Technology+Issues


 * Technology to Support Higher Order Thinking **
 * How can technology be used to support higher order thinking? Provide and describe a specific technology that supports higher order thinking?**

Technology can be used in many ways to support higher order thinking. In the classroom, teachers can use technology to promote complex, real-life problem solving problems, which is a part of higher order thinking. Technology can help teachers create assignments that allow the students to create, evaluate, and analyze which are higher order thinking skills. On specific part of technology that will support higher order thinking is simulations. Simulations allow students to have control over what happens in a safe environment. They also help turn abstract ideas into something concrete that students can visualize. One example of a simulation game is called Supreme Decision, which is an online-based game. This game is a perfect way to teach the First Amendment to middle school students. In this game students help the Supreme Court make a decision on a case. Supreme Decision helps support higher order thinking because the students have control in the game. They can choice which judge they agree with and in the end make the decision of who wins the court case.

How can technology be used to affirm diversity? Give an example of a technology and be specific in describing how it affirms diversity? ** Technology can be used in many ways to affirm diversity. Because of technology, teachers can easily provide information on different aspects of the world's cultures. Students can learn about different cultures through websites like the Living Voice website. Living Voice is a website about the Native American culture. It contains audio files, in both English and Spanish, of Native Americans talking about their culture's stories and experiences. Another great way to affirm diversity in the classroom is to use a technology like video chatting. By using a video chat program, students can communicate with students in different parts of the United States and the world. Using this technology they can ask questions about the other students' culture and answer questions about their own culture. Students are more likely to comprehend and retain information when they hear it from someone their own age. Video chatting is a great way to let students see that all cultures are different but they also share similar experiences, emotions, and stories.
 * Using Technology to Affirm Diversity


 *  Using Technology to Support All Learners **
 * How can technology be used to address the needs of learners with special needs? Give an example and explain how it would support students with special/diverse needs in your future classroom?**

There are many possibilities when it comes to using technology to address the needs of learners with special needs. The many advances in technology have allowed students with special needs to become more involved and participate more in the classroom, no matter what they special need. Technology can be used translate text to audio and audio to text for students who have trouble reading or writing. E-Books are a great way to help students who have trouble reading listen to books and learn the information in them. Also teachers can use different audio medias to help students who are audio learners take away the most they can from the class. Technology can also be used to help students who do not speak English as a first language. Google Language Tools is a great website for ESL students. On this website students can translate words from one language to another. They can use Google Language Tools to translate an entire website to a different language. Technology can be used to help students with a broad range of needs and they do not have to be as high-tech or expensive as some options. Objects like calculators are examples of low-tech technologies that can help students with special needs.

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