A framework for selecting and assessing eLearning tools [Presentation]

The COVID 19 lockdown has triggered an unprecedented shift from traditional classroom teaching to online and blended modes. Amidst the pandemic, the teachers have been scrambling to integrate technology into their pedagogical methods. The informal feedback from stakeholders has shown mixed results on effectiveness of online learning. An existing lesson plan executed via an online platform may not excite the students in the same manner as taught in traditional classrooms. The online mode brings new challenges such as internet snags, lack of non-verbal feedback, minimal peer interaction etc., that teachers need to be mindful of, and should seek to address in their lesson plans.
My project aims to provide a step by step guide for selecting and assessing eLearning tools using Reuben Puentedaura's (2006) SAMR model. Terada (2020) opined that good technology integration into lesson plans requires awareness of a range of tools and picking the right strategies. Mapping tools to learning activities as per the SAMR model brings in a new insight that tools facilitate learning at varying levels but do not replace learning theories and pedagogies (Winkleman, 2020). The principles of constructive alignment, lesson planning, and best practices will provide the rationale for selecting tools in the proposed framework. The effectiveness of the tools will be assessed through student engagement, student feedback, and an instructor's self-reflection of teaching efficacy. Understanding the hierarchy of SAMR framework will encourage educators to continuously reflect and improve their teaching practice.