Technology+Issues

=Technology Supports Higher Learning=

Higher learning takes place when a student is able to create, analyze, and evaluate. Traditionally there are many ways students accomplish such a task, but now we are able to take further steps using technology. For example, when using the internet program Zon students can explore the virtual world in a way otherwise not possible. They can navigate the different sites, exchange their money for a different currency, and interact with other users. By using Google Earth students can **create** travel plans. Explore gas prices, travel routes, and sites. They can evaluate different historical landmarks and analyze their impact on the world by reading the the excerpts that Google Earth provides. Beyond this exploration tools found on the internet, students can use iTunes, PowerPoint, and iMovie to show higher learning. Much like the traditional essay, students can use iTunes to present and idea in an organized yet new and advanced way. They can then couple what they were able to do with Podcasts with iMovie and transform their audio presentation into a visual presentation. PowerPoint is another tool that helps students and teachers alike create organized visual outlines and storyboards. Overall, there is no known limit for technology's potential for increasing higher learning. The goal is to discover a few of this possibilities and then use them to advance learning.

=Using Technology to Affirm Diversity=

Throughout the semester we have learned how technology is beneficial in many ways. Now we will discuss how it can help students who come from very homogeneous backgrounds. Teachers should utilize the web to help students learn and appreciate other cultures. The web acts as a portal, and this portal can literally transport us anywhere. Students could use what they know about technology to set up Podcast pals. What this means is that one class could send a podcast of the students asking questions to a group of students who are different from them in a different place. These students would then reply. This interaction would not be possible without the use of technology.

Also teachers can implement the web for research on other cultures. They could assign a world project to the classroom where each student is given a country to research. The students could then use the web to find information on their assigned country. Maybe students could find popular recipes from other countries and cook them for the class. Or students could find music that is well known in that country and show this to the class as well.

=Assistive Technology in the Classroom=

The best feature of technology is that it is adaptable. People have many different types of special needs. People may need extra help visually, physically, or vocally. In the past learning has been very difficult for these people, and in some regards it still is, however technology has now made it easier for this barrier to be overcome. Those who have issues visually reading books can use special computers that scan and read books, or depending on the severity of the disability they could use electronic zooming devises. These magnify the text and provide less strain on the eyes. As discussed in class another breakthrough in technology is the talking boxes. This is beneficial for students who are unable to speak. This developing technology allows for these students to communicate and be interactive in learning.