How to Use SAMR Model in Designing Instruction for 2025 (An EdTech Integration Guide)

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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At least 75% of educators perceive educational technology (EdTech) as an essential and helpful aspect of their pedagogical toolkits, according to a 2019 survey focusing on the 21st-century classroom (Vega and Robb, 2019). At its onset in early 2020, COVID-19 showed that schools cannot provide in-person education at all times. While this health crisis brought massive challenges to teachers, it also provided an opportunity to refine their craft when it comes to integrating technologies, such as LMS in education. The SAMR model, a practical guide for EdTech integration that can amplify teaching and learning, is one of the tools used by educators

It has been established that interactive EdTech tools help drive student engagement. As a planning and reflection tool, the SAMR model technology encourages educators to think of ways to promote student engagement. The various stages of the SAMR model allow each lesson to pass through a spectrum where learning and teaching are transformed while enhancing the teacher’s knowledge and skills (Hamilton, Rosenberg,& Akcaoglu, 2016).

This article will discuss the SAMR model as an EdTech integration tool. It will also have the SAMR model explained, and defined. The utility of the SAMR model in EdTech, the framework’s benefits and drawbacks, as well as SAMR examples, are included in the discussion.

SAMR Model: A Practical Guide for EdTech Integration Table of Contents

1. What is the SAMR model?
2. Why use the SAMR model for EdTech integration?
3. How to use SAMR in Designing Instruction
4. How Can Further Research and Professional Development Enhance SAMR Integration?
5. Practical Examples of SAMR Model Implementation Across Disciplines
6. How Can Professional Development and Certification Accelerate SAMR Integration?
7. How Can the SAMR Model Foster Inclusive and Equitable EdTech Practices?
8. How can advanced academic programs enhance SAMR integration?
9. How Can Real-Time Learning Analytics Optimize SAMR Practices?
10. SAMR Model Benefits and Drawbacks
11. How can teachers assess student progress using the SAMR model?
12. How can educational institutions support effective SAMR integration?
13. How Will Emerging Technologies Impact SAMR Integration?

What is the SAMR model?

So, what is SAMR model? As defined by the SAMR model proponent Dr. Reuben Puentedura (2014), the SAMR model will help teachers think about how and why they use technology in teaching, and how technology can help them evolve pedagogically. The SAMR model stands for substitution (S), augmentation (A), modification (M), and redefinition (R). The framework presents four ways in which technology can be integrated into teaching.

With substitution, technology acts as a simple substitute to classroom tools delivering no functional change. With augmentation, technology is used to improve learning activities. With modification, the use of technology brings significant redesign to instruction, while with redefinition, the use of technology completely alters the traditional way of instruction.

Substitution and augmentation are grouped as ‘enhancement’ tools, while modification and redefinition are considered as ‘transformation’ tools. Puentedura’s framework has substitution at the lowest level and redefinition at the highest level. For educators that are more familiar with Bloom’s Taxonomy, the substitution and augmentation methods are typically equated with the first three levels of Bloom’s framework (knowledge, comprehension, and application), while modification and redefinition are perceived as on the same level as the upper three of Bloom’s learning stages (analysis, synthesis, and evaluation).

With the SAMR model, Puentedura suggests that as teachers reflect on integrating technology with the learning experience, they often have questions on how they can effectively use technology. Again, Puentedura pictures these questions in levels like that of the SAMR framework.

The question at each level is typically presented as follows:

Substitution: “What will I gain by replacing the task with technology?"
Augmentation: “Does the technology add new features that improve the task?"
Modification: “Does the task significantly change with the use of technology?"
Redefinition: “Does the technology allow for the creation of a new task previously inconceivable?"

In asking these questions, the educator is able to determine how technology can enhance instructional design to increase student engagement in the teaching and learning process.

Why use the SAMR model for EdTech integration?

Advanced technology is continually transforming the future of education. EdTech tools help drive student engagement and improve the dynamics between teachers and students. EdTech also enables students to adjust their own pace of learning, and through collaboration, students are able to reflect on learning with their peers, which often leads to the creation of new knowledge.

