More from the CLIME Meeting

Neil speaking at an Ignite session

Neil Cooperman, long time CLIME member and supporter, offered these comments at our recent CLIME get-together in Washington, DC. The question on the floor was:

What are effective ways to use technology?

Neil says:

"A lot of people using technology are using it as a subsititute for what they did before. They are not using the SAMR model. They are not using technology to really change how learning and teaching happen."

According to Kathy Schrock the SAMR (substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition) is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the  model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and infuse digital learning experiences into their curriculums. The goal is to transform student's learning experiences so they result in higher levels of achievement.

The key word of course is transform. How do we know if students learning has been transformed? What usually comes to mind is test scores. But there are other more informal and powerful ways. These include:

• Jo Boaler's Mathematical Mindsets describes how students perception of mathematics can be changed by providing students with practical strategies and activities. This can help teachers and parents show all children, even those who are convinced that they are bad at math, that they can enjoy and succeed in math.

• Another example is Annie Fetter's I Notice, I Wonder activities that can turn an indifferent student to be fully engaged in the lesson.

But both of those are not technology specific. This next one is.

The program Green Globs available from David Kibby absolutely transforms students attitude and skill level with functions. (Neil would definitely concur with me on this choice.)

More technology specific activities in my next blog entry.