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The connection I made between all the tech tools and SAMR is remembering Bloom's taxonomy when bringing technology into the classroom a teacher needs to keep in thought the ideas of deeper thinking. When you get to the higher levels of thinking the tech tools really help with students using them to create something from their learning. Tech is something the should foster the questioning and thinking of learning and help students to do their own thinking. Tech tools that are used to replace a paper worksheet or a quiz, even a game does not quiet get students to those higher level levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. The one I was most interested in was the kids blog, this could be something students could use when building a website for a project.  -Erin Hengel

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I had not heard of the SAMR model prior to learning about it in the Emerging Technologies course. I work as the Director of Marketing and Recruiting for Rainy River Community College located in International Falls, MN. One of my duties is to present in high school classrooms to prospective students about how to prepare for college, the benefits of attending a community college, specifically Rainy River Community College. Prior to the academic year, I prepare an interactive presentation to engage with high school students and hopefully capture their attention to become interested in pursuing a degree at RRCC. I would like to use the SAMR model as the foundation to create my future presentation. In the first step, Substitute, meaning “new technology is used as a substitute for an old task,” I plan to research different types of programming to use to create a presentation with. I plan to convert my current presentation in the form of a PowerPoint to a Prezi one instead. Prezi presentations are visually appealing and can be interactive for students, which I think is more likely to capture their attention than a PowerPoint presentation. In the next step, Augmentation, meaning “enhancing tasks with additional new technology,” I plan to use the game-based learning program Kahoot to conduct a poll at the beginning of the presentation to initially gain interest from the students. The next step will be, Modification, meaning “new technology is used to change old tasks,” I plan to include an interactive game to show students the difference in comparing the cost of going to a two-year school, versus university or private college, which will replace the current slide which is just a chart showing these comparisons. I will also include in this step a link to an online career assessment so the students can use this as a tool to reflect on their own strengths and how this aligns with a future career. The final step is, Redefinition, meaning “new technology is used to create new tasks,” I plan to share several videos of successful alumni discussing how RRCC was a good first step in their college career path, which captures the storytelling aspect of this step, and also a virtual campus tour.  Overall, I would like to create a presentation that leaves a lasting impression on prospective high school students when they are considering their future college options.

I chose the infographic below, because I found this helpful to connect which platforms I can use in my workplace to implement each area of the SAMR model by transforming learning through technology by re-designing the current presentation about RRCC I offer to high school prospective students in their classrooms.
-Molly Nelson

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This is something new to me all together. It is something that I have attempted to do when I incorporate technology in my classroom. I want the tech to do more than just keep the students busy but to help them think more deeply about what they are learning. I have been especially trying to do this as we have been doing distance learning this fall though our hybrid model. The lessons I have tried to create have been to make kids not just "copy" what I am doing, but help them to think on their own and find their own answers because of the fact that they have technology at their fingertips.

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Although I had heard of the SAMR model prior to this course, I will be the first to admit I had never really thought about how I was using it in my classroom. All of my students have access to a chromebook as our building is one-to-one technology. With this being said, we do use them quite a bit. However, sometime it feels as thought we are just using technology to use technology. I was interested in seeing exactly what it means to utilize technology and how to best implement it. Because of this I am really trying to see how I can get my classroom activities to Redefinition. Being able to do projects and lessons which were not even possible just a short while ago excites me and I hope that excitement connects to my students as well.
-Alex Sandahl

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After watching the video and exploring the links, I have found that the passion that comes along with the teaching profession is something that you see in almost all teachers, no matter where you are. This passion is engagement. What happens to teachers when this passion disappears is when there is just TOO much for us to complete in a day, or year. It becomes hard to be good in everything we want to be good in. It becomes overwhelming to learn something new with technology when we have new curriculum that year. But what I have came to notice after this year, is that you just have to dive in and get started. You cannot get better at something if you don't try!
The SAMR model is something very beneficial to follow because often times, you are doing one of these things without even realizing it. One huge take away from the sites and this model, is that when something you are doing starts to feel "blah" try to incorporate SAMR and build up your resources and make learning as interesting as you know it is.
Emma Wabbe

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The SMAR model is new to me, but I am really interested in using it as a tool when modifying and creating new lessons.  I know that my technology usage in the classroom is minimal, but I would like to change that.  I think what stops me is I don't know where to begin.  I have always been a trial and error kind of gal, but in some ways that can be very daunting in the classroom.  I will be continuing more research on how to thoughtfully implement technology into my music classroom.

