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 because it involves students in things greater than what a teacher in the classroom can provide. Higher order thinking is important for students because they are pushed to think beyond the simple task. Using technology for higher order thinking enforces creativity from the student because they are thinking about more than the simple concept.


 * One example of technology that supports higher order thinking is Fractured Fairy Tales. This supports higher order thinking because students have to recreate common stories. The students have to push themselves to think beyond the original story and throw in twists and turns so the story is not exactly the same as what they knew from their childhood. For example, there is the typical story of the princess kissing the frog and the frog turning into prince charming. The example on the Fractured Fairy Tales link had a prince kiss the frog and the prince turned into a frog instead of the frog turning into his princess. A student who would create a story has to think beyond the original story and come up with something different to create a similar story. This supports higher order thinking because students cannot completely pick their own story line and they have to stick with a specific story.

=Using Technology to Affirm Diversity=


 * As a teacher, recognizing diversity in the classroom is crucial. It is important to celebrate, model and respect diversity. There will be more and more students with different backgrounds in the classrooms. By celebrating diversity, students realize that diversity is exciting and that even though they all may look similar, their backgrounds could all be different. Modeling diversity is important in the classroom as well because if there is not a great amount of cultural or racial diversity in the classroom, it helps students notice it around them more. One way to model diversity in the classroom is by having speakers come in and talk to the students about their childhood or culture so that the students can better understand what goes on in other parts of the world. In addition to celebrating and modeling diversity, it is important to respect it. Respecting diversity is important to teach the students so that they are proud of where they came from and realize that they are special. It is important that they do not think that diversity is a bad thing.


 * One example of a website that affirms diversity is The Adventures of Josie True. On this websites, students can see that Josie is from a different culture. There are stories that display that Josie is going to do normal things that any other student would do. This would help teach students that skin color or cultural differences has nothing to do with how similar a person is to you. Josie seems to set out and do almost anything. This teaches students that you can do anything no matter where you are from.

=Using Technology to Support All Learners=


 * Technology is used in the classroom everyday. There are computers, ELMOs, PowerPoints and more. It is not thes specific technologies that help special needs students. Assistive technologies are not necessarily something with a computer chip in them. One example that I saw in the video was the pvc piping holding a pencil for a student with problems with fine motor skills. Learners with special needs need assistive technologies to help them perform better in the classroom. There are devices to help them hear better, or to simply help the mute children speak. These technologies help students with special needs interact in the classroom just like any of the other children. They help them feel equal to the other students and not singled out because they have difficulty in a certain area.


 * One important example is the device to help a student who cannot speak or who cannot speak English communicate with other English speaking classmates. This would help them learn the language while participating in class discussions that do not deal with language. Although there are other assistive technologies that would be useful in the classroom, I think that this one will be the most useful.