Technological literacy is a required 21st-century skill (Hilton, 2016). The SAMR model can be easily adapted and interpreted in multiple ways, helping teachers reflect as technology is used to achieve specific outcomes. As a planning tool, it enables teachers to design, develop, and infuse digital learning experiences that use technology.

Using the SAMR model, however, does not guarantee effective learning. Effective instruction depends on the instructional design. The skills of the teacher will determine if technology is used in the most efficient way that maximizes its potential to contribute to deeper learning. Moreover, the SAMR model cannot be used in isolation of pedagogical theory.

How Can Further Research and Professional Development Enhance SAMR Integration?

Recent studies indicate that ongoing research and targeted professional development are critical to maximizing the SAMR model’s transformative potential. Evidence suggests that when educators engage in continuous learning and utilize data-driven strategies, student engagement and digital literacy substantially improve. Institutions are increasingly integrating evidence-based practices into EdTech initiatives, enabling a systematic evaluation of technology-enhanced instruction. Educators seeking to advance their expertise in digital learning strategies can benefit from enrolling in reputable programs, such as online colleges with open enrollment, which offer flexible learning opportunities and updated curricula. This commitment to research and professional growth fosters a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement, ensuring that technology integration remains both effective and innovative.

Practical Examples of SAMR Model Implementation Across Disciplines

To understand the SAMR model's full potential, it is helpful to consider how it can be applied across various academic disciplines. Below are examples demonstrating how substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition might look in different subject areas:

Math

Substitution: Teachers use a calculator app instead of physical calculators to solve equations. Students perform basic calculations with no functional change in the process.

Augmentation: With interactive tools like Desmos, students graph complex functions and instantly see the results of their manipulations, improving the way they visualize mathematical concepts.

Modification: Utilizing spreadsheets, students build dynamic models to explore real-world problems, such as calculating compound interest or analyzing statistical data sets.

Redefinition: Students use coding platforms like Python or Matlab to create simulations of mathematical systems, such as predicting population growth or modeling planetary orbits, which introduces tasks previously inconceivable.

Science

Substitution: Science teachers replace printed lab guides with PDF versions accessed on tablets.

Augmentation: Virtual labs such as those provided by PhET Simulations allow students to perform experiments digitally, where they can immediately observe changes in variables and outcomes in controlled environments.

Modification: Students record and analyze real-time data using sensors and apps, such as measuring dissolved oxygen levels in water bodies for environmental studies.

Redefinition: Students collaborate with peers from partner schools in different countries through video conferencing to analyze and compare climate data from diverse environments, creating a global perspective on the topic.

Language Arts

Substitution: Students use eBooks instead of paper copies of texts for literature studies.

Augmentation: Text annotation tools, such as Kami or Google Docs commenting, enable students to collaborate and share analyses in real-time, improving their ability to actively engage with texts.

Modification: Students use digital storytelling apps, like Storybird, to create multimedia interpretations of classic literature themes, combining images, sound, and text in innovative ways.

Redefinition: Students create a video podcast series on modern interpretations of Shakespearean plays, incorporating interviews, original performances, and viewer feedback collected through social media platforms.

History

Substitution: Teachers provide access to primary source documents through digital archives instead of physical copies.

Augmentation: Interactive timelines and mapping tools, such as Google Earth, allow students to explore historical events in a more engaging and dynamic way.

Modification: Students develop multimedia presentations showcasing analyses of historical trends, incorporating text, visuals, and data visualizations.

Redefinition: As part of a global classroom initiative, students engage in a collaborative research project with peers from other countries to examine shared and differing national perspectives on world history events, presenting their findings through a virtual, live-streamed forum.

These examples showcase the versatility of the SAMR model when applied thoughtfully across diverse subjects. By tailoring technology use to unique teaching and learning objectives, educators can unlock its transformative potential to enhance both engagement and academic outcomes, regardless of whether it is for students in military friendly colleges or other universities.