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I am really impressed by the Padlet application. I can see how collaboration can be easily fostered on this learning platform. After debating several types of EdTech to use to reach the M or R aspect of the SAMR model, I think I will take a stab at this Padlet lesson to digest research information for my freshmen biology students. As many others have indicated on here, just trying new edtech, even if you are uncertain, can make a big difference. Over time, with successful implementation, this can be part of the continuous quality improvement that we build into our practice as educators.  With so many arguments for incorporating technology into the classroom to make way for 21st-century learning, it seems to be an obvious path to try some of these resources that were listed in the Google Slide interactive. I chose this model below as it classifies Apps into the SAMR categories:
-Jessalyn Sabin

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"Feed your spirit, energy, and passion."

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"Feed your spirit, energy, and passion."

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The connection I see is engagement.
Ken Robinson's Ted Talk is all about finding what you love and going for it.  I'll never forget the fireman story and how he saves his teacher's life.  This shows how important our voices as teachers are to our student's futures.  Luckily, the fireman didn't listen to his teacher's negativity about following his passion.  If we find what we love to do, we will stay engaged in our studies and our career.
There are so many great edtech tools that could work in many different educational settings.  I really like the idea of SWAY and it's easy to use platform.  Once again, finding the right tool, that could even be fun to use, like SWAY, can keep a student engaged.  Giving students multiple edtech tool options, can also help them find the right fit for them.

SAMR model is all about taking the next step in student engagement. With different technology, your students will be able to find their best learning styles. Every step in the SAMR model can be used in the curriculum. Continuous modification is always necessary with our multi-cultural student body. Student success is  our top priority and I ask my students every semester what they like most. Interactive and hands-on activities are always a top choice. With technology today, there can be more interactive curriculum and less staring at a textbook.

We need to help our students feed their spirit, energy, and passion and always be supportive of their choices.  Where would we be without firemen?
~Michelle Schoenecker~

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After watching the video, checking out some new tech options and engaging with the SAMR model I think back to one of my main goals as an educator: to create opportunities for students to form their own opinions and help teach them the skills to use these opinions for change. The poem that Ken Robinson read at the end of his video was a great representation of the power we have as adults to help grow or squash our students' passion for learning. Reaching the levels of modification and redefinition give students organic ways to analyze, explore and create. If you only ever keep your students in the substitution and augmentation levels, you will never allow students to reach their full potential and connect to their learning. Something I keep repeating to myself is "you are here to facilitate learning, not impart knowledge". Students must have the experience to gain knowledge on their own or in groups of other people their age! They also need the opportunity to then take that knowledge and do something with it!

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Wowzers... that was a lot of information! I really enjoyed the Ted Talk Video and completely agree with passion as a necessary component to learning! It is true in both the adult world and kid world -- if you enjoy something 1 hour feels like 5 minutes, but if you are not enjoying yourself, than 5 minutes feels like an hour! We need to give our students more choice when it comes to learning . At our school many of the  teachers do genius hour where the students get to choose what they want to learn about.

The SAMR tool is new to me. I have never heard of it before and am still trying to figure out each ladder step a little better. I think it is a great tool for educators to use to make sure that they are using technology in creative ways.

I am always looking for new way to use technology with my kindergarten students so I appreciated all of the helpful websites listed!

Coffee is a favorite of mine, so I have added a coffee SAMR model!

