Guest post: Patricia J. Brown, @msEdtechie, is a Technology Specialist for Ladue School District: Many educators are now effectively integrating technology in the classroom using iPads to achieve the 4C’s, or “super skills,” that digital learners need to compete in our global society. But in order for that to happen, the focus had to shift from apps to content: that’s when true redefinition takes place. When my district rolled out our iPad initiative in 2012, teachers thought they needed specific apps for every content area. Eventually, we ended up with literally thousands of apps in our portal. This was extremely overwhelming, difficult to manage, and eventually, a turnoff for teachers. We soon realized that we had to look to iPads as more than just apps. Relying on instructional frameworks like SAMR & TPACK, our students are now using iPads as tools to create video tutorials, solve design thinking problems, and connect and communicate with others. As I studied more about the SAMR model, I learned that as we travel through the four levels of integration, the goal doesn’t have to be to reach the redefinition level with every lesson, and authentic learning does not fit in a one-size fits all type of learning environment. The TPACK framework focuses on good pedagogy and how finding ways to reach that sweet spot where technology becomes the partner to pedagogy and content, and they all fit together for a more meaningful technology integrated lesson. This may look different in every classroom, but at the heart, it’s about meeting student needs. What ways are you redefining learning in your classroom?
