Taking a Hammer to SAMR: Substitution

An earlier article defined Dr. Ruben Puentedura's SAMR model as a tool teachers can use to measure the opportunities afforded to students by technology integration. In this third article of the "Taking a Hammer to SAMR" series, we learn about Substitution, the first level of the SAMR scale, the use of technology without the addition any functional changes.

The SAMR Activity Scale:

The SAMR Activity Scale outlines how technology use affords students opportunities to learn and demonstrate learning. In the SAMR continuum, Substitution refers to technology used as a direct tool substitute, with no functional change. At the Substitution level, technology use offers no significant advantages to the teacher or the student; an activity is completed in the same manner as a non-digital activity, but using technology.

Example First Grade Lesson: Types of Clouds (Weather Unit)

Students use an iPad to navigate to a website and read an article that includes photos of various types of clouds online and then type a short definition of one type of cloud.

This is Substitution because the teacher could print the article and hand it to the students with no functional differences. The students type the definition of one type of cloud, but could write it by hand without changing the activity.

Substitution, the first level of the SAMR scale, refers to the use of technology without the addition any functional changes. In the next issue, the "Taking a Hammer to SAMR" series will focus on Augmentation.

Use the Comments section below to share your initial reflections about the Substitution level.