-Chelsea Jaeger

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Before I could even get through all the links, I was signing up on all the websites and sharing with my colleagues. And now my brain is shot. One person can't possibly incorporate all those ideas, but if I can start by implementing just one of them, it would be so much fun! The connections I see between the three steps include: cultivating new creativity with current lessons under new formats.   We have STEAM every morning and part of me just wants to turn students loose on some of these websites and see what they come up with.  They can learn way more from each other and from experimenting than I can ever prepare for and that's one of the driving forces behind STEAM. What can students do? I've got a gazillion ideas trying to fly through my head...
Lisa Stroeing

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Schoology Learning K-12 learning management system makes it easy to implement hybrid learning and integrate your favorite teaching and learning tools.

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I think I have always been a little overwhelmed when it comes to tech. That overwhelming feeling comes from all the options there are and feeling the need to have it done perfect the first time. You have to cut yourself some slack and realize that it isn't going to be perfect the first time and that is fine. The important part is that you just start. For me, making small adjustments "little baby steps" has helped me use more technology in the classroom. I used to use technology as a substitute for paper pencil tasks, but SAMR really helps me see how I can redesign some activities and tasks to make using the technology more beneficial to students.  I really like the hyperdoc, where everything is linked in one area and yes it looks so pretty and fun! The SAMR picture that I found really helps me lay out how to reach each stage in the SAMR model with tools that I am fairly familiar with (all things Google).  This class has also shown me so many tech tools that I can not only "use" but ones that will help me reimagine my lessons!
-Christina Dittus

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I absolutely loved working through this interactive document! It was such a fun and engaging way to learn about the SAMR model. I can already see how my 5th graders would enjoy immersing themselves in a similar style of document. Working through the engagement, explore, and connection steps I immediately connected all of these levels to the benefits technology can bring - specifically the titles of the levels themselves. Technology allows for greater student exploration, engagement, connection, and collaboration.

I currently work at HZNW in Moorhead. As I started analyzing the SAMR model I had an aha moment when revisiting our district mission statement which states, "The mission of Moorhead Area Public Schools is to develop the maximum potential of every learner to thrive in a changing world” (Moorhead Area Public Schools, 2017).We want students who are problem-solvers, complex thinkers, and lifelong learners.

To prepare students for a changing world, there needs to be an inclusion of technology into each classroom.  One way to look at technology integration is through the SAMR Model. Ken Robinson so beautifully said in his TedTalk, "Human talent is tremendously diverse. We need education that feeds that passion and spirit." The advantages afforded by incorporating this model (more so with modification and redefinition) is the differentiation and customization that is afforded by using this platform. And while I am certainly not the most tech savvy, I am making progress and embracing an attitude of growth. Having done these activities and research, I am going to move forward wiht more confidence and do all I can to support student learning through the use of technology in my classroom.

- Paige Cermak

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I really enjoyed Kevin Robinson's Ted talk as I found it tugged at the heart strings. Especially the end when he read the poem, and the quote “tread softly because you tread on my dreams – everyday, everywhere our children spread their dreams beneath our feet and we should tread softly." I think of my students and how they are so excited to share their thoughts and ideas and how in one word/look we can crush them. The other day during a writing lesson I mentioned how I was looking to find two 5 star writers to be my "authors of the day." I heard a student say that won't be me. I looked at him and asked, "why not?" "Why would you think that?" "I can't spell words," was his response. My response back was, "yes you can, come with me over to this table and I will show you can spell and you can be a 5 star writer." We stepped through each word painfully sounding out, looking at the word wall, looking at alphabet cards and by the end I said, "look you did it!" His eyes brightened and he beamed from ear to ear. I started to think to myself...have I done or said something in the past that made him think he would not be able to do the task at hand? This is something that will forever stick with me and I will make sure that I am not the one to crush anyone's dreams no matter how big or small they may seem. I will "tread softly" because these kids are our future. Other areas from the Ted talk video that stuck out were how if the passion isn't there 5 minutes can feel like an hour. If I am not fully engaging my students with what I am teaching it becomes to them a miserable task of sitting and listening. When Kevin mentioned, "many opting out of education because it doesn’t feed their spirit," I believe is a true statement. I have heard many say that individuals do not want to go into teaching. I think that is so sad. We as educators need to find ways to customize and personalize curriculum and make it an organic process rather than a mechanical one. Students flourish when teaching becomes organic and is customized to the individual student(s).