How to Use SAMR in Designing Instruction

Designing instruction requires a lot of reflection. In making lesson plans, teachers first define the specific learning outcomes, from which the design of instruction will be based. The concept of instructional core posits that change in learning will only occur if there are improvements in three critical, independent realms—the level of content, the teacher’s knowledge and skill, and student engagement (City et al., 2011). The following SAMR lesson plan examples make use of the SAMR model template by using the guide questions as transition ladders.

Substitution

Start by asking the benefits of the technology to be adopted:

• What will my students gain by replacing the older technology with the new technology?

Activity 1: Working in groups, students will be asked to analyze the character in a text. The students will be given the option to do the analysis on paper, or use StoryboardThat, an app for making storyboards.

Activity 2: Students will be asked to write an essay on climate change. Students have the option to write the essay on paper or type it using the computer. Teachers may also ask students to submit tasks online rather than turn in a hard copy.

These examples do not change the nature of teaching or learning. The use of technology, however, facilitated differentiated instruction by enabling students to perform tasks in their preferred method. The use of technology also made it possible for students to submit their tasks online, which also provided the teacher with a faster and more efficient way of providing timely feedback.

The benefit of technology at the substitution stage can also spill over into the teacher’s favor. Consider the works done on teacher burnout research, indicating a correlation between teacher burnout and poor student performance (Daniel, J. et al 2021). Where EdTech can unburden some of the administrative teaching work (ex. grading), teachers can expect a less stressful job. Teachers with more energy can engage their students with more fervor.

Augmentation

The following guide questions can be used to transition from substitution to augmentation:

• Does this new technology add an improvement to the task process that could not have been accomplished with the older technology at a basic level?
• How does this feature contribute to the task goals/outcomes?

Activity 1: Students will be asked to illustrate a mind map of their lesson by capturing images that will represent their learnings. Applications such as Skitch or Seesaw can be used for the task. Using online tools, students will be asked to record, annotate, draw and caption anything that will represent the student’s learning experience.

By giving the students a variety of ways to respond to a single question, the teacher is empowering the students and, at the same time, the teacher is also able to monitor the learning progress of each student on one platform. This method also gives the teacher an entirely different picture of each student’s learning.

Activity 2: Students will be asked to submit exit tickets using Mentimeter or Kahoot. The teacher will ask a parting question, and students turn in tickets before leaving the classroom. Instead of writing their answer on a piece of paper, students can submit their exit tickets through the app.

In the Augmentation examples mentioned, technology improved the task by enabling the students to use different types of media to document their learning. This enables the teacher to assess the extent of learning, while at the same time having the ability to respond to each student and identify the particular areas that they are having difficulty. In these examples, technology offered functional improvement because the teacher is able to view learning in a different way through the use of apps and tools. Technology added new features and improved the task.

Modification

The following guide questions can be used to transition from augmentation to modification:

• How is the original task being modified?
• Is the technology essential to the modification of the task?
• How does this modification contribute to the task goals/outcomes?

Activity 1: Using Google Workspace or Office 365, each group of students will be asked to perform research on a particular topic during class hours. The final output should include a research write-up, a presentation using PowerPoint and other presentation tools, and an infographic. The objective is to facilitate real-time collaboration within the group, while at the same time making each member responsible for specific requirements.

This task involves significant redesign because instead of working on tasks individually, students learn to collaborate in real-time using technology. Without technology, the task would require more time. The technology significantly changed the task by providing new features of creation.

Activity 2: Using Flipgrid, each group of students will be given topics for discussion. Students will be required to share their thoughts on the topic, and respond as well to the thoughts or ideas of their peers.

Since this app allows teachers to facilitate video discussions, facilitating this activity can improve the discourse skills of students, while at the same time teaching them to respond or give reactions in a polite and constructive manner. This practice also teaches critical thinking as students reflect on the topics and think of ways on how to respond to points raised by their peers. In the activities presented, it would be difficult to achieve the learning objectives without the use of technology.

Redefinition

The following guide questions can be used to transition from modification to redefinition:

• What is the new task?
• Will any portion of the original task be retained?
• How is the new task uniquely made possible by the new technology?
• How does it contribute to the task goals/outcomes?

