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.

What to do with all that data?

Google Forms are an assessment tool that have become popular with a lot of our staff. I’ve seen staff use Forms to survey students, create self grading quizzes, bell ringers and exit tickets. Forms allow you to include a variety of question types, embed video and images. Responses immediately populate into a spreadsheet. Checkout the Edtech Website for a tutorial on Google Forms.

Creating and administering a Google Form is the easy part. The real challenge is determining what to do with all the data after collecting it. On our October Institute days, we defined a formative assessment as any assessment during the learning process that is used to modify teaching and learning activities for the same group of students. Below are two strategies you can use to manage the data in a Google Spreadsheet and quickly make adjustments to teaching and learning activities.

First, use the summary of results feature to get an aggregate view of student responses. This feature shows you a bar graph or pie chart for each question. In addition, you see the percent of students that choose each response. Use this view to immediately clear up any common misconception or sticking points. Simply click “Form” and “Show summary of responses.”

Another tip is to set up conditional formatting within the spreadsheet. Conditional formatting will color code the spreadsheet, so that you can instantly pinpoint individual students that are grasping the concepts and which ones need further intervention. Checkout the tutorial below to learn how to set up conditional formatting in a Google Spreadsheet.

Stop by TPACK Tuesday this week to discuss Google Spreadsheets and conditional formatting.

Free Google Basics Course

How have you dealt with workflow since we went one to one? Are you frustrated with the mass amounts of emails you can get when students share google documents? We have a solution! Starting November 18th, you can take a free online Google Basics for Teaching course. In this course, you will learn how to use Google Apps for Education tools to enhance the efficiency and innovation of your teaching in a one to one classroom.

This is an online course that can be completed at your own pace when you have time! It consists of text lessons, videos, practice activities, and a final project. It is divided into the following units:

Research and Communicate: search for online resources and distribute information to school communities.

Create and Share: make online documents and foster collaboration using word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and survey tools.

Enhance Classroom Experiences: use online tools to build community, save administrative time, and add visual resources to lessons.

If you are interested register for free here: https://basicsforteaching.withgoogle.com/preview

SAMR Revisited

During the October institute days, the BHS staff were introduced to the SAMR model and ideas to engage students using technology. As a follow-up, here are the SAMR resources that were used in the presentation. 

• Kathy Schrock's Guide to SAMR - see "works from others" for more great resources.
• 10 Ways to Reach Redefinition
• The SAMR Model of Technology Integration using Google Docs
• Examining SAMR - Moving Towards Redefinition

Web 2.0 Tools used during "Engaging Instruction"workshop:

• Google Presentation - used for the slide presentation and collaborative group work.
• Kahoot! - Game-based assessment tool.
• PowToons - Make animated videos and presentations.

New Google Drive

If you log into Google Drive  and notice a different look, congratulations, you are upgraded to the new Google Drive! Google is gradually rolling out a new interface this summer. If it's been rolled out to you, a message should appear when you login to Drive, or you can click on the gear icon in the upper left corner and choose "Experience the new Drive".  If the new Drive doesn't appear yet, keep checking. More information can be found here and by watching the short video below.

Tech Tuesday

Google Drive for file storage on the Macbook

Staff that have made the move to the Macbook may realize that accessing your P folder is not an easy process. That is why we suggest using Google Drive for your file storage. Most people associate Google Drive with using the web based Google docs and sharing documents. Google Drive also offers a great storage solution for files on your Macbook. By installing the Google Drive App on your Macbook, Google Drive appears as a folder in Finder and is a place to store all your files. This includes images, Office documents, SmartBoard files and more. The files saved in Google Drive on your Macbook will sync to Google Drive in the cloud. So, all files saved locally (on your Macbook) will automatically be backed up to Google Drive in the cloud.

Watch this short video to learn the advantages of installing Google Drive on your Macbook:

(This video is best viewed in full screen mode)

Tracking Edits in Google Drive

Google Drive has many educational benefits such as tons of storage space and its collaborative nature however one of its greatest strengths is the ability to track edits of a document. This really allows you to not just see the finished product of a document but also the process. It truly is transformational in the classroom. I created the video below as part of my Google Certified Trainer application. It covers two ways to track edits in Google Drive.

