On technology in the classroom: "TPACK & SAMR, the acronyms of modern pedagogy"

Teaching has never been easy, but nowadays technology is a tool that can be used to make it less difficult. However, technology can be a two-faced sword because it can also be a burden in the teaching-learning process if not properly and smartly used. As a future teacher, I am always in the search for how to integrate technology in my lessons. In that search I came across two systems that can be useful for this purpose: TPACK and SAMR.

On the one hand, TPACK (acronym for technological pedagogical content knowledge) is a framework for teacher knowledge for technology integration that builds on Schulman’s descriptions of Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK, 1986/1987) which he used to describe how PCK interact with one another to produce effective teaching with technology. Later this concept was discussed and enlarge by other authors with the most complete descriptions of the framework found in Mishra and Koehler: “What is technological pedagogical content knowledge?". The TPACK framework emphasizes the new kinds of knowledge that lie at the intersections between technology, pedagogy, content and knowledge, representing four knowledge bases applicable to teaching with technology: Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK), and the intersection of all three circles, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). A practical example of the application of this system in the classroom would be to ask your students to carry out a task that involves the use of technology. For example, in my particular case, as my lesson’s content knowledge is language I and my team work thought of making students record themselves simulating they are radio presenters taking about their predictions for FIFA world cup 2014. After they have done this task in groups they could share their creations with the rest of the class through facebook or memory sticks.

On the other hand, we have SAMR which stands for: Substitution Augmentation Modification and Redefinition. This model developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura represents the impact technology can have on teaching and learning, and the progression that adopters of educational technology often follow as they improve the teaching-learning process with technology. Using the same task described above as an example, it would be at the level of modification because students will need some technological tool to carry it out, to add music, effects (as for example audacity) and facebook or memory sticks to share them. Besides, they would be their own real audience as they will be sharing their recordings with the rest of the groups. Technology in this particular task is used to redesign part of the task and transform student learning.