Issues+in+Educational+Technology

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= = =Using Technology to Support Higher Order Thinking= >> >>
 * How can technology be used to support higher-order thinking?
 * Technology can be used to support higher-order thinking. High-order thinking requires students to critically think and problem solve. This forces learners to challenge themselves to learn to the best of their ability. They can be creative when they find solutions. High-order thinking does not use recollection, which only asks the student to memorize, not apply the information. High-order thinking uses real world situations so that the student can apply the problem to their life.
 * Give an example of a technology that supports higher-order thinking and be specific in describing HOW it supports higher-order thinking.
 * An example of a technology that supports higher-order thinking can be found at http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/lewis_clark/reporter1803/. This website is all about the journey of Lewis and Clark. This activity takes students on a journey. Students are asked to act as a newspaper reporter and write a breaking news article about Lewis and Clark. Students are given websites to research information and then write their article. This supports higher-order thinking because students are not given a direct answer. They have to come up with the story on their own and include what they think is important.

=Using Technology to Affirm Diversity= >> >>
 * How can technology be used to affirm diversity?
 * Technology can be used to affirm diversity within your classroom, around the world, and as a role model. Diversity gives people identity, so we should celebrate, respect, and model it. As a teacher, all students should feel welcome in the classroom community. Technology lets us explore every diversity in creative ways. Using technology we can not only read about diversity, but also access videos, hear voice recordings, play games, and look through pictures. With web pages we can experience different perspectives on diversity and events in history, convert languages, follow characters through time of their culture, and watch cultural videos. By using these different technologies, we can better relate to diversity. All of these and many more activities are different ways to affirm diversity through technology.
 * Give an example of a technology that affirms diversity and be specific in describing HOW it affirms diversity.
 * An example of a technology that affirms diversity can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/history/index.html. This website gives a detailed history and loads of information about the African American Heritage. Viewers can see a timeline filled with information. This timeline also has National Public Radio recordings embedded into it, so viewers can hear the history being talked about. This website also includes a page for kids to explore. They can play games and learn about famous African Americans in history. This website is an excellent example of a technology that affirms diversity.

=Using Technology to Support All Learners= >>
 * How can technology be used to address the needs of learners with special needs?
 * Technology can be used to address the needs of learners with special needs. Students are all different, some have behavior disorders, autism, learning disabilities, different native languages and many many more. If students struggle with learning they usually have a hard time welcoming it. Technology can support these learners. Videos support those who cannot see, and if one cannot hear the video can also provide captions. Technology entourages special needs students to participate more in education. If they participate and engage in the classroom, the students self-esteem can be helped. Pictures are very helpful tool with communication. Technology allows one to program voices into the device, so communication can be even simpler. In the end, the use of technology with special needs allows these students to access the curriculum and better develop their education.
 * Give an example and explain how it would support students with special/diverse needs in your future classroom?
 * An example of a technology that assists special needs students is a screen reader. A screen reader will read text out loud. This can help support special needs students who have trouble with reading. Using a screen reader will allow them to hear the text as well as follow along in the book. This will help improve their education, and increase their vocabulary as well as communication skills.