Issues+In+Educational+Technology+JC

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=Using Technology to Support Higher Order Thinking = Technology can be used to support higher-order thinking in many ways. Technology tools for constructing artifacts and electronic information and communication resources support the development of higher-order thinking. When students are taught to apply the processes of problem solving and then are allowed some opportunities to apply technology tools to find the solutions, they are development a higher thinking because they are going beyond their normal knowledge. For instance, you can use a game to teach math. You can choose a game that will make the student add, subtract, divide, or multiply before he gets to the next game level. This way the student can notice that learning can be fun.

Give an example of a technology that supports higher-order thinking and be specific in describing HOW it supports higher-order thinking. One technology that supports higher-order thinking is Excel/Word Processor. This kind of technology supports higher-order thinking because you can use it to analyze and interpret different kinds of graphs. For example, if the students asked to make a survey, he can downloaded the results and analyzed them using Excel.He can use the average and median function to compute the average and median values for some/all of the questions. He can also create a Column Bar Chart, or any other kind of chart he wishes to use, to compare the results of the questions. Moreover, he can communicate the results to the servey participants by using the mail feature of word.

=Using Technology to Affirm Diversity = Technology can be used in a classroom to affirm diversity in many ways. Technology provides access to information that you have never heard about before. You can find stories related to your own life experiences that you are current going through. The teachers can use audio files to help students that learn better by listening. They can also use videos, power points, or any other kind of technology that contains images to help students that are visual learners. Teachers can also use these kinds of technology to teach the students about others cultures. This way students can learn to respect each others culture. Teachers can also use translators to help students whose English is not their fist language. RESPECT DIVERSITY, CELEBRATE DIVERSITY & MODEL DIVERSITY.

A good example of a technology that affirms diversity is Google Language Tools. This is a very good tool for Educators to help students whose English is not their first language. For example, you can use the text box to translate something that you want to say to the students if you think such students don't know enough English. Another amazing thing about this technology is they can translate a whole web page. This is very nice because you can have the students read the web page in their native language if they do not feel comfortable reading in English. This will help them have a better understanding of the information presented by the web page you suggested to read.

=Using Technology to Support All Learners= Technology can be used to address the need of learners with special need by helping these students access the normal curriculum. Electronic devices can be used to assist students that have hearing, speaking, writing, reading or any other type of learning disability. This technology will make these kind of students feel more comfortable in the classroom. It will also increase the students self esteem because they are going to realize that they can do everything, just like the other students. As a result, they will not feel left apart from the rest of the students.

Give an example and explain how it would support students with special/diverse needs in your future classroom? I strongly believe that Reading Pens will really support students with special/diverse needs in my future classroom. This device can help many students with variety of reading problems. I can use the pen in my classroom to teach vocabulary and strengthen reading where a text is just to hard for the students to comprehend. In many of these devices the words can be highlighted on the screen as they are spoken for easy following. This is very important because this will help me and the students to follow the reading I am teaching.