Cultural Issues of the Internet in Classrooms

Despite the rapid and broad diffusion of the Internet in schools, educators have paid relatively little attention to the cultural impact of this new technology in teaching and learning. This article investigates some cultural issues that the Internet has introduced into classrooms, with illustrations of good practice. It aims to stimulate critical discussions among educators on ethical and cultural aspects of Internet use, including equality of access and participation for all people, and mutual respect for, and promotion of, under‐represented languages and cultures. This article finally demonstrates an urgent need to re‐shape the Internet as a human, rather than merely computer, network.