How the LMS Market Can Transform Teaching and Learning to Benefit All Stakeholders

According to a report submitted to the 2025 Global Analysis and Forecasts at the start of this year, the Learning Management System (LMS) Market is expected to grow in the US from $5.05 billion in 2016 to $18.44 billion in 2025. As more K-12 and higher ed organizations transition to paid platforms, the LMS market has the potential to transform teaching and learning for the benefit of all stakeholders.

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Instructional Shifts to Support the Common Core

Are you looking for ways to effectively implement and manage the Common Core aligned classroom?

The CCSS identify a spiraling set of skills necessary to prepare students for success. The standards are designed to teach students how to think. They call for increased comprehension, synthesis of information and the ability to clearly express learning. To facilitate the deep learning experiences supported by the CCSS, a shift in instructional practices is necessary. 

The seamless integration of technology into the Common Core aligned curriculum supports learning through active participation and increases opportunities for all students to have access to the resources and information they need for success. With increasing numbers of Internet connected portable learning devices in our schools, access to information is readily available in a variety of formats and often in the palm of our students’ hands. While it’s safe to say that many schools are wired, it’s time to combine digital tools with innovative instructional practices to get our students plugged in. 

Help students uncover knowledge

Instead of teaching scripted curriculum defined by a textbook, consider putting your teaching skills and expertise to good use during the instructional planning phase by using essential questions to fuel the learning. Essential questions require students to construct knowledge and when combined with a flexible lesson design this type of learning can allow students to express learning in original ways. There is no room for answers that simply require copying and pasting, and worksheets become obsolete.

Essential Questions

To get started with essential questions, first take a look at the content you will be covering. Use Bloom’s as a guide to develop complex questions that require students to use higher order thinking skills to answer. Take a look at the Common Core Standards and identify several standards that can be woven into the learning process. Design a grading rubric for use as a guide to define expectations for students as they create a final original project to demonstrate learning. This will ensure that the student driven learning experience hits the targeted instruction and includes those Common Core Standards. Remember to make sure to dedicate an adequate amount of instructional time for students to answer complex Essential Questions

Explore my toolkit of resources for helping students uncover knowledge and create something original.

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Explore this interactive graphic, created with ThingLink

Final thoughts

Technology is a powerful tool for learning that can be used effectively to help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond. Students can develop transferrable knowledge and skills as they engage in learning experiences that require them to construct knowledge. 

The Common Core presents new challenges and new opportunities to help us focus on deep learning. This requires shifts in instructional practices. We have the opportunity to redesign learning, let’s embrace it!

Learn more

I’m hosting a webinar onTuesday, 11/19 at 4:00 PM EST to explore Instructional Shifts to Support the Common Core. If you are a Simple K-12 member, I hope you will join us for a closer look at the ideas presented here.

Instructional Shifts to Support the CCSS
11/19/2013 at 4:00 PM EST

Sign up and learn more
Registration is open to Simple K12 members

SAMR: Design a Flexible Toolkit for Success

SAMR: Design a Flexible Toolkit

I just finished putting the finishing touches on the presentation for a webinar I’m hosting on Tuesday of this week, SAMR: Design a Flexible Toolkit for Successful Tech Integration. This free webinar is sponsored by Infinitec and registration is open to all.

Assembling the resources has caused me to dig deep into my toolkit to examine ways the tools I frequently go to can be used effectively to align with each level of the SAMR model. I have been evaluating the usefulness of my favorite tools and reflecting.

What is SAMR?

SAMR is a model designed by Dr. Ruben R. Puentedura, Ph.D. that provides a framework for viewing technology integration in the classroom. The model identifies four specific levels of use and a clear point at which technology can be integrated into the classroom to go beyond engagement and transform learning to provide greater educational benefits.

The SAMR model is useful for helping teachers think about their own tech use to begin to make small shifts in the design and implementation of technology driven learning experiences in order to Teach Above the Line and take advantage of higher level learning. Teachers at the Substitution and Augmentation levels use technology to accomplish traditional tasks, but the use of tech doesn’t result in increased student learning. The real learning gains are achieved when technology is used to facilitate learning experiences that could not be accomplished without the tech. At the Modification and Redefinition levels, traditional tasks are transformed, allowing educators to use technology to design learning experiences that were not possible without it.

A Flexible Toolkit is Essential

A flexible digital toolkit is essential for helping teachers design learning experiences that reach the Modification and Transformation levels of the SAMR model. As I reflect on my own digital toolkit, I recognize that none of the tools I frequently use are content or task specific, rather they are blank canvasses powered by features I can use to design any type of learning experience I can imagine. The tools in my toolkit allow me to start with the learning goals and higher order thinking skills and make use of the technology to design learning experiences that provide students with opportunities to achieve those goals. 

My favorite tools are those that support multimedia to provide flexible options for student success by supporting their unique learning styles. These tools are user friendly, allowing teachers to begin to use the most basic features at the Substitution and Augmentation levels and take advantage of more features as they increase their comfort levels and make strides towards Teaching Above the Line. 

My Flexible Toolkit

This blog is filled with examples and ideas for using digital tools for learning. My favorite tools are woven into many different learning experiences that are most often at the Modification and Redefinition levels of SAMR. If you are interested in a clear bundle of specific examples to learn how these tools can be used to support teaching at each level of the SAMR model, I invite you to attend the free webinar I am hosting on Tuesday, November 5th, sponsored by Infinitec.

SAMR: Design a Flexible Toolkit

SAMR: Design a Flexible Toolkit for Tech Integration

Tuesday, November 5th

4:00-5:00 PM CST

Sponsored by Infinitec

Sign Up

Registration is free and open to all!