ISTE | JRTE: Volume 28 Number 5 Summer 1996


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JCTE—Journal of Computing in Teacher Education

JRTE—Journal of Research on Technology in Education

Number 5: Summer 1996

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Edited by Diane McGrath

formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education

Volume 28 Number 5 Summer 1996

Using Email Within a Classroom Based on Feminist Pedagogy, Data

Alice Atkinson Christie

Arizona State University, West

Table 1. Profile of Participants by Gender and Race/Ethnicity

Group 1 (N=12)
Males 50%	White 67%
Females 50%	Hispanic 33%
Group 2 (N=13)	(7 were in Group 1)
Males 31%	White 69%
Females 69%	Hispanic 23%
Black 8%
Group 3 (N=11)
Males 45%	White 64%
Females 55%	Asian 18%
Black 9%
Groups 1, 2, and 3 Combined
Males 41%	White 69%
Females 59%	Hispanic 17%
Asian 7%
Black 7%
Groups 1, 2, and 3 Combined
White Males 24%	White Females 45%
Black Males 3%	Black Females 3%
Hispanic Males 14%	Hispanic Females 3%
Asian Males 0%	Asian Females 7%

Table 2a. Topics of Messages: Between Children and Teacher/Researcher by Gender

Topics of Messages: Between Children And Teacher/Researcher	Girls To Alice	Boys To Alice	Alice To Girls	Alice To Boys
School Greeting Computer Telecommunications Email Internet Veronica Mosaic Family Pets Death Thank You Facts Behavior Trips/Travel Friendship Jokes Put-Downs Social Concerns Learning Sleep-Overs Teacher Personal Information Feelings Career Sports Food Holidays Illness Adult Relationships Imagination Poetry Dance Music Injustice Correcting Teacher/Researcher Foreign Language Child Research Teacher Research Questions Penpals	4% 22% 32% 25% 2% 13% 1% 1% 17% 1% 1% 17% 1% 1% 5% 5% 2% 2% 6% 16% 0% 12% 38% 5% 3% 1% 6% 15% 7% 15% 5% 1% 3% 0% 2% 1% 3% 16% 3% 55% 5%	17% 34% 9% 22% 19% 9% 1% 4% 12% 4% 1% 11% 12% 2% 9% 3% 1% 0% 9% 6% 0% 10% 23% 30% 0% 10% 6% 30% 1% 6% 8% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 21% 3%	7% 28% 25% 31% 52% 34% 7% 9% 20% 0% 1% 34% 4% 4% 8% 4% 0% 0% 5% 10% 1% 31% 59% 0% 0% 4% 13% 8% 0% 0% 1% 7% 0% 1% 0% 5% 22% 0% 24% 12%	11% 21% 3% 11% 23% 17% 3% 6% 9% 3% 0% 14% 0% 3% 3% 0% 0% 0% 1% 3% 0% 21% 27% 0% 20% 14% 17% 5% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 20% 0% 13% 3%

Table 2b. Topics: Penpal Messages

Topics	Girls	Boys	All
Personal Description Questions Greeting Family Hometown School Holidays/Birthdays Email Pets Sports Food Telecommunications Workshop Computer Friendship Facts Boyfriend/Girlfriend Issues Climate Music/Dance Hobbies Internet Social Concerns Jobs Career	53% 41% 27% 35% 28% 32% 21% 26% 21% 16% 19% 21% 19% 12% 9% 3% 5% 10% 5% 3% 4% 0% 0%	34% 56% 29% 22% 29% 20% 24% 12% 20% 29% 20% 5% 5% 7% 10% 17% 12% 0% 7% 4% 0% 5% 5%	47% 46% 30% 30% 29% 28% 22% 21% 21% 21% 19% 16% 14% 11% 9% 7% 7% 7% 6% 3% 3% 2% 2%

Alice to Girls: 191 Messages	Messages to Alice: 224
Alice to Boys: 149 Messages	Messages to Alice: 171

Table 2c.Topics: by School

Topics

Schl 1 to Alice

Schl 2 to Alice

Alice to Schl 1

Alice to Schl 2

School
Greeting
Computer
Telecommunications Workshop
Email
Internet
Veronica
Mosaic
Family
Pets
Death
Thank You
Facts
Behavior
Trips
Friendship
Jokes
Put-Downs
Social Concerns
Learning
Travel
Teacher
Personal Information
Feelings
Career
Sports
Food
Holidays
Illness
Adult Relationships
Imagination
Poetry
Dance
Music
Injustice
Correcting Teacher/Researcher
Foreign Language
Child Research
Teacher Research
Questions
Exploration
Penpals

1%
28%
19%
18%
25%
14%
0%
2%
16%
6%
0%
13%
2%
1%
9%
4%
4%
0%
9%
12%
6%
7%
44%
48%
2%
8%
11%
18%
9%
17%
10%
1%
4%
0%
2%
1%
2%
8%
2%
37%
1%
2%

14%
27%
18%
28%
25%
9%
2%
2%
14%
0%
1%
14%
7%
1%
6%
4%
0%
0%
7%
12%

13%
27%
38%

29%

3%
43%
11%
25%
56%
37%
5%
15%
20%
3%
0%
33%
1%
4%
4%
1%
0%
1%
5%
6%
10%

5%
56%
0%
9%
9%
15%
6%
0%
0%
1%
4%
0%
1%
0%
3%
21%
0%
26%

14%
12%
34%
31%
55%
32%
9%
7%
14%
0%
2%
32%
5%
9%
12%
6%
0%
0%
4%
17%

41%
54%

51%

11%

SCH 1: Messages From Alice: 142	Messages to Alice: 126
SCH 2: Messages From Alice: 198	Messages to Alice: 269

Table 2d. Topics: Between Girls and Girls and Between Boys and Boys by School

Topics	Girls Girls Sch 1	Boys Boys Sch 1	Girls Girls Sch 2	Boys Boys Sch 2
School Greeting Computer Telecommunications Workshop Email Internet Veronica Mosaic Family Pets Death Thank You Facts Behavior Trips/Travel Friendship Jokes Put-Downs Special Concerns Learning Sleep-Overs Teacher Personal Information Feelings Career Sports Food Holidays Illness Adult Relationships Imagination Poetry Dance Music Injustice Correcting Teacher/Researcher Foreign Language Child Research Teacher Research Questions