SAMR is an acronym that stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. It is a model for evaluating the integration of technology in education and how it is used to enhance the teaching and learning process. The SAMR model was developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura as a way to evaluate the level of technology integration in instruction.
The SAMR model consists of four levels:
- Substitution: Technology is used to replace a non-technical tool or task with a digital tool or task. For example, using a word processing program to type an essay instead of writing by hand.
- Augmentation: Technology is used to enhance or improve a task, but the task remains essentially the same. For example, using a calculator to perform mathematical calculations instead of doing them by hand.
- Modification: Technology is used to change the task and the way it is accomplished. For example, using a collaborative online platform to work on a group project instead of meeting in person.
- Redefinition: Technology is used to create new tasks or new ways of accomplishing tasks that were previously not possible. For example, using virtual reality technology to take a virtual field trip to a foreign country or creating a 3D model of a molecule to understand its structure.
The goal of the SAMR model is to move instruction from the substitution and augmentation levels to the modification and redefinition levels, where technology is used to create new and more complex tasks, leading to deeper learning and greater student engagement.
