Technology and Learning Connection...

In listening to the pod cast by Ruben Puentedura and reading the article by Bill Ferriter it only becomes more crystal clear that technology is the way of the future of education.  In fact, Puentedura's pod cast really blew my mind.

As I have griped about before on this blog and in other responses for this class, my school is not One-to-One (yet).  After listening and reading this weeks assignments I know that our students are at a serious disadvantage.  I am particularly found Puentedura's SAMR model to be complete evidence of this.  SAMR is a model that Puentedura came up with in the eighties and has been working on and perfecting since then.  Basically the model looks at what types of technology used would have greater or lesser effect on student learning.  SAMR stands for: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition.  Puentedura explains that basically you start from the bottom with really simple changes in adding technology.  As you climb the steps of SAMR, you continue to add different or better technology.  By the time you achieve the Redefinition step, you are really working with fire.  According to the podcast, Puentedura saw at least a 2 letter grade improvement to students work.

This is proving that technology is truly helping students to achieve.  One thing that I really took away from my own personal education was a class that I took as an ed. tech in a effort to complete my certification.  (P.S...I am still working on completing my certification!)  The class was with Diane Jackson and its focus was teaching exceptional students in the classroom.  The biggest concept that I took away from this class was the idea that what is fair is what is fair for each student.  In other words...the concept of fair is not equal across the board.  What if fair, is what each each students needs for success. From a special educational stand point - that would mean if a student needs to use notes to take a test or have extended time - that is what's FAIR for that student.

Now, relating this to Puentedura's podcast...if we do not provide technology that is useful to our students, we are not providing a FAIR playing field.  Regardless of a students abilities, by not using some sort of technology in our classroom, curriculum, and daily lessons we are taking away from a students opportunities to succeed.  Think about it.  If a student who does not like to read (for shame) could have the opportunity to listen to a book or lesson, wouldn't providing this technology help that student to succeed?  If we used a "living document" like Puentedura highlights, aren't we providing an opportunity for students to interact with each other, the content, and us as teachers?  These opportunities of technology are really opening the playing field of education for all students to have access to better themselves.

I really found Puentedura's work to be interesting and very useful.  It has really motivated me to re-evaluate my curriculum and lessons for this up coming year to add as much technology as I can to help my students succeed.