Looking through the different technology pieces I would like to try Flipgrid with my class and allow for them to do "book talks". I will have students record what the book is about, give their opinion, rate the story, share their response to the class. I would also like to post some discussion topics for students to respond to. During Thanksgiving time, "what are you most thankful for?"

The SAMR model I had seen before, but did not completely understand until I started thinking deeply about my lesson plans and technology. There are times when I use Modification or Redefinition without even realizing that I'm doing it. The SAMR model is defined to produce a higher order of thinking skills to engage in rich thinking skills. When using the SAMR model you climb the ladder and go from enhancing the learning to transforming the learning. When climbing to the top and using redefinition students are analyzing, evaluating, and creating, which in the end results with impacting their achievement and success.

Tawny Brolin

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The SAMR model is making me want to dig deeper into how to make technology a part of creating in my classroom. The national standards for music education focus very heavily on creating, so the SAMR model really coincides well with what my discipline produces. I enjoyed reviewing Bloom's Taxonomy and seeing the two models next to each other was very helpful. I am realizing at this point in my development in using technology in the classroom, I am still using technology just as a substitute or an augmentation of assignments. It is my challenge now to make learning more personalized in my classroom using the modification and redefinition stages of the SAMR model. I am excited to see how my knowledge of this model will affect my students.
Katie Hillestad

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After watching the video and looking at all of the links, I started making a list of apps or types of technology that caught my eye. When I was done, I realized how long my list is! Some of the things on my list included things that I have been meaning to incorporate into my classroom, but just  never have because as teachers, there is just "never enough time"! However, this inspired me to think about the Ted Talks video and that he mentioned that it is important to customize and personalize education for each student as a way of "reforming education". This struck of importance to me because it goes to show that little things that I do in my classroom such as incorporating new technology can make learning more fun and engaging for my students, and is something that I should have been doing sooner.

I really liked that the SAMR model is a guide to help introduce technology in the classroom. I took away that it does take "baby steps" to incorporate and teach students new technology before it can be used in a way that is part of everyday life. I think it is a great tool for teachers to utilize when wanting to incorporate new technology in the classroom.

-Abby Erickson

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It may take time, but it will be worth it.

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It may take time, but it will be worth it.

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Throughout my first year of teaching my motto was, “just keep swimming, just keeping swimming.” I just wanted to stay afloat and be able to say I made it through my first year. My next two years involved a motto, “I think I can actually do this!” Now that I am in my fourth year of teaching I feel like I have things figured out, that is except for technology. As work my way through this course I’m constantly thinking, “Okay, how can I use these tools in my classroom to enhance my students’ learning?” The video and links have helped me to see how beneficial technology can be in the classroom, and all of the many apps that are available. One of the things that I really connected to from this activity was in the TED talk video when he mentioned that when we are in a profession that we are passionate about, time moves at a different pace. I couldn’t agree more! I absolutely love teaching. While going to school I was told my one of my liaisons said, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.” I couldn’t agree more with his statement. The video was another great reminder that students and humans are so creative, and in their own way! We must help to foster this creativity in school and provide students with many opportunities to explore their talents.   I’m looking forward to trying out some of these apps and seeing which ones will be good fits for my students and me! I enjoyed getting to watch the video explaining the SAMR model, as it really helped me to see how I can implement technology in order to ensure that it is providing my students with the challenge they need!
-Lauren Conroy

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I don't know why, but implementing and adding technology to my teaching has always seemed like a struggle. I'm young, tech savvy, and a new teacher fresh out of college; shouldn't I be the one implementing the most? Definitely not the case. Reading about SAMR coupled with blooms taxonomy made me think about it in a completely different way! Instead of thinking about tech as being an unnecessary tool in the classroom, I can start thinking about how tech tools can enhance my preschoolers learning and school experience.

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After watching the video, exploring the links (I'm experimenting with Visme: LOVE IT), and reviewing the SAMR model, what connected most for me was the "why."

In the video, the focus was on the purpose and goal of 21st century education; fostering student growth and independence. I would label this the "why:" the reason for our instruction. The tech tools provide a plethora of options for students to display their growth and use their independence. Finally, the SAMR model shows the educator how to best facilitate the marriage between the goal, the tools, and the content.

I look forward to the application portion of this project to further challenge myself in technology integration!

- Grace Brennan

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I didn’t even know that this padlet website existed; this is such a cool place for students to be able to reflect and respond. I will definitely be using this in my classroom next year— thanks!                               One of my struggles has always been with how to incorporate technology so that it is meaningful, reflecting student learning/thought, and engaging and not just for the sake of incorporating technology. Reading through the documents pertaining to the SAMR model has given me a better insight on how to make tech meaningful in the classroom. The SAMR framework leads to the creation of content that isn’t possible without the use of technology.                       One of the biggest takeaways from this hyperdoc was Ken Robinson's TEDTalk. I have heard it referenced in Logan LaPLante’s TEDTalk, “Hackschooling Makes Me Happy,” but haven’t had the time to listen to it until now. I was particularly moved by Robinson's metaphor of what school is — “a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity, conformity and batching people” to what it needs to be — “a model based more on principles of agriculture” where we need to create the conditions under which spirit, energy, and passion can flourish.                      The SAMR model inspires, challenges, and stretches me to reflect more on how I am engaging and reaching students. Like Trisha said, it will be a useful tool when collaborating with other educators. I’m excited to revamp my curriculum this summer with this model in mind— particularly the M and R of the model. 

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I didn’t even know that this padlet website existed; this is such a cool place for students to be able to reflect and respond. I will definitely be using this in my classroom next year— thanks!                               One of my struggles has always been with how to incorporate technology so that it is meaningful, reflecting student learning/thought, and engaging and not just for the sake of incorporating technology. Reading through the documents pertaining to the SAMR model has given me a better insight on how to make tech meaningful in the classroom. The SAMR framework leads to the creation of content that isn’t possible without the use of technology.                       One of the biggest takeaways from this hyperdoc was Ken Robinson's TEDTalk. I have heard it referenced in Logan LaPLante’s TEDTalk, “Hackschooling Makes Me Happy,” but haven’t had the time to listen to it until now. I was particularly moved by Robinson's metaphor of what school is — “a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity, conformity and batching people” to what it needs to be — “a model based more on principles of agriculture” where we need to create the conditions under which spirit, energy, and passion can flourish.                      The SAMR model inspires, challenges, and stretches me to reflect more on how I am engaging and reaching students. Like Trisha said, it will be a useful tool when collaborating with other educators. I’m excited to revamp my curriculum this summer with this model in mind— particularly the M and R of the model. 

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In this activity, through the video, the links, and lastly the SAMR, I have been challenged to push past my comfort zone of technology integration. There are so many times that I think I am being "techy" by Substituting technology without it really changing or differentiating the assignment or task. I am challenged by this video of students explaining the SAMR model.  I work with student identified as having a disability and am continually finding ways to assist the general education teachers in differentiating their current teaching practices so that my students can be successful. This is no easy task as often I am not sure how to best do this myself let alone try to teach someone else.  The SAMR model is a perfect visual to provide to teachers as a way to collaborate and encourage each other to make our way up the ladder!

-Trisha Grove

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I knew I loved technology and using it in the classroom, but now...wow! I have discovered edtech tools that I did not know existed! I'm bummed it's the end of the year, but I can begin planning implementation for next year's class!

I'm interested and challenged in the SAMR model. I will be asking myself, "How can I get lessons to reach the M (modification) or R (redefinition) level? This tool will help me strengthen the use of technology in my classroom forever.

-Kylie Bengtson