Applications Galore!

After reading over the multiple frameworks for evaluating technology, the one that stuck out to me most was the SAMR model. Each student in my classroom has their own iPad creating a whole new world of recourses to them, all relating directly to technology. However, as a teacher, I often struggle with how to integrate and use the technology to the best of my abilities hence why I am signed up for this course! 

The SAMR model stuck out to me first because the word “modification” was right in the title. As a special education teacher, this makes me very excited! How can I modify for each one of my students? The goal of the SAMR model is to transform the learning experience while using technology, so our students can achieve higher levels of academics.

While exploring the “SAMR Apps” tab, many of the applications I already use in our classroom were listed, mostly in the substitution area. My students use iBooks for all of their textbooks throughout the year. The also use The Holy Bible for Religion classes, the Jumbo Calculator in math, and the Dictionary app across a multitude of courses.  I would have to say that using iBooks for their textbooks is a great substitution, but can also double as a modification since it allows my students to use a split screen function to have both a note taking application and the textbook open while completing homework. The Holy Bible provides functional improvement because students can search a verse or scripture much easier than they could with flipping through a hard copy of the Bible. The Jumbo Calculator is a great substitution for larger print and accessibility for my students with special needs during their math classes.

A very important iPad application that I felt the “Apps in Education Poster” left out was Showbie. Showbie combines all of the essential tools for assignments, feedback and communication in one beautiful, easy to use app (Showbie Website). It allows for discussion, annotations, grading, voice notes, collaboration, assignments and much more! It is definitely my most widely used application in my classes. It allows me to share notes, worksheets, or assignments with my students via their iPads and also allows students to send their completed work back to me (Substitution). Showbie also provides the opportunity to enhance technology by sharing resources through PDF documents uploaded to my students’ class folder (Augmentation).  I have not yet used Showbie for the modification or redefinition part of SAMR, but the research required for this blog post is definitely encouraging me to do so!

Now that I’ve introduced you to Showbie; what applications do you use in your classroom that might relate to the SAMR model? Are there some more good technology applications I should be downloading onto my students iPads to enhance their learning?

Below is a visual chart of how the SAMR model can be used across different class activities or assignments. I suggest reading over it and thinking how you might want to use SAMR in your classroom!

Photo taken from www.schrockguide.net/samr.html 

You can find more relevant information on the SAMR model, specific examples of how it might be used, and plenty of visual aide charts at SAMR - Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything   This website is created by an educational technologist, Kathy Schrock, to share resources and tips in our teaching world!