Introduction to SAMR Technology Integration

SAMR Categories

"We know [from research] that what works is the rich use of the technology to allow students to explore, to create, to use every affordance of these devices... so they can take data, explore it, research it, find out what they've got and link it to other pieces of data including explanations in the form of text, audio, images, and movies. All of those can be cross connected and interlinked with rich forms of visualization..."

-Ruben Puentedura "Technology in Education: A Brief Introduction"

Here Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the creator of the SAMR model, describes the 4 levels of SAMR and links the uses of learning technology with their impact on learning. (Video 4:30)

SAMR
Substitution
Using digital technology to replace analog technology, but this replacement does not result in any functional change. Example: Asking students to use a word editor to compose a piece of writing.
Augmentation
Digital technology is employed in a functional way to augment the learning task. Example: Using Google Docs inner features to write a paper. These features include: search functionality, spell check, voice typing, etc.
Modification
Digital technology is used to significantly redesign a learning task. Example: students use a digital portfolio tool to embed multimedia materials (e.g text, images, videos, diagrams, charts..etc) to showcase their learning.
Redefinition 
Technology is used in a transformative way to create new learning tasks that would not otherwise have been possible. Example: students use Zoom to connect with a class from another part of the world or to hold live discussions with an expert or language teacher.