Cyberspace and Online Education: The Influences of Global Cyberculture on International Students

Abstract

Friedman (2005) argues that the rapid growth of Internet technology is fundamentally changing human life in modern societies. This Internet revolution is also having an impact on higher education in the United States. More than half of all institutions of higher education in the U.S. now offer entirely online or blended courses. The issue becomes more complex when the learners are international students who come from extremely different cultural backgrounds. This chapter explores the nature of cyberculture, and describes how cyberculture affects the online learning experiences of international students. Through the exploration of cyberculture and online education, this chapter reveals what increased global online access is beginning to mean for participants in online education.