Use Private Browsing to Allow Multiple Users on One Computer

I have found private web browsing to be a useful tool in class for three reasons:

1. Students are sharing computers and need to sign into their Google Drive, while another student is logged in.
2. A student wants to sign into Google Drive on your computer to access a presentation or document for a presentation in class.
3. I want to show students how to sign into a site that requires my username and password.

In the three above scenarios by opening a private browsing window, I do not have to sign out of another account. The private browsing window thinks that I am a new user and will not remember my previous username and passwords. Follow the steps below to open a private browsing window.

In Google Chrome:

1. Click the three horizontal line icon in the upper right hand corner.
2. Click “New Incognito Window”

In Safari:

1. Click “Safari” in the upper left corner.
2. Click “Private Browsing…”

In Firefox:

1. Click “File” in the upper left corner.
2. Click “New Private Window”

Student Gmail Accounts

Did you know our students have district supplied gmail accounts? Starting in middle school, students can access their @bsd220.org gmail account. This is a great way for students to communicate with teachers and other students. Staff members also have an @bsd220.org gmail account that gets forwarded to Groupwise. So, if a students emails you, staff do not have to worry about checking email in two different places. Please encourage your students to use their @bsd220.org account for school communications. This account can also be used sign up for web 2.0 tools. The guidance department will also be utilizing the student Gmails for student communication and Naviance sign up. This video demonstrate how students access their school gmail accounts.

Video Notes a Must Have Google App for the Classroom

Videonot.es is a new versatile Google Drive app that allows you to watch videos and take notes at the same time. It looks like a great way to get student’s thoughts or questions on a video. The notes you take are synced to your Google Drive. In addition, when you go back to your notes, you simply click on a part of your notes and it will take you back to the relevant place in the video. Currently, Videonot.es supports Youtube, Khan Academy, Vimeo, Udasity, EdX, and Coursera videos.

VideoNot.es does appear to be pretty user friendly. After linking VideoNote.es to Google Drive, students can copy and paste a video link into the box on the left side of their screen and click load. Once the video loads, students watch the video on the left side of the screen and take notes on the right side. Since all files sync with Google Drive, students can easily go back and access their notes at a later time. Google Drive also allows students to efficiently share notes with you or other students. Checkout the ThingLink below to learn more about how VideoNot.es works.



So give Videonot.es a try if you are looking for a way to use video in your class. Using Videonot.es your students can take notes while watching the video, share those notes with others, and review their notes at any time. Check it out at www.videonot.es and let us know what you think or if you need any additional support.

Google Drive adds new activity stream

Google Drive is a great way to collaborate and share. It's changed the way group projects are done and made classroom time more efficient. Google is always trying to improve on a great product, and this week they are rolling out the new activity stream in Drive - a single place to review actions taken on files and folders. Check it out: Google Drive Blog: The new activity stream to show you what's changed.

What's so great about Google Apps for Education?

As teachers, your plates may already be full so you wonder how can you find the time to fit more technology into your classroom? Google apps may be your answer. Google Apps for Education (GAFE) is a cloud based productivity tool that makes collaboration in your classroom a breeze. We've had great feedback from the Lunch & Learns and have heard great stories of teachers going paperless in their classrooms since embracing Google apps.

We have some great online tutorials in the works for Google apps. We also run across some good tips and tricks every day and we'd like to start sharing them with you. They are specially selected for this blog, so you know they have to be good.

This week's Google highlight is from the Synergyse.com blog: Top 10 Google Apps for your phone

Collaborating with Google Docs

Google Drive is an incredibly versatile tool for the classroom.  In its basic use, Google Drive can be a place to store all of your files.  You have 30 GB of space in your Google Drive account!  Once your files have been uploaded to Google Drive you have access to these files on any computer, table, or smart phone.  In addition to uploading files you can also create Google docs, presentations, spreadsheets, and drawings.  The most powerful feature of Google Apps is its collaborative nature.  Students and staff can share and collaborate online in realtime.  Below is student testimonial of how Google Docs has helped them in the classroom.