Learning and educational reform in DAC, takes place in the larger context of immigration issues, and cultural transformations stemming from proximity to the border. Of course these challenges and issues are present nationwide too, but heightened in those US communities closest to the border such as El Paso, and Las Cruces, and in this NYTimes story, Laredo TX.
Consensus on what the problems are is elusive, for example such very large matters as should students learn in a bilingual classroom, or not? is debated vigorously in most borderlands states. Is there one agreed upon answer?
As we have noted, there’s some schools which are literally cross border undertakings, such as in Columbus on NM/ Mexico border, but also UTEP and EPCC have had abundant numbers of students from Juarez who just commuted across the border everyday.
PSA attempts to keep an actively informed perspective on immigration and cultural transformations and borderland issues, and to help guide the conversation towards effective learning opportunities for kids and adults in the region…while respecting the spectrum of thinking by regional groups who struggle to improve various inadequate circumstances for many families in the region.
One of the perhaps surprisingly useful aspects of cloud based tools, is their routing around or complete ignoring of international boundaries, which can create learning opportunities which otherwise might not be possible…including cross cultural learning, and an increase in “understanding” between different groups, as well as the more obviously practical uses of becoming equipped with 21st Century skills and capabilities.