Languages from a Distance

Mind maps are great brainstorming tools, of course. Here’s a look at some brainstorming I’ve done using mindmeister. Just click on the map to navigate on your own. Drag the blue box to the right.

Last month’s report by the NSBA (National School Boards Association) which found that the dangers of social networking are overrated and that schools should allow students to use such networks was a big step forward. In the weeks following there was molto discussion on assorted edu blogs…like here and here. The recommendation of the NSBA has been weighing heavily on my thoughts because at the moment I am trying to decide on which technologies and networks we will build our distance learning program on for the coming years. Since our students are all over the country, and many of them attend regular high schools, we cannot be sure of the kind of access they will be permitted at their school site—-many schools do not allow YouTube or Yahoo, some schools do not even permit wikis or blogs.

Just a month ago that fact alone probably would have caused me to decide for a very secure, protected environment for our curriculum–one that would be acceptable to all. But now I find that that voice of realism in me which up to now has remained hesitant and reluctant in regard to utilizing real-life web sites–unedited and unfiltered– for resources and tools is beginning to change. Instead of getting bogged down on what’s NOT possible everywhere now…wouldn’t it be more realistic to recognize that in a matter of a few years students will be using these sites all the time –actually they already are!— for all sorts of routine communicative tasks. (To be continued.)