The SAMR Model

What is the SAMR Model?

The SAMR model provides a framework for the synthesis of pedagogy, ICT pedagogy and thinking taxonomy. It is a holistic model that can be used to evaluate an individual's thinking about learning design. It has four levels of learning that are presented in order of their transformative level: substitution, augmentation, modification and redefinition. Often in classrooms teachers will tend to focus on the fist two levels. An example of this could be deliver a lesson as an online lecture (the lecture acts as a substitute of the face to face lesson). 

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SAMR - Drawing it all Together 

Write a reflection that draws together Blooms Taxonomy, your understanding of ICT pedagogy and the SAMR model as it relates to your teaching context. Rather than think about what you have experienced in schools, try to take an aspirational position on this reflection. Examine not what currently exists, but what is possible. This will become the foundation of your own pedagogical framework which will later be mapped against a learning design.

It is unquestionable that ICT in schools will further improve and keep on improving as years go by. Students will be exposed to more advanced and effective technological tools to improve their high-order thinking skills and to allow for analysis, evaluation and creativity. Bloom's Taxonomy provides learners and teachers with a framework that allows for students' gradual progress in learning and gradual growth of cognitive skills. It recognizes that students need to be able to recall, identify and comprehend knowledge and information to then be able to apply, analyse, synthesise and evaluate the information/knowledge. It also recognises that as a student progresses through the levels of the cognitive domain they will be able to grow their high-order thinking skills. These include transfer skills, critical thinking skills and problem solving skills.   

Similarly the SAMR model allows progressive student learning with the use of ICT pedagogies. The model focuses on progressing from the traditional method of teaching by using emerging technologies to improve learning. For example, using an interactive whiteboard instead of writing on the board with chalk is one of the changes happening in the last few years. In English students are now required to produce Ted Talks where they need to film, edit and export their videos. Kahoot games are becoming the new way  of checking for learning. However, according to the SAMR model there is till progress that needs to be made to reach the Redefinition stage.   

When looking at how Bloom's Taxonomy and the SAMR model blended as one. It could look like this:  

Redefinition - Creating & Evaluating   

Modification - Analysing & Evaluating  

Augmentation - Understanding and Applying   

Substitution - Understanding and Remembering