SAMR: The Power of Asking "What If?"

I am not going to spend time explaining what SAMR is and what it means. Many others have done that before me. If you'd like to learn the basics of SAMR you can read Kathy Schrock's explanation of SAMR. Or, if you're more of an "original source" type of person you can read about it from Dr. Ruben Puentedura himself.

In order to better understand why the SAMR model is important for schools teaching technology to their students, I think it is important to understand that technology isn't developed so it can be used in schools. Technology is developed so that it can be used for either personal, business, or government use. Schools typically only adopt technology after it has already been widely available to the public for some time.

When new technologies are developed, however, the SAMR model seems like a relevant lens through which to interpret innovation in the private sector.