SAMR in the Library

 How does the library fit into the SAMR model?

There are aspects of the library that sit at every level of the SAMR model (including the "no technology" zone, as shown below), all of which serve a different purpose. Paper books are considered "no tech", while ebooks belong in substitution, and perhaps audiobooks or audio in combination with ebooks would fit in augmentation. Interactive books (think LeapFrog) may fit under modification, while redefinition may include using applications that bring books to life (Augmented Reading). Each level is focused on reading, but the goals and effectiveness may be different. Reading a paper book or ebook can allow the reader to imagine the world for themselves, while augmented reading may remove that privilege by showing the scenery right away.

 

Perhaps the role of the library within the SAMR model is to serve as a guide for when it is best to use certain technology. Maybe augmented reading will get a child into reading now that they can see what is happening, or interactive reading can help with reading comprehension. The library (and the teacher-librarian) can assist in determining how to best address the need(s) of a student or teacher with the appropriate technological tools. Hamilton et al. (2016) point out in their article that using technology is not always better or necessary, which suggests that while technology can be wonderfully effective, there needs to be guidance as to when and how it can be best implemented.

References

Brown, A. (2019). Augmented Reading - Bringing Books to Life. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), retrieved 13 April 2021 from https://www.aace.org/review/augmented-reading-bringing-books-to-life/

Duckworth, S. (2015). [The SAMR Model for Technology Integration] [Photograph] Twitter. https://twitter.com/sylviaduckworth/status/583778319235031041

Hamilton, E. R., Rosenberg, J. M., & Akcaoglu, M. (2016). The substitution augmentation modification redefinition (SAMR) model: A critical review and suggestions for its use. TechTrends, 60(5), 433-441.