Just want to get a quick note out to everyone about a new feature on YouTube. I am always looking for free audio files for my students to use for their projects and YouTube has answered my call! They have a section under "Creation Tools" called Audio Library where you can download music for free. They have set it up in sections based on genre, mood, instrument and duration. You can save to a favorites section as well as see the featured ones that are most popular. I'm here in my class doing a teacher dance!

www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

I've been seeing SAMR in my various readings lately and haven't really been introduced to this model. Being in a private school system, some of these acronyms are not used as often as in public schools. Regardless, the SAMR model is an excellent way for teachers who have been teaching for a while to add technology into their teaching as well as for classrooms implementing iPads.

S = Substitution: a direct substitution of technology in place of paper/pencil, no other change; typing a document instead of writing with pencil

A = Augmentation: a direct substitution but with a fundamental change; use Google docs to type paper and share it with someone.

M = Modification: technology makes a significant task redesign; use a wiki to have a discussion around a concept

R = Redefinition: technology allows for a creation of completely new task formally unable to do without technology; using Google Earth to create a virtual field trip.

There are many examples of using SAMR on the Internet. The following is a good video sharing what SAMR is.