Climbing the SAMR Model with Student Self Assessments

Student self assessment is a meta-cognitive teaching strategy proven to have a huge impact on student achievement. It allows students to see the progress they are making toward learning targets and that the purpose of class is to learn, not just earn a grade. The SAMR model can help us understand how using Google spreadsheets can transform a self assessment.

SAMR was introduced to the staff at our October institute days. It stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. If you would like more information on SAMR checkout Taking a Hammer to SAMR by Joe Robinson our Instructional Technology Coordinator.

The first rung of the SAMR model is Substitution. At this level, technology does not really enhance learning, it just replaces the paper and pencil with a screen and keyboard. For example, simply copy and pasting the self assessment into a Google spreadsheet and not using any of its functionalities would qualify as Substitution.

The second rung of SAMR is Augmentation. At this level, technology performs the same task but with some improved functionality. Students sharing the spreadsheet with their teacher to periodically check in during a unit would be an example of Augmentation.

The third rung of SAMR, Modification, is when technology begins to transform the old task. At this level, several times a week students can reflect and track their progress toward learning targets by updating the same spreadsheet. Teachers can see student growth by using the revision history function to see previous versions of a document. Students can also demonstrate their comprehension of the learning targets by posting links to artifacts of their learning. Now the spreadsheet is not just a self reflection but a digital portfolio.

The last rung of SAMR is Redefinition. In this rung, technology allows for new tasks that were previously inconceivable. Students can neatly organize all the important unit information into several sheets of the spreadsheet. For example, one sheet can include essential questions and resources. Another sheet can contain key terms, definitions, and images that represent each term. The spreadsheet is now a well organized digital portfolio that include all the important unit information which students can continue to revisit and update during a unit of study. Checkout a sample spreadsheet for a unit of study in Economics.