A Teacher’s Guide to SAMR, Part 1: Substitution

In our blog “Tech It Up a Notch: The SAMR Model for Transformative Teaching and Learning,” we dove into Dr. Reuben Puentedura’s SAMR Model (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition). SAMR is a model that helps teachers use technology in their lessons, but like any change, it can be overwhelming at first. With the expansion of technology offerings in the world of education, meaningful integration is more relevant than ever before.

In this 4-part series, we will go through each section of SAMR to prove it is easier to do than you might think!

Let’s start with Part 1: Substitution

Substitution: This is when we use technology to do the same thing we could do without it, just with a different tool. It’s like using a toy car to play instead of a real car.

It is critical to acknowledge that Tech Substitutions do not need to be a forever replacement for Traditional Activities. There is still so much value to be had in touching a physical book and having a real-time discussion while sharing the same physical space. However, students need to be exposed to what is available in the world of tech in preparation for their futures.

Take a look at these simple Substitutions—and the best part is, you are probably already doing them!

SUBSTITUTION
Doing This? Traditional Activity	Try That! Tech Substitution
Reading Physical Textbooks	E-books or Audiobooks
Classroom Discussions	Online Discussion Forums
Dry Erase Boards and Chalkboards	Digital Whiteboards or Interactive Displays

 

1. Physical Textbooks to E-Books and Audiobooks

E-books are a fantastic way to make a small enhancement. Not only can you carry hundreds of texts on one device, but you can also click on individual words or phrases for a dictionary definition. Audiobooks are also a wonderful way to feel more immersed in the story. Voice actors can help make sense of the content in a way that you may not have caught by reading it yourself. They also bring the text to life through inflection.

2. Classroom Discussions to Online Discussion Forums

There is no replacement for speaking with students and classmates in the same physical space. I love a good classroom chat! But it is also so important for students to be able to express themselves in written form. While Reader-Response misunderstandings are something to avoid, it is a great way to expose students to all of the different ways that text can be interpreted as a result of their experiences, beliefs, and values.

3. Dry-Erase Boards to Digital Whiteboards

I know I am not the only one who remembers the chalkboard days – the upgrade to a dry-erase board in the classroom was real! And then they had another glow-up as digital whiteboards began making their way into classrooms a couple of decades ago. Lots of classrooms still have digital whiteboards and some have even upgraded one step further with interactive displays (which can help you reach even higher levels SAMR).

How Meg Supports Your “S” Goals

Here at Meg, we understand the challenges that come with integrating technology in the classroom. Our language learning solutions are practical examples of how technology can be used effectively at the Substitution level of SAMR.

In our Live lessons, students meet regularly with in-country language teachers via video conferencing platforms in real-time. For some schools, this offers an incomparable enrichment opportunity their students would not otherwise have. Other schools may already have a thriving Spanish program and might have lost a teacher recently or find it difficult to fill a vacant position. Through our language and culture programming, students are able to engage with a real human thanks to an accessible and convenient substitution—all thanks to technology!

Additionally, our new language learning tool Journeys, was built to tackle the most pressing challenges in language education. With the capability of technology, students are empowered to learn at their own pace through informative lessons, interactive games, and hands-on projects. The feedback is personalized for the student and informative for the teachers who support them!

In the next 3 parts of the SAMR series, we will guide you through simple adjustments to level up tech integration in your classroom! And—as an added bonus—we will tell you more about our very own Journeys and how this innovative solution can take your world languages curriculum to the next level.