I am currently a social media intern for Empeopled, a social
media start-up company. I work for the company virtually. When I break down the
SAMR model for work, we are heavily technology based.
Under Substitution, none of the work I do (or anyone else does)
is by paper. It’s all through the social networking site, as well as through
messaging. The only face-to-face social interaction comes from the employees
who are based in Chicago. Rarely, there are email exchanges and personally, I
have never dealt with paper exchanges or even phone conferences. The only
people who actually deal with conferences in a face-to-face environment are the
“higher ups” so to speak.
The Augmentation portion of the SAMR model is Empeopled.
Through posts (as well as through messaging), we can communicate with users as
well as each other, instantly. Even
people can communicate with each other across the world instantly, so it’s a
substitute for phone communication.
Since this is a startup company, there is still some
modification to be done. More features will eventually be added as the website
grows, as with all websites. Currently, through the use of points (with how
much a user posts) unlocks various features and the ability to vote on a
society leader (interest groups) who can
make sure the discussions and posts are up to appropriate standards.
For Redefinition, we are able to spread news as well as
other topics quickly with others around the world. This wasn’t possible before
social networking technology existed. Discussions around news, sports, health, politics,
and other topics occur. People agree or
disagree based on what they believe, which spark debates around the aforementioned
topics as well. Social networking creates collaboration from many people around
the world, instantaneously, which wasn’t possible before the technology
existed.
I find it interesting that some of the things you describe as "S" are other people's "R", particularly with communication.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I'm describing would be other people's "R", since it's really my starting off point for my work. I guess my R would be whatever's next? Maybe whatever the new technology takes us. Maybe as of right now, simply moving everything to Android Based Software or maybe working solely with Mobile Apps only social networking could be a Redefinition at this point.
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DeleteInteresting how hard it is for me to try and change my point of view from a high school classroom to a social media company. As the things your company does are the things that schools are finding ways to transition towards. I find it difficult to argue your points because its certainly out of my comfort zone, but if I have to, I'll try.
ReplyDeleteMy only thought would be: If social media is your "classroom" then is it really a redefinition. Yes, you can argue that it allows for an instantaneous collaboration, but isn't that simply a substitute or modification of older methods like email, instant message or even newspapers and editorials? I'm just playing devils advocate here as I am still trying to fully understand the differences in some of the components.
I am also still trying to out this SAMR Model. I thought that I understood it, but the more blogs that I read, the more confused I become:) Everyone seems like that have valid reasons for selecting their examples for each category, but it also seems like the examples could be easily argued for another category.
DeleteErica, your job position is based upon using technology. Whereas my job, as a teacher, is just beginning to use technology to enhance the curriculum. I agree with Matt in the sense that social networking in your field, could be thought of a substitution to emails or instant messaging.
However, what could your example of redefinition be? I'm really having a difficult time trying to figure out a great example of using redefinition in my own classroom practices:) So many ideas that I come up with seem to simply be a modification of something that was done before, prior to technology.
Matt, I can definitely see where you're coming from. Due to social networking, that's how the news is delivered, so technically my S could be replacing newspapers with the newsfeed, direct messaging with phones, and so on. I guess my entire job would be a substitution? The SAMR model in my case would be a bit confusing and considering mostly everyone is virtual, the entire model would blur together.
DeleteAlicia, It's weird. Redefinition has to be maybe the ability to blend video with the social networking? Or maybe the newer technologies that are coming out on the newer models of the phones that will (eventually) be integrated with social networking? I'm really not sure because as soon as a new technology comes out, it seems like social networking finds their way to be involved via Apps or other means.
DeleteWell said Erica!! I do like the ideas of video integration:)
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