SAMR

SAMR and Google

A great place that teachers could start is by assessing where they are at with technology on a matrix, I used a matrix like this at Henry Hill a few years ago. I would use a matrix a little different than this and would focus it more specific to what we use at Te Kura and how we are using it. This would be linked to SAMR to help guide the progressions of digital teaching. 

There is a fantastic site that has lots of links and ideas on ways you could use ICT in your lessons and great for teachers new to technology and directions they could take for SAMR.

Education Technology.com

I found this graphic of top apps on the site above, which is great because I always like to see what apps there are that I may have not tried. There are only 7 apps I have not tried it before on this graphic. It really surprised me as my two favorite apps do not feature on this. One of my go-to apps - Book Creator - is huge in America so this surprises me. 

I have been lucky, in that my previous school, Henry Hill, where I spent nearly 6 years, was the first to go fully digital in Hawkes Bay with 1-1 devices. No paper, no worksheets at all were allowed. There was a lot of trial and error for us as there was not a lot for us to look at in terms of what others had done. I think it is also one of those things that you have to figure out for yourself as well and what suits your school and your community. I feel like now although it was a challenge, I feel confident and have got the foundations for technology I use in the class sorted but obviously, I am continuously researching for new and innovative ways and looking at what others have done. I like thinking outside the box and I like being a step ahead and sharing with people a way that they may not have thought of or can help build on ideas they have already had. I had thought before "is what I am doing actually helping my students future" " When will they actually ever use Book Creator and Explain Everything the apps in their future?" 

I could see exactly the confidence and skills they were getting from using the apps in terms of content for literacy and maths, but will they ever actually use these apps, possibly not once they go to high school, so am I meeting their digital needs?

I had this same conversation with a technology leader in Hawkes Bay and asked him what he thought. He put it into words that explained it so clear and exactly the confirmation I needed. 

He said something like this 'it is about creating a future of digital problem solvers. Kids that are not afraid to try different forms of technology. Kids that are confident with the skills they have and what they know, so that they can figure out a new programme or whatever it is put in front of them. 

We want to give them a range of different apps and platforms to work with so that this problem-solving mindset is developed and kids are ready for their future. We want to give our students a variety of apps/platforms to work from. This is giving them the chance to practise the skill of being able to transfer their digital knowledge and in an authentic context in which they will have to problem-solve. That is setting them up for their future."

We need to support each other and give teachers the confidence and understanding of that - 'all you need to do is provide the kids with the opportunity and they will teach themselves.'  Other wise our kids are missing out.