Activity 1: Using music production apps such as Bandlab and video creation tools like Quik, students will be asked to create a multimedia presentation or a short film about the lesson by integrating video and music.

Activity 2: Using Skype, the class will have a virtual field trip to a museum in Egypt. The museum curator will give the students a tour of the museum as an enhancement of the current lesson on ancient Egypt. After the tour, the students will be required to share insights on the topic.

Both examples are learning experiences that can only happen with SAMR model of technology integration. Both activities are previously inconceivable in the confines of the classroom. In using different EdTech tools, students are empowered to apply concepts learned and create something as a result of the learning experience.

How Can Professional Development and Certification Accelerate SAMR Integration?

Educators seeking to elevate their SAMR integration skills can benefit significantly from targeted professional development and certification programs. Such training equips teachers with advanced strategies for effectively using digital tools, fostering a classroom environment that adapts to emerging educational technologies. Certification initiatives help verify expertise and build confidence, while also offering practical methods to innovate instructional delivery. Institutions can facilitate access to these programs, including jobs that only require a certificate, ensuring that educators stay abreast of best practices and industry standards in digital learning.

How Can the SAMR Model Foster Inclusive and Equitable EdTech Practices?

The SAMR framework can be leveraged to address educational inequities by enabling educators to tailor digital tools for diverse learner needs and promoting accessible instructional strategies. By designing lessons that incorporate adaptive technologies and culturally responsive content, teachers can bridge gaps in digital literacy and access. Implementing regular reviews of technology-enhanced practices also ensures that all students, including those with disabilities and marginalized backgrounds, benefit equally. Educators are encouraged to pursue professional development that emphasizes inclusive practices and consider academic pathways—such as obtaining an easy bachelor's degree—to further enhance their competency in inclusive digital instruction.

How can advanced academic programs enhance SAMR integration?

Advanced academic programs in educational technology offer educators a pathway to deepen their understanding of innovative pedagogical strategies. Engaging in intensive studies—such as 1 year doctoral programs—enables instructors to critically evaluate and evolve digital integration practices. These programs emphasize evidence-based research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and facilitate the development of tailored solutions that align technology with evolving classroom dynamics. This strategic academic investment supports the creation of curricula that not only meet current educational demands but also anticipate future technological advancements.

How Can Real-Time Learning Analytics Optimize SAMR Practices?

Real-time learning analytics provide educators with actionable insights that refine technology integration within the SAMR framework. By systematically collecting data on student engagement, performance, and interaction with digital tools, teachers can adjust instructional strategies to advance from mere substitution to transformative learning experiences. This data-driven approach enables the identification of effective practices and the early detection of challenges, ensuring that each SAMR level is optimally leveraged. Furthermore, integrating analytics into daily teaching practices facilitates targeted professional development by highlighting specific areas for improvement. Educators can enhance their expertise in both analytics and SAMR-based design through specialized training—including one year online graduate programs—that delivers advanced methodologies and supports informed decision-making in EdTech integration.

SAMR Model Benefits and Drawbacks

In designing instruction, it is important to carefully consider the affordances and limitations of various technologies.  The SAMR model, a practical guide for EdTech integration, is both a planning tool and a reflection tool. It benefits teachers by providing a framework from which they can assess how they are using technology in teaching, and how technology can enhance instruction.

The SAMR model also benefits students because technology drives engagement. In using technology, students are given control of their learning process while at the same time giving them the freedom to express their understanding of particular topics through creative channels. This empowerment also benefits the teacher because an entirely different perspective of learning is often presented by students that teachers might not be able to discover had it not been for the use of technology.

On the other hand, scholars in the field of education have identified three challenges of the SAMR model—the absence of context, rigid structure, and the model’s focus on product over process. Context includes social economics of the school or the community, the teacher’s technological knowledge, administrative support, as well as other factors that have a direct effect on technology integration in the classroom. The SAMR levels model is also perceived as rigid, as it does not reflect higher levels of learning outcomes as presented by Bloom’s Taxonomy. Some educators also observed that the SAMR model is too focused on technological adoption.

