Technology+Issues

**How can technology be used to support higher-order thinking?** Technology can be used to support higher order thinking by expanding the students knowledge. While playing educational games and exploring virtual experiences online, students remember and apply what they learn in online to the real world and inside their classroom. In addition to that, technology can support higher order thinking because students learn to use technology and applications that they might not be familiar with. All in all, using technology supports higher order thinking because it challenges students to learn by new experiences and through programs and applications that they might not necessarily be familiar with.

**Give an example of a technology that supports higher-order thinking and be specific in describing HOW it supports higher-order thinking. ** One example of a technology that supports higher order thinking is the "25 Awesome Virtual Learning Experiences Online." This web page displays 25 links to a variety of virtual learning experiences. This web page supports higher order thinking because while students are virtually experiencing a lesson, they are learning not only about the subject matter of the lesson, but also how to use the technology at hand. For example, there is a virtual learning experience on this web page where students can virtually tour the 7 wonders of the world. This virtually learning experience supports higher order thinking because the students get to learn about what the 7 wonders are and what they look like. Also, while looking at the application, the students are simultaneously learning about how to use technology.

Technology can be used to affirm diversity because it models, celebrates and respects all diverse cultures and communities. For example, technology can be used to showcase students from another culture speaking a foreign language. Students in an English classroom can listen to pod casts of users across the world speaking another language. This aspect of technology helps American children mode, celebrate and respect culture around the world.
 * How can technology be used to affirm diversity? **


 * Give an example of a technology that supports affirming diversity and HOW it supports affirming diversity?**

The web page titled The Adventures of Josie True exemplifies just how technology can be used to affirm diversity. This web page illustrates a Chinese-American girl who works with a variety of different subjects such as science, math and technology. This is a great example for young girls because it gives them a positive role model that in turn models diversity in a positive way.


 * 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 because it can help students access curriculum to learn material. For example, students that have difficulties reading, can listen to a podcast of a story and pause for checking for understanding and comprehension. This can be helpful because students can learn and read at their own pace.


 * Give an example and explain how it would support students with special/diverse needs in your future classroom?**

In my future classroom, I think that it would be beneficial to record stories that I read in class and provide supplementary story books or pod casts to parents so they can practice with their children outside of the classroom. This could be helpful because parents could pause the podcast and ask their children questions about what they have read. In addition to that, I would like to have a classroom blog in which parents would be able to see their children's writing and provide comments on how to improve their writing and grammar skills.