"Oh, pilot of the storm that leaves no trace, like thoughts inside a dream
Heed the path that led me to that place, yellow desert stream
My Shangri-La beneath the summer moon, I will return again
Like the dust that lufts high in June, when moving through Kashmir."
-Led Zepplin "Kashmir"
A recent series of events, posts, videos have led me to spend time thinking about Educators progressing through the SAMR model developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura. Taking the advice of the Led Zeppelin song above I will "Heed the path that led me to that place..." and share a few of the resources that have pushed me down this path of inquiry:
- Dr. Ruben Puentedura- SAMR Model (http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/)
- Marc-André Lalande's Video Failing Superman
- Once again hearing a Chris Lehmann keynote address and meeting all the great educators at MassCUE 2013 (Here is his closing keynote from ISTE 2011)
- Learning with educators at @edcampri
- Clicker & Polling Systems
- Digitized multiple choice tests
- Teacher lectures via video
- Digitized shared handouts and notes
Substitution and Augmentation (Enhancement), essentially digitizes our all too recognizable 19th-21st century schooling model and makes it faster and easier. If we continue to advocate for technology so that we can give our educators and students digitized multiple choice, digitized lectures, digitized worksheets/handouts, submit digital five paragraph essays, etc. then yes, technology can replace what we currently do and may (or even should) replace us. But, if as educators we use technology push for better, push for different, push for relevant, push for unique, push for creativity, push for life-long learning, push ourselves to do lessons we have always wanted, push to give students the power and autonomy they deserve, then we have harnessed the true power of technology in education. We will be Transformed.
In order to have educators harness the true potential power of technology to transform the learning experiences and outcomes, we must use technology to push further and deeper into Modification and Redefinition. Yes, this will mean taking chances...yes, this will mean failure...yes, this will mean being uncomfortable...yes, this will mean change...yes, it will take bravery...and NO, there isn't an app for that.
Even though I have been guilty of moving through SAMR and using it as way to try to get people on board by saying technology 'will help support/enhance what they already do'. I can no longer be afraid to go after the "thoughts inside a dream" and be open and honest about using technology to be the catalyst of a Redefinition of what we can empower students and educators with to change what we do everyday in schools and in education.