The samurai: an ancient warrior, equipped with the power and honor to conquer the world. Cunning, smart, and one with the art of fighting, the samurai dominated Japan for thousands of years. Technology: something used in our everyday lives. The world we live in is swamped in tech. From phones to television to cars to calculators to rocket ships, we all use technology in some way. Now you might be thinking to yourself, "How on Earth do samurais and technology fit together, LET ALONE IN A CLASSROOM?!" Well, the truth is that our job as teacher is to prepare our students for the world, to be warriors and create new things, just as the samurai did. The hidden truth behind tech is that we can use it in our classrooms; we can enhance student learning and success to maximize their potential and prepare them for a world filled with so many different gadgets and gizmos, preparing them for battle. However, we cannot just start fighting the battles and conquering the world right away; we need to train. But how do we integrate something so practical and accessible as tech into our class, and WHY CAN’T WE JUST GET RIGHT TO THE SWORDS?! Well, there is something called the SAMR model. Like a samurai, we must learn the art of the sword, just as the SAMR model will give us a lesson in how to use the wide range of tech available to us. SAMR- Substitution: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition; this is the SAMR model. Now like a samurai, we need to start our training at the beginning, with substitution. Substitution is the simple process of taking simple tasks that could be by ordinary means; for example, drawing a picture. It could be done with all the pretty colored pencils, makers, and crayons we all loved as kids (and STILL do #TherapyColoringBooks). For a samurai, substitution might look like replace our training dummies with an actual person to practice with our stick swords. The process of substitution in tech allows us to replace those color pencils and pieces of paper with tablets and styluses or different web sources that allow for online coloring. As simple as it sounds, you have just completed the first step. By allowing kids to color using technology, you are not only exposing them to different forms of tech, you are maybe giving their minds a whole new realm to explore, all within the safe boundaries of your classroom. So much of the world today revolves around this tech and innovation. Not only that, but new ones are being created and invented every day. Augmentation: The next step in our training is augmentation. Augmentation allows us to have some added benefit by choosing the technology over the ordinary method. For the samurai, the training dummy gave us a benefit of fighting someone to practice our skills, but with augmentation we can now add in shields. With tech, we can give our students some added benefit by now using web sources that allow them to edit and enhance our designs that they created. There are so many different technologies out there that allow us to enhance our creations. With tools like Sketchpad, Method Draw, etc., our creations are not only teaching about new tech, they are forcing us to use them in new ways and explore even more. Modification: Continue our training journey to become full samurais, we will encounter modification. Modification allows us to change and rethink the dynamic of the task. For a samurai, adding in armor changes the game, you are now able to have more padding and defense in your training. With our tech, we can have our students create a website or post their drawings onto different blogs or maybe an art gallery; the options are endless. With tools like Weebly, Instagram, Facebook, DeviantArt, etc., the ways to reach the world and gain feedback and new ideas are in-numerous. Students can collaborate and communicate with others from across the globe. Not only are they learning through this whole process, but they are teaching us as well. The imagination of students never ceases to amaze me.
Redefinition: Finally, our last step in our training: redefinition (AND YES IT MEANS SWORDS!). Redefinition means we completely redefine the task and make it something better and new, all while still having the same core values. For the samurai, that means completing our training with the addition of the sword. For our students, it means creating on a whole new level with technologies like cameras. The students could take their drawings and let it come to life. They can create a movie or animation that essential sprinkles pixie dust onto that drawing and gives it a new meaning. With technologies like iMovie, Kizoa, Animoto, etc., the ideas can create something entirely new and unseen before. Not only will the students learn from creating it, they can make it so personal and real that it has a lasting impact. Regardless of your step of SAMuRai training with your class, the goal as teacher should be to create new opportunities and ways for kids to learn and be successful to their fullest potential. Truly, if we as teachers follow these steps, we will surely prepare our students to be samurai warriors in the world, ready to create and conquer the world with imagination, innovation, and ideas. All imgaes are under creative common use.
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R.J.D.Future Professional Educator, Learner, Musician, Friend, Leader BLOGS
December 2018
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