Technology+Issues+CHB


 * __Higher Order Thinking:__**


 * 1. How can technology be used to support higher order thinking?**

Technology can be used to support higher order thinking by allowing room for students' imagination and creativity to grow. Through technology, students can visually visit parts of the world through videos and documentaries online, create amazing projects (past posters and papers), and be led to numerous numbers of credible online sources. All of these things support higher order thinking because they take simple assignments and allow the students to grasp content and create creative projects. For example, if an assignment is to create a project about a president, the student could use their credible sources online to find information, use copyright friendly pictures, and create a digital story of their president's life online. This would allow higher order thinking and much more imagination, than if a student simply were to write a paper about a famous president.


 * 2. Give an example of a technology that supports higher order thinking and be specific in describing HOW it supports higher order thinking.**

In the website, //My Wonderful Life//, the kids and teens option allows a GeoBee Challenge Quiz online. The GeoBee has new multiple choice questions daily. This would be great to support higher order thinking because students would compete daily and whoever got all the questions on the GeoBee right and in the shortest amount of time, would get a prize in the class (extra credit, candy, etc.) The GeoBee Challenge supports higher order thinking because it excites students to learn geography outside of the classroom, to be able to compete well in the GeoBee and receive a prize! Students will become Geography whizzes, while having fun.


 * __Diversity Affirmation Through Technology:__**


 * 1. How can technology be used to affirm diversity?**

Technology exposes students to different customs, cultures, and lifestyles then they are used to. Through online options and websites, students will become fascinated with the surrounding world. A small communication bump of speaking different languages can instantly be translated through Google Language. Students are able to fully grasp the means of different languages, countries, and much more by the push of a button. How awesome it must feel for a student to acknowledge nothing is holding them back, diversity is being played out and explained daily on the web!


 * 2. Give an example of a technology that affirms diversity and be specific in describing HOW it affirms diversity.**

The website, //National Geographic For Kids,// is a great technology site for students to learn about diversity in different countries. //The National Geographic for// Kids holds numerous numbers of information about different countries around the world. A great lesson plan for students to affirm diversity would to to have each student in the classroom have a different country. Each child would visit //the National Geographic for Kids// site and find unique diversity information about their specific country. After finding information, the students would write a paragraph on their classrooms' Wiki page about their country. Each student in the class would be able to learn about different facts about places around the world! This would be a great site to get students talking about the differences in the way they live and someone who lives clear across the country!


 * __Using Technology to Support All learners__**


 * Choice #1:**


 * 1. 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 by enhancing their abilities. Technology has allowed for online notes for hearing impaired students, communication devices for students who have difficulty speaking (students can simply type what they want to say and the computer will recite it back), Microsoft Word (making spelling and writing much easier), and much more. The PowerPoint program allows a great visual for students and an educational digital story makes a great visual teaching tool too. With technology constantly changing, there seems to be new ways to reach out to special need students everyday. With all of these options, teachers are sure to meet the different needs of each of their children.


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

In my future classroom, I would definitely use the technology of PowerPoint, digital stories, and Wikis. By using PowerPoint and digital stories in my classroom, my special need students would receive great visual aides. By the use of a digital story, my students would have an educational story they could relate to and learn from. For example, by using a digital story of the life-cycle of a butterfly, the story would be narrated and allow the students to grasp the concept of the life-cycle of the butterfly through narration and visual pictures. By using a Wiki web page, students could return to the page for extra help on homework, notes from class, and lectures they may need repeated. Special needs students will truly excel when given new ways of learning, made possible through technology.