An orchestrated vision of language learning online

Many metaphors have been used to describe the Internet or the World Wide Web, the most rehearsed being the Information Superhighway. This, however, immediately suggests a vision of their major function as providing information very fast and accessibly. While this function has an important role in education, it is only one of many elements in a broad spectrum of considerations which need to be orchestrated carefully in the quest for best practice in online language learning. Bateson’s (1977) metaphor of the orchestra seems, indeed, to be much more fitting. An orchestra going through the process of learning a new piece with the ultimate goal of turning out a public performance is a useful analogy for the experience which a group of students and their teacher might share in an excellent online learning and teaching endeavour. A good conductor will facilitate and guide the enterprise, allowing players singly and in groups to shape the interpretation, and ultimately share ownership of the creation. Successful musicians will be intrinsically motivated, in tune with each other, prepared to work hard and open to new ways of reaching the desired goal, constantly updating their skills at both micro and meta levels. Their instruments will be of the best quality, finely tuned, highly reliable and supported by specialists, and the surrounding acoustics will be impeccable.