World wide america? Think globally, click locally

Educators at all levels are enthusiastic about the potential of the World Wide Web to provide learners with access to vast amounts of information and exciting opportunities for interaction. However, few educators have considered the extent to which American corporations and institutions dominate the Web. Using a framework based on Chomsky's 1988 examination of the mass media, the authors examine three filters that mediate learners’ access to on-line courses and information: browsers, search engines and the digitisation of content. Recommendations for educators who wish to counteract the imbalance are included.