Week 2 - EDT5410 (SAMR)

After this week's readings and poking around the different assessment tools, I have to say I gained the most understanding by actually watching this YouTube video of Ruben Puentedura explaining each aspect in great detail. I was feeling a bit challenged with understanding how what I created in Kahoot! related to the SAMR model.

The quiz is a challenge to students who would have just completed an online learning module in what it means to be a Human Resources Business Partner. While the quiz would assess learning, I believe the element of challenging students and competition make it more engaging and fun. It would be an enhancement to the learning, especially if there were additional incentives for the student with the top score, or most top scores in a semester, or through the learning module.

I think that what I've done is take a course I would teach or lecture or have as an online learning module, with the quiz as the summary assessment versus something written and delivered in a face-to-face setting. To me, this is Augmentation. I had initially thought maybe it was just Substitution, however, making it a game where students can compete and challenge each other feels like there's at least some functional enhancement to the learning.

The Technology Integration Matrix was also a bit confusing to figure out where this type of assessment or course would fit in. I believe the level of technology integration is rather basic and falls at the Adoption level because the instructor, myself, is really only utilizing technology in a conventional and procedural manner. The characteristics of the learning environment seem to fit well under Constructive Learning because students are using technology to connect new information to prior knowledge. Essentially, this seems to fall in the matrix as "guided conventional use for building knowledge".

Both the SAMR model and TIM are very similar in that it seems as though some of the basic and conventional methods of utilizing technology are in the entry and adoption levels of instruction much like substitution and augmentation. It took me a little digging and research to better understand both models. I completed my Bachelor's degree via an online program and had an amazing interaction with every instructor. The way the courses were set up was that the instructor had 2 video lectures each week that were recorded (in case you couldn't attend live). Those students who were able to attend live could use a chat function to interact in real-time with the instructor. I found that to be the most beneficial way to learn the material. However, there was also a host of resources, articles and learning modules that were interactive. The more interaction online, the better I understand and could retain content.