Working with the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University is amazing, and their recent partnership with BloomBoard to create micro-credentials is getting some serious traction. Recently they have created a 4 Series stack of micro-credentials around the SAMR model (my work is featured, so cool). 

HERE IS THE FIRST IN THE SERIES...
SAMR - Effective Use of Technology at the "Substitution" Level
What is SAMR?
SAMR is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. SAMR provides a lens for educators to design, develop, and infuse digital learning experiences that utilize technology. SAMR stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Educators create activities at all levels of SAMR based on what will best support student needs and instructional goals.

What is substitution in the SAMR model?

• Substitution is when technology acts as a direct substitute for an activity and does not provide any functional change, i.e. using a word processor to write an assignment instead of using a paper and pen.

Research &  Supporting ​Resources

• Introduction to the SAMR Model: Dr. Ruben Puentedura developed the SAMR model as a way for teachers to evaluate how they are incorporating technology into their instructional practice. You can use SAMR to reflect upon how you are integrating technology into your classroom. Is it an act of Substitution? Augmentation? Modification? Or Redefinition?
  https://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/introduction-to-the-samr-model

• Swimming Laps in the SAMR Pool: Jaclyn Bell Stevens created a useful metaphor to describe the various types of technology use outlined in SAMR and explains how educators can “swim laps” across them to make using technology in the classroom more sustainable.Watch a video version here: https://tackk.com/ftebz4
• 8 Examples of Transforming Lessons Through the SAMR Cycle: This article provides concrete examples and lesson ideas across many subject areas and that span the SAMR framework.
  http://www.emergingedtech.com/2015/04/examples-of-transforming-lessons-through-samr/

Submission RequirementsSubmission Guidelines & Evaluation Criteria
Part 1. Overview questions

• Describe the instructional approach or activity for which you used technology to substitute for a non-technology-enabled instructional approach. How did you use technology to substitute for a non-technology-enabled approach (e.g., my students used a word processor to write a paper instead of paper and pen)?
• Why did you think using technology to substitute for a low-tech instructional approach or activity was appropriate in this instructional approach or activity (as opposed to augmentation, modification, or redefinition)?

Part 2. Evidence/artifacts
Artifacts can be images, videos, audios, walkthrough/observation, or student work samples.

Part 3. ReflectionPlease reflect on all of the following questions in whatever format works for you (text, audio, video, visual, etc.)

You might know him as Big Tech Coach, but Keith George is doing awesome things to support and promote the importance of Instructional Technology Facilitators and Coaches across the United States. We met after Keith took my Coaching Digital Learning Massive Open Online Course for Educators and we have been talking ever since. Recently I was featured in one of his podcasts talking about how Coaches need to be recognized for their expertise, valued for their insights and become a partner with educators in K-12 schools, and not just the tech-savvy person who get get the internet back up and running when it goes down, or fix that smart board that has been acting up again.

These educators are superheroes and kudos to Big Tech Coach for reaching the masses. Check out my podcast with Keith (Episode 1, "It's Alive"), and all the podcasts of Today's Tech Coach.

It was an honor to be a part of his first podcast and I hope to do it again!

Big Tech Coach Blog
Keith George Personal Website