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The Starbucks of the SAMR Model
"Basically the SAMR model wants educators to think …
S – Substitution – technology is simply replacing something you could have already done. A regular cup of coffee, for a Starbucks cup of coffee. Still the same thing.
A – Augmentation – technology adds something extra to what you could have done before. A regular cup of coffee for a Starbucks Iced Latte. Same, just a little different.
M – Modification – technology changes the way we can do a project, adding options we couldn’t have done before. A regular cup of coffee for an iced Caramel Macchiato, lots of frills.
R – Redefinition - technology changes the project / product into something that could not have been created without the use of technology. A regular cup of coffee for a Pumpkin Spiced Latte, trademarked by Starbucks. No one else can make it the way they can." (Amen to that!)
So where are you in this model? Wherever you are, you need not worry about how to race to the next level. Get comfortable where you are in order to build. Each level should be a sturdy foundation before exploring the next.
Learning Inventories & Differentiation
At its most basic level, differentiation consists of the efforts of teachers to respond to variance among learners in the classroom. Whenever a teacher reaches out to an individual or small group to vary his or her teaching in order to create the best learning experience possible, that teacher is differentiating instruction.
Teachers can differentiate at least four classroom elements based on student readiness, interest, or learning profile:
- Content – what the student needs to learn or how the student will get access to the information;
- Process – activities in which the student engages in order to make sense of or master the content;
- Products – culminating projects that ask the student to rehearse, apply, and extend what he or she has learned in a unit; and
- Learning environment – the way the classroom works and feels.
References:
Excerpted from: Tomlinson, C. A. (August, 2000). Differentiation of Instruction in the Elementary Grades. ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Websites to help with differentiation:
http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/http://www.readingrockets.org/article/what-differentiated-instruction
Students' True Colors Results
MI Pages of Students' Interactive Notebook
MI Classroom Poster
Tablet & Tech Tips
Both schools now have a functioning Tablet Help Ticket app on the teacher tablets. The app links you to an Excel survey asking for the teacher's name, location and description of issue (do not enter any student identifying information). Please use this tool only after the classroom-level troubleshooting tips have been exhausted (according to your troubleshooting classroom poster). Your PLEF or Amplify Technician will respond accordingly.
Students CAN submit tickets but will not use the app. Students will scan the QR code from the classroom mini-poster to pull up the same survey. These mini-posters will be delivered to you in the coming days. In the meantime, don't hesitate to use the ticket app from your teacher tablet if you have an issue--starting immediately. (See buttons at the bottom of this newsletter for direct links you can bookmark on your computers as well.)
Airplane Mode
Although not on the troubleshooting poster, one of the most common issues is students reporting a tablet "not connected to wifi" or "not checked in to class" only to discover they have put their tablets in "airplane" mode. This can be done by swiping down from the top right corner for Quick Settings and selecting the airplane icon. This is a good and not-so-good thing. It's good when students are moving from classroom to classroom and needs to toggle their wifi to make sure they are connected to the correct wireless access point in each room. It's a not-so-good thing if students are keeping it in airplane mode by accident or on purpose, thereby disabling their wifi. This means they are not receiving the teacher's classroom management commands such as Eyes on Teacher. Be mindful of this quick fix. Have students disable airplane mode and reconnect to the wifi (which should be automatic). To avoid this issue, be sure to start class as students arrive and use the Classroom Manager tool to monitor who is checked in an who isn't. Don't forget about your App Blocker tool!
Starting and Ending Class
When using tablets, be sure to 'Start Class' at the beginning of the lesson. More importantly, remember to 'End Class' prior to the students leaving the classroom. Although the 'End Class' function will time out after 90 minutes, students may need to use their tablets for tutoring or other after school activities and may still be under your App Blocker control.
App Spotlight: Write
Several teachers have asked about note taking options on the tablet. One option is the app called, "Write". According to the Google Play site: "In addition to all the usual features of a vector drawing application, Write provides a unique set of tools for editing and navigating handwritten documents. Write is perfect for note-taking, brainstorming, and drawing." Students and teachers can download this approved app directly from the Amplify Market. Check out additional details about the app here!
Watch us Work!
Twitter Love
- Kiser: Parent Night w/ Tablet Training & Tiger Techies favorited by @Amplify
- Kernodle: Kahoot review game favorited by @Kahoot
Keep up the amazing work!
Season of Thanksgiving
Jerolyn "Jeri" Brown
Email: brownj2@gcsnc.com
Website: ple.gcsnc.com
Location: 501 W Washington St, Greensboro, NC, United States
Phone: 336.370.3287
Facebook: facebook.com/pace.plefs
Twitter: @performerplef