Hamilton et al. (2016) in their work “The Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition (SAMR) Model: A Critical Review and Suggestions for its Use" provided a critical review of the SAMR model using theory and prior research. Published in Tech Trends, the authors concluded that “the SAMR model may underemphasize the multi-faceted and complex nature of teaching and learning with technology. Instead, it emphasizes the types of technology teachers should use to move themselves up the hierarchical continuum of SAMR, giving primacy to technology rather than good teaching."

How can teachers assess student progress using the SAMR model?

Assessment plays a crucial role in guiding students' learning and informing teachers about their progress. When integrating the SAMR model in instruction, educators should also consider how to effectively assess student outcomes at each stage of the model. Below are strategies for assessing student progress that align with each level of the SAMR model:

• Substitution:
  • Teachers can use traditional assessment methods, such as quizzes or written assignments, that leverage digital tools (e.g., using Google Forms instead of paper-based quizzes). Although the task remains the same, the use of technology makes it more efficient and easier to grade.
• Augmentation:
  • Technology can enhance assessments by providing immediate feedback to students. For example, using interactive learning platforms like Kahoot or Quizlet allows students to receive instant feedback on their answers, helping them to self-correct and improve in real time.
• Modification:
  • At this level, assessments can be more collaborative and project-based. For instance, students can work in groups using cloud-based tools like Google Docs to co-create presentations or research papers. Peer reviews and group discussions can also be used as part of the assessment process.
• Redefinition:
  • The redefinition level allows for the creation of entirely new tasks that were previously inconceivable without technology. Assessments could involve students producing multimedia projects, such as video documentaries or podcasts, to demonstrate their understanding. Teachers can evaluate students on creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills, in addition to content mastery.

How can educational institutions support effective SAMR integration?

Effective institutional support is paramount to sustaining SAMR model implementation. School leaders and administrators can establish clear policies for digital integration by allocating dedicated budgets for EdTech tools, organizing ongoing professional development, and facilitating collaborative networks among educators. Structured internal training sessions, pilot programs, and peer-led workshops enable teachers to share innovative practices and overcome barriers in technology integration. Furthermore, leveraging strategic partnerships with technology providers and exploring accredited, cost-effective educational opportunities—such as the cheapest online associate degree—can reinforce teacher expertise and institutional resilience in adapting to emerging digital trends.

How Will Emerging Technologies Impact SAMR Integration?

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and adaptive learning platforms are extending the boundaries of the SAMR framework. These developments offer new data insights and real-time feedback that can redefine instructional design while promoting personalized learning experiences. Integrating such innovations can empower educators to transition more fluidly from substitution to redefinition, by enabling custom-tailored content and more robust student engagement. Institutions are encouraged to support ongoing professional development and advanced certifications—including access to good degrees for older adults—to ensure educators remain at the forefront of technological advancements.

Design Effective Instruction Through EdTech Tools

The use of technology in teaching and learning has undoubtedly delivered many benefits, as with the case of the SAMR model. This framework helps teachers assess the usefulness of technology in different interactive learning contexts. As emphasized, EdTech is used to enhance the process of instruction with the objective of promoting engagement and deeper learning.

The use of EdTech, however, is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The concept of the instructional core remains, and the pedagogical skills of the teacher, as enhanced by further training on EdTech, remain the most crucial if learning is to become effective. EdTech tools, such as the SAMR model, are part of the teacher’s toolbox. As every technology has affordances and limitations, it is the teacher who will decide how to use each tool to design the best learning experience.

