Issues+in+Educational+Technology+KM

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=Using Technology to Support Higher Order Thinking=

Technology can be used to support higher learning by using tools that can help children focus on complex issues in different ways. Technology can give children examples of relevant issues that they are learning and create scenarios that make them think about the concept. Higher order thinking can help students use their imagination and view something in a different perspective. It is used to help children think above and beyond and look at situation in a new light to help them realize that other views are possible for a situation. One form of technology that supports higher order thinking is a website about fractured fairy tales. This website causes students to use their imaginations to change portions of a story. For example they may be asked to change the ending of a story, which will cause them to use their imagination or higher order thinking to come up with a different end for a commonly known fairy tale.

=Using Technology to Affirm Diversity=

Technology can affirm diversity by providing examples that students might not already know. Technology can provide pictures and cultural background on specific diversities to help inform students of other backgrounds. An example of a technology that affirms diversity is television. A popular show among children is Dora the explorer, which helps children learn more about the Spanish culture. Dora frequently speaks Spanish, which allows children to learn how to pronounce words from another language and their meanings. This show can help children realize that there are multiple cultures in the world despite their own and not everyone is the same.

=Using Technology to Support All Learners=

Technology can be used to address the needs of learners with special needs by giving them the confidence they need. Some learners with special needs might feel insecure and shy about the problem they face and technology can help show them that there is nothing to worry about. For example, technology can be used to help someone communicate verbally or help them recognize symbols. Technology isn't always so complex. Science classes may use computer software to perform a disect such as a frog. This form of techology can help students learn the anatomy of an animal with out actually performing the disection on a real animal. This can be used if students have specific allergies such as latex. It allows students with special needs to still be able to participate.