Tuesday Teacher Tips
September 2, 2014 SAMR & Bloom's, Plickers, Word Online
SAMR & Bloom's Taxonomy - Considering higher order thinking when implementing technology into instruction
This year when I share technology ideas with you, I will be focusing on sharing ideas that will help to transform your classroom through the mindful integration of technology.
As we consider using technology, we want to consider whether or not we are using tech, just for the sake of using tech, or if the technology we are using is helping to improve instruction and higher order thinking.
The SAMR model, designed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, provides us with an excellent framework for considering technology integration. It focuses on considering whether or not we are using technology for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification or Redefinition. With each of these "levels" there is an appropriate time and place to integrate technology into your classroom.
Kathy Shrock, and others have worked to combine the SAMR model with Bloom's Taxonomy of skills to further help teachers consider what they want to accomplish.
The video below, developed by EasyBib, will help to explain the SAMR model.
As we consider using technology, we want to consider whether or not we are using tech, just for the sake of using tech, or if the technology we are using is helping to improve instruction and higher order thinking.
The SAMR model, designed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, provides us with an excellent framework for considering technology integration. It focuses on considering whether or not we are using technology for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification or Redefinition. With each of these "levels" there is an appropriate time and place to integrate technology into your classroom.
Kathy Shrock, and others have worked to combine the SAMR model with Bloom's Taxonomy of skills to further help teachers consider what they want to accomplish.
The video below, developed by EasyBib, will help to explain the SAMR model.
SAMR Model: Explained
SAMR & Bloom's
Plickers: Ditch the clunky student response system
Student response systems are great for collecting instant, formative feedback about whether or not students are understanding content. You can do just that with nothing but your personal Smart device and a set of student QR codes.
Plickers, available for iOS or Android devices, utilizes cards, which you can print [here]. The card sets are available as sets of 40, which they suggest you print on cardstock and laminate. Then, when students are ready to respond to a question, they simply hold up their plickers card, with the direction of the letter they are choosing facing up.
You will want to sign up through Plickers.com and create and manage your classes there, then use your device to help keep track of questions and student understanding.
It might be helpful to have students write their name, or student number on the back of Plickers cards to keep from getting things mixed up. What is really wonderful about this, is that it gives you live feedback and bargraphs of student responses.
See the 5 minute video below by Blair Lambert to see how to set up your account and get started.
This technology strategy is a good Augmentation/Understanding level strategy that you can use virtually on the fly to help keep track of student understanding.
Plickers, available for iOS or Android devices, utilizes cards, which you can print [here]. The card sets are available as sets of 40, which they suggest you print on cardstock and laminate. Then, when students are ready to respond to a question, they simply hold up their plickers card, with the direction of the letter they are choosing facing up.
You will want to sign up through Plickers.com and create and manage your classes there, then use your device to help keep track of questions and student understanding.
It might be helpful to have students write their name, or student number on the back of Plickers cards to keep from getting things mixed up. What is really wonderful about this, is that it gives you live feedback and bargraphs of student responses.
See the 5 minute video below by Blair Lambert to see how to set up your account and get started.
This technology strategy is a good Augmentation/Understanding level strategy that you can use virtually on the fly to help keep track of student understanding.
Plickers Tutorial- Setting Up an Account and Creating a Class
Office 365 & OneDrive - How to Create Folders and Word Documents
As you begin using Office 365 and OneDrive either for yourself or with your students, it might be helpful to consider some strategies that are going to keep you organized. Creating folders in your OneDrive, and then creating your documents from your folders will help save you time later when you are looking for something.
When working with students it will eventually become critical to help provide them with a digital structure and good habits so that they can always quickly find their work.
Here are a few things that would be good practice when working in OneDrive:
1. Create a folder where you will save work - it could be the name of a class, topic, or unit
2. Open the folder, then create your document from inside that folder so it is automatically saved in that location.
3. Always give your document a descriptive name before you even begin creating
4. Remember to edit your work, you will want to edit it using Word Online
5. Remind your students (and yourself) often, that when we use Office 365 and OneDrive we should be using it for Professional/Academic reasons only.
Using Office 365/OneDrive in this way is using technology at the Substitution and Modification level as you teach students how to categorize their own work.
Check out the screencasts below, each under the 3 minutes, to see how this looks.
When working with students it will eventually become critical to help provide them with a digital structure and good habits so that they can always quickly find their work.
Here are a few things that would be good practice when working in OneDrive:
1. Create a folder where you will save work - it could be the name of a class, topic, or unit
2. Open the folder, then create your document from inside that folder so it is automatically saved in that location.
3. Always give your document a descriptive name before you even begin creating
4. Remember to edit your work, you will want to edit it using Word Online
5. Remind your students (and yourself) often, that when we use Office 365 and OneDrive we should be using it for Professional/Academic reasons only.
Using Office 365/OneDrive in this way is using technology at the Substitution and Modification level as you teach students how to categorize their own work.
Check out the screencasts below, each under the 3 minutes, to see how this looks.
How to Create Folders in Office 365/OneDrive to Manage Work
How to Create Folders in OneDrive
How to Create and Manage a Word Document Online in Office 365/ OneDrive
Using Word Online
Heidi Neltner
Email: heidi.neltner@fortthomas.kyschools.us
Twitter: @heidinelt
