INTRODUCTION

The rapid growth of the Internet, which links computers all over the world into a single electronic communications network, is in the process of making widespread computer-based instruction a reality. This is owing largely to the advent of the World Wide Web, a system for accessing and viewing information on the Internet. Web browser software such as Mosaic or Netscape permits easy viewing of texts stored on machines all over the Internet and they can display graphics, transmit sounds, and even play movies in the form of digitized video.

The ease with which Web documents can be created, as well as their worldwide accessibility, multimedia capabilities, and interactive functions, make the Web an attractive environment for carrying on computer-based instruction. From the viewpoint of English language instruction, an added advantage is the fact that at present, Web documents, which cover a huge set of subject matters, are mostly written in English, with new documents continually appearing. The Web thus offers a rich database of authentic material.

We have been examining how this new medium can be utilized for ESL instruction. We have learned that the Web is not only a tremendously effective means for disseminating instructional materials, but that it can also provide a context for efficient collaborative materials development.