolio.com/ , as my problem is finding stuff that I don't have to get administrative clearance to load. Look at and let me know your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of you using technology to help special needs students. I always worry that these students fall so far behind because many schools don't have the ability to give them special services. I am glad to hear that they can use technology to learn. I have a special needs brother that I helped raised and can see his potential and desire to learn but not at 25 he is no longer able to go to school. So I bought him a laptop hoping that he will be able to continue learning but have yet to come up with resources for him to do so. If you have any links or suggestions for me to use with him I'd be very grateful.
ReplyDeleteTracie, Thanks for your thoughtful responses, and I am always looking for ways to support my students in the classroom and outside of it. I think it is better for them this year since the school has the new reading program that allows them to use technology to help support their understanding of text. Often special needs students need more time and repetition in order to complete a task. So, being able to replay information as often as needed really helps, as well as, finding other ways of showing examples. One good resource for language arts that your brother can go online and practice is called Lions Den as follows http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/sentence/nouns.htm. Also, I have found that some of the utube videos are helpful as well.
DeleteHello Regina,
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head. Getting the teachers to change is one of the hardest things to do. Great job in getting one!
Thanks Jerry, I'm a work in progress, so I might as well bring others along with me! I was very pleased to read your posting on SAMR and to find that your teaching environment uses this model. I was wondering if your students work in groups to complete tasks, and whether or not you and your students use technology to connect and share with other teachers and students.
DeleteHi Regina. the first thing that caught my attention this week regarding your post is that you mentioned several times how by using technology the students can get immediate feedback for their effort. I think this is one of the most important parts of technology, the immediate feedback. I know when I was a classroom teacher before technology feedback was determined by how long it took me to correct things and then conference with the student. Once I used technology my students were able to "change course" quicker because they new quicker how they did and which strand they scored low on. I always enjoy reading your posts because you have some very helpful and insightful ideas and observations.
ReplyDeleteYes, Matt, I think quick feedback is so important to students, as they need to know whether or not they are moving in the right direction, in terms of what is expected of them. I've seen students struggle with not getting the attention of the teacher, or students needing attention and not asking for it. Technology allows you to get to them quickly and even gives you options to get to them. I was really amazed at the fact that you are using wikis and podcasts in your classroom, and have been doing so for years. Podcasts are my next project to learn and introduce to my school, so perhaps you could give me some pointers in doing so.
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