This week in EDCI 336, we discussed the SAMR model, a method through which to conceptualize integrating technology into the classroom. This model posits four levels of technology integration: substitution, augmentation, modification and redefinition. The overarching goal of this model is to help teachers evaluate their own proposed educational activities in order to improve student learning outcomes. I think that this would be a useful tool for moving beyond simply utilizing technology for it’s convenience or in order to teach its applications to students but rather to actually change how we teach in order to improve learning outcomes, specifically in context of creating more authentic and meaningful learning tasks.

When reflecting on how I might integrate this model into a French classroom, I came up with a few ideas, that I’ve tried to categorize according to where they might fit in the SAMR model.

  • Augmentation: Use Flipgrid to have students record a short presentation in French (this could be a book review, a discussion of a historical event, an argument on a specific topic, etc.). Encourage them to utilize text, images, emojis, separate clips, filters, etc in their video to layer in meaning.
  • Modification: Have students create digital stories based on a personal topic that is meaningful to them (their passion, their identity, their pet, their reaction to a specific social cause or movement, a trip that meant something to them, etc.). They create a digital story, incorporating sound, text, pictures, video, animation, as well as their narration of the story. We as a class can view some of the finished digital stories during class and they can also upload their digital stories online (if they wish) to share them with a broader audience.
  • Redefinition: Have students create a music video. They choose a newly released French song that doesn’t yet have a music video. After analyzing the song and its lyrics, they then create a concept for their music video, film it and briefly explain how their music video concept ties in with the song itself.

Here is an example of a digital story (or “un récit numérique”) done in a French class:

I also had a lot of fun in the workshop this week for EDCI 352 on Infographics. Here is an infographic I created (based on information from this article):

Infographic

Infographic I Made Using Canva

I have used Canva previously to make Christmas wishlists, Christmas cards and baby shower invitations but I’d never tried making an infographic with this application before. I really enjoyed learning about it and I could definitely see myself using it to prepare teaching materials.

Photo by Ales Nesetril from Unsplash.