Connecting Project Based Learning & Technology Through SMAR

As teachers start to think about integrating technology into daily lessons and projects, they want to be reassured that the technology is enhancing their students’ learning. SAMR, developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura provides educators with a way to evaluate how they are incorporating technology into their teaching. Teachers move up the levels of SAMR with the hope of engaging students in rich learning experiences and improving their performances. The “S” level, or Substitution, occurs with the technology acts as a direct substitute, and there are no functional changes (Common Sense Media, 2016). Moving up to the “A” or augmentation level, the technology still acts as a direct tool substitute, but there are some functional changes. A teacher new to the idea of technology integration may want to start at these two levels. Adding new technologies such as eBooks or Google docs with little to no functional changes is a safe and easy way to explore technology use.

Moving from augmentation to the “M” or modification level takes educators to the transformation step. At the modification level, the new technology allows educations to redesign the tasks to do things that were not possible with the old tech. “R,” or redefinition is the top level of the model. In this level, educators can design new tasks that would not have been possible with the old tech. As students move to the modification and redefinition levels of SAMR, they also move up levels in Bloom’s Taxonomy to evaluation and creation. The top levels of SAMR also address the 21st-century skills of collaboration, communication, and critical thinking (Common Sense Media, 2016)

Educators can use the SAMR model to evaluate their integration of technology in classroom tasks. Teachers move from traditional teaching methods, such as using a pen and pencil to take notes, to technology enhanced and expanded lessons. At the Redefinition level students now take notes using Google Docs and may share, edit, and collaborate with their classmates. They may even connect with students from across their country, or around their world as they discuss their learning and findings. Teachers, who also wish to join Project Based Learning with technology, can look to SMAR as a model. Many Web 2.0 tools fit into each level of SMAR and can be used to augment a project. For instance, collaborative mindmaps such as Coggle or bubblel.us take projects to the redefinition level of SMAR. Students no longer use note cards as a memory tool for research, but can collaborate with their group members and create an online mindmap. A further illustration would be a group using Wikispaces to publish their project. Instead of a traditional poster or tri-fold board students can integrate video, VoiceThreads, discussion boards, and information on their Wikispace. Here, Wikispaces has redefined the function of the traditional poster and allowed for possibilities that would have once been impossible.

A slight modification of the SAMR model shows that Project Based Learning (PBL), integrated with technology, allows for higher order thinking. In her blog, Jen Roberts (2013) explains that the SAMR model focused on task design as the responsibility of the teacher. She argues, “classrooms that really reach redefinition are often rife with student driven innovation.” This student driven innovation, or student voice and choice, is one of the essential design elements of a Buck Institute for Education gold standard projects (Larmer, Mergendoller, & Boss, 2015). She offers the TECH Model as a way to move the focus from tasks to students and teachers (Roberts, 2013). Using this model, educators move from traditional teaching methods to Project Based Learning that is connected to technology.

In the TECH model, “T” replaces substitution with traditional teaching. Educators may not yet be integrating PBL, but they are exploring its elements. At the traditional level, educators design a task using “traditional pedagogy with technology supports” (Roberts, 2013). At the “E” level teachers are using multiple tech tools to enhance the students experience. For example, they may use chrome books, iPad apps, or Google Classroom. Project Based Learning is possible at the “C” level of Choice. The center of a gold standard PBL projects are student learning goals (Larmer et el., 2015). The Choice level of TECH also addresses the essential elements of student voice and choice is addressed as students are given options. This makes the learning more authentic to the students, which is another essential design element of PBL (Larmer et el., 2016). The C level encourages teacher to “offer a choice of tasks using a specified range of available tools.” The highest level of TECH is the “H,” or hand-off level. This level is the goal of PBL as educators allow students to “drive the learning experience with teacher guidance and flexible choice of tools and technologies to achieve an authentic and exemplary product” (Roberts, 2013). The TECH model speaks to developing Gold Standards Projects that are connected to technology, encourage higher order thinking skills, and prepare students for the future with 21st century skills.

Both SAMR and TECH show the connection between Project Based Learning and Technology. 21st century skills, higher order thinking, student voice and choice, and connectivity occur when technology and PBL are combined. Whether a teacher chooses to follow the SAMR or TECH model, their classrooms will benefit and students will be better prepared for the world beyond the classroom walls.

Resources:

Common Sense Media (2016, July 12). What is the SAMR model? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b5yvgKQdqE&list=PL8TjVyuBdsCmZeSjU-l4qCpX11XENxsRi

Larmer, J., Mergendoller, J., & Boss, S. (2015, April 5). Gold standard PBL: Essential project design elements. Buck Institute for Education.[Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_essential_project_design_elements.

Roberts, R. (2013, November 30). Turning SAMR to TECH: What models are good for. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.litandtech.com/2013/11/turning-samr-into-tech-what-models-are.html

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