Blog Journal 8

Adaptive technologies are different kinds of technologies that can be used and adapted to students to support their different learning styles in the classroom. These could help students with disabilities by providing them with a piece of technology fit for them to learn from. I have seen concept mapping in the classroom. This adaptive technology helps students think by visually seeing how ideas are connected. It helps organize their thoughts for writing. A challenge that can come out of using adaptive technologies in the classroom could be that it separates students in a way. All students are using something adapted to their brains and learning styles, so it could be hard for a teacher to bring the class back together on the same page after.

It is possible to use a PowerPoint to support student learning at each level of Bloom's Taxonomy. The bottom level is knowledge. It is possible to make a PowerPoint to teach basic information. For example, if students are learning animal names, you could put a picture of the animal on each slide, labeled with its name. This way students can observe and recall the information. The next level of the taxonomy is comprehension. Comprehension can be used by creating a discussion based PowerPoint. For example, if you are teaching off a PowerPoint based on a book the students have to read for class, every few slides should contain discussion questions that allow for students to demonstrate they understand what is going on. Application is next going up the triangle and can be used in PowerPoint form by applying knowledge and using problem solving methods. For example, if students are learning how to count money it may be helpful to create a PowerPoint using real world problems. That way students can learn how they will apply their skills of counting money in the real world. This question could look like, "If I buy a shirt for $16 and I give the cashier a $20 bill, how much money will I get back?" Analysis is next on the taxonomy. A PowerPoint can be used to support taxonomy by identifying patters, organizing ideas, and recognizing trends. If a student is learning how to analyze a graph, a PowerPoint could be helpful in leading them in this. Teachers could display a PowerPoint with a graph and questions on the board to help the students better understand the data information. For example, teachers could ask if it is a positive or negative trend, and identify the pattern of how the independent variable affects the dependent on the graph. Higher up the taxonomy we come to synthesis. A PowerPoint could be used in synthesis by using older concepts to generate new ideas, design, imagine, and predict. A teacher could use a PowerPoint to guide students how to design an experiment, or predict the outcome of the experiment. Lastly, on the top of the taxonomy we have evaluation. A teacher could use a PowerPoint to solve, judge, evaluate outcomes, or compare ideas. For example, a PowerPoint could be formatted to compare different ideas. Say the class was looking to compare life and death, a column could be made for both and pros and cons could be listed to compare.

Below is a website teachers can use to keep up to date on technology trends. It gives tips and resources teachers can use to keep them updated.
https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/teachers-technology-trends