Key Insights

• Importance of EdTech: At least 75% of educators see educational technology (EdTech) as essential and beneficial in their teaching practices, especially highlighted by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• SAMR Model: The SAMR model (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) helps teachers integrate technology into their instruction, offering a structured approach to enhance and transform teaching and learning experiences.
• Enhanced Engagement: EdTech tools, when effectively integrated using the SAMR model, drive student engagement and allow for differentiated instruction, catering to varied learning preferences.
• Levels of Integration: The SAMR model categorizes technology integration into four levels, where Substitution and Augmentation focus on enhancing tasks, and Modification and Redefinition aim at transforming tasks, leading to deeper learning.
• Teacher's Role: Effective use of EdTech depends heavily on the teacher's skills and pedagogical knowledge, emphasizing the need for ongoing professional development and reflection on instructional design.
• Challenges of SAMR: Despite its benefits, the SAMR model faces criticisms such as lack of context consideration, perceived rigidity, and an overemphasis on technology over the teaching process.

FAQ

1. What is the SAMR model? The SAMR model, developed by Dr. Reuben Puentedura, is a framework for integrating technology into teaching. It stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition, categorizing the different ways technology can be used to enhance and transform educational experiences.
2. Why is the SAMR model important for EdTech integration? The SAMR model provides a structured approach for educators to reflect on and enhance their use of technology in teaching. It helps in designing instructional strategies that improve student engagement and learning outcomes through various levels of technology integration.
3. How does the SAMR model enhance student engagement? By encouraging educators to move beyond mere substitution of traditional tools with technology, the SAMR model promotes activities that enhance and transform learning experiences. This, in turn, increases student engagement by making learning more interactive and personalized.
4. What are some examples of using the SAMR model in the classroom? Examples include using digital storyboards (Substitution), creating mind maps with apps like Skitch (Augmentation), collaborating on projects using Google Workspace (Modification), and virtual field trips using Skype (Redefinition). These activities progressively incorporate more advanced uses of technology to enhance learning.
5. What are the benefits of using the SAMR model? Benefits include improved student engagement, differentiated instruction, efficient assessment, and enhanced collaboration. The model also empowers students to take control of their learning and express their understanding creatively.
6. What are the drawbacks of the SAMR model? Criticisms of the SAMR model include its lack of consideration for contextual factors, its perceived rigidity, and its focus on technology over the pedagogical process. These challenges suggest the need for a balanced approach that integrates technology with sound teaching practices.
7. How does the SAMR model relate to Bloom’s Taxonomy? The SAMR model parallels Bloom’s Taxonomy by grouping Substitution and Augmentation with the lower levels of Bloom’s framework (knowledge, comprehension, application) and Modification and Redefinition with the higher levels (analysis, synthesis, evaluation). Both frameworks aim to promote deeper learning and critical thinking.
8. Can the SAMR model guarantee effective learning outcomes? No, the SAMR model alone does not guarantee effective learning. Successful integration of technology depends on the teacher’s ability to design and implement instructional strategies that leverage technology’s potential to enhance learning.
9. How can teachers effectively use the SAMR model? Teachers can effectively use the SAMR model by continually reflecting on their instructional practices, seeking professional development in EdTech, and adapting their teaching strategies to incorporate technology in ways that enhance and transform learning experiences.
10. What is the role of professional development in using the SAMR model? Professional development is crucial for teachers to effectively use the SAMR model. Ongoing training helps educators stay updated on the latest EdTech tools, learn new instructional strategies, and develop the skills necessary to integrate technology meaningfully into their teaching.

References:

• City, E.A., Elmore, R.F., Fiarmen, S.E., and Teitel, L. (2011), Instructional rounds in education: A network approach to improving teaching and learning, Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press, https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED515267
• Hamilton, E. R., Rosenberg, J. M., and Akcaoglu, M. (2016), Examining the Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition (SAMR) model for technology integration, Tech Trends, 60, 433-441 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11528-016-0091-y
• Hilton, J. T. (2016). A case study of the application of SAMR and TPACK for reflection on technology integration into two social studies classrooms. Social Studies, 107(2), 68-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/00377996.2015.1124376
• Puentedura, R. (2014). SAMR: An Applied Introduction,  http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/archives/2014/01/31/SAMRAnAppliedIntroduction.pdf
• Vega, V., & Robb, M. B. (2019). The Common Sense census: Inside the 21st-century classroom. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/research/2019-educator-census-inside-the-21st-century-classroom-key-findings.pdf