Change - Technology Integration Frameworks



Source: via Kris Jurski on Inspired to Reality



Change. When educational reform happens, teachers give up a great deal. Comfort. Time. Energy. These attributes contribute in the resistance to change. Yet when we remember why we entered this profession it's salient to move forward with the notion of what our students can gain from the change.

So, I'll leave it to some students to explain how the first framework (SAMR) is helping teachers grasp the changing educational world.



What Frameworks can Administrators Implement?

The SAMR framework is an excellent concept to help educators understand how integrating technology into their pedagogy can be done. It helps teachers dive into the pool slowly and begin to try out new ways to transform learning.

However, the TPACK frameworks (pictured below) may be more valuable for teachers who feel frustrated, incompetent and behind when it comes to technology. It reminds teachers there is more to the craft than just the newest tools. Pedagogy and content make up ⅔ of the equation. The tech tools can push to you become complete in the 21st century teaching. SAMR then is in that final ⅓ where one moves iteratively from S → R → S working their way into the center of mastery for 21st century learning.


Even as a graduate student, we expect information on how to reach our greatest potential. Many times this is done through directions, examples and rubrics. It is vital not to stray from these ideas. The SAMR and TPACK models give teachers direction on how to begin to effectively implement technology and redefine their teaching style to meet the needs of future learners. Utilized tech tools in professional development sessions, staff meetings, walk-throughs and communication provide examples for staff on ways to move through the technology integration frameworks. Finally, TIMS provides an excellent rubric to help teachers identify where their uses of technology fall. This helps recognize “Superstar” Technology Teachers (Whitaker) to foster implementation and acknowledge teachers who need some support and ideas to make the jump to the middle of TPACK.

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How can Administrators Help?


Knowing the impact technology can have in education, it’s important to look at how administrators can support teachers through their journey of pushing their pedagogy to meet their students’ needs. One style of teaching that has been buzzing over the past decade is flipping the classroom. This concepts asks students to learn the basic content outside of school and then refine, collaborate and dive deeper in class. Although I see many challenges with this pedagogy, I believe it may be a very feasible style of professional development (PD). Rob Perez mentions in his Blog Flip Everything You Know About Professional Development, "Teachers who engage with technology in professional development have an increased likelihood of using that technology effectively in their own classrooms." I would agree that this sentiment likely applies to many facets of life where a great deal of learning takes place from taking ownership through doing certain tasks.

Video seems to be the most prominent way to get the content across, but I'd argue finding less static ways would be more beneficial. EdPuzzle is a website I use to embed questions into videos for my students. It allows them to interact with the video and think their way through the content. This would be an excellent way to not only push information out, but also gather data to differentiate for teachers who grasp the tool/information or those that need extra scaffolding. It's a quick survey that can drive the face-to-face aspect of the flipped PD. Yet the video to not only needs to engage the mind but ask the teacher to interact with the tool. They might follow the video for sequential steps on creating a document, create an "elevator pitch" for a technology tool to share in class, and learn how to add that tool to a QR code to add to the group discussion when the team meets. The ideas are endless, but they must be engaging and interactive. Teachers would be able to work when convenient, engage with the material and tools and come prepared to push the PD session from static presentations to collaborative critical thinking and creativity.

So what should administrators be looking for as they seek to create a culture that is keeping up with the fast-paced technological world? Morally they should be looking for teachers to show a willingness to change, a perseverance when things don't go "just right" and a dedication to implementing technology because it is in the best interest of our students. Technically they should be selecting a framework matrix like TIMS and SAMR to identify where teachers' abilities lie, where they want to go and the possibilities of what they can achieve. It all comes down to everyone's understanding that education is moving and student learning is progressing. In the end, it all comes down to...

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Creative Commons - Nick Youngson

Resources:


Whitaker, T., Whitaker, B., & Lumpa, D. (2013). Motivating and inspiring teachers: the educational leaders guide for building staff morale. New York: Routledge.

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