Issues+in+Educational+Technology+CR

=Using Technology to Support Higher Order Thinking=

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__How can technology be used to support higher-order thinking?__ Technology can be used to support higher-order thinking by encouraging students to use problem solving skills in order to evaluate and create something from the knowledge they gained. Technology can be used after a student has remembered and understood the information in order for the student to further expand on their knowledge and to apply this knowledge to problem solving situations.

=__An example of a technology that supports higher-order thinking.__= An example of a technology that supports high-order thinking is the program Zon. Zon allows a person to create a virtual self and explore a virtual China. After a person creates an avatar of themselves they are able to explore cities in China and learn the language. This is a technology that supports higher-order thinking because it is a stimulation that provides concrete information and are interactive.

=__Using Technology To Affirm Diversity.__= Diversity can be affirmed by using technology because it provides access to information that normally could not be accessed or used. Technology brings groups of people together who were formerly separated by distance. Also, students can find information that relates to them by finding other people who are going through the same experiences as them. The "Afghanistan" page from National Geographic's website is a good tool to affirm diversity in the classroom because it shows the students un-biased information about the residents of this nation. It explains the culture of Afghanistan and explains what their customs are.

=__Using Technology to Support All Learners.__= Technology can be used in the classroom to support all learners. The technology can be used to help physically, cognitively, behaviorally, and other learning exceptionalities because it helps these students function at, or near, the same level as the rest of the student body. Special needs students can use assistive technology to help them communicate either verbally or non-verbally. For example, a communication board could help students who have trouble speaking, while a pencil grip can be used to help a student write. In the case for gifted students, technology can be used to enhance their intellectual or artistic abilities by providing multiple outlets for expression.