Leveraging Technology To Improve Student Learning

Our district is rounding the bend on our fourth year with 1:1 student and teacher technology devices. The staff and students have become quite comfortable using many new digital tools and resources to enhance student learning. We are now in an ideal place to take our learning activities and lesson design to a whole new level . Not only is this evolution timely, but also indispensable if we are to continue to prepare our students to thrive in today's fast paced, technology-rich world.

The SAMR model is a framework created by Dr. Ruben Puentedura to help educators think about how to use technology purposefully in the classroom.  Dr. Puentedora currently explores new directions in mobile computing, digital storytelling, learning analytics, and educational gaming,  His is one of several frameworks available to teachers to help them think about technology use as a way to improve and transform classroom learning outcomes. His model provides a common language for educators to use for the design of meaningful instruction with technology. This is a model that I will be sharing with my colleagues over the next few weeks as we move into the end of the school year. Understanding this model will allow staff members to make informed decisions about the tools that they will choose to use with their students in upcoming lesson designs. This framework will also encourage thoughtful decisions for purchasing and requesting additional digital tools and resources as we move forward into a new school year. Dr. Puentedura talks briefly about the impact SAMR can have on student achievement in the video below.



This brief video explains how the SAMR framework is used by educators to transform their lesson design.

I am looking forward to sharing this model with our staff over the next few weeks. Do you use the SAMR model when designing your instruction? Do you use another framework for thinking about technology? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Thank you for reading!

Elevate Your Teaching With QR Codes

I'm sure you have seen a QR code. They are everywhere. A QR code is a scannable bar-code that takes you to a specific digital location.

Scan this code to find lots of resources curated by Kathy Schrock for using QR codes in the classroom

QR codes make it easy transform your classroom content with supporting digital content. Anyone with a QR scanner can access a QR code.With QR codes, there is no need for students to type in long web addresses or to search the web for content. The QR code will take them directly to where they need to go. QR codes also make it easy for teachers to deliver supporting or differentiated content to students. There are many free QR readers available for both mobile and web-based devices. In our elementary building, the student devices have all been equipped with the free Qrafter app.There are also many tools available for generating a QR code. My favorite QR generating tool is the free web-based QR Code Generator. It takes seconds to create a code. These codes can be printed out or embedded into digital space such as a website, fusion page or blog. Ideas for using QR codes in your classroom are limitless. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• work exemplars can be provided for students as a qr code on their assignments
• students can design a 21st century resume and link it to an online portfolio
• rubrics can be attached to assignments via qr codes
• instructions for learning centers can be posted in the classroom and scanned as necessary by students
• audio recordings can be attached to artwork to provide context and explanation
• student created book reviews can be attached to the inside of book covers
• student created videos can be attached to written assignments
• differentiated scaffolds can be easily delivered to students using qr codes
• extension activities can be attached to assignments
• QR scavenger hunts are fun in any content area
• maps can become interactive by linking them to additional supporting material
• QR codes are a great way to share student digital work with others
• labs become interactive when QR codes containing links to important facts and content are  attached to models, equipment and artifacts

Do you use QR codes already? Please share your ideas with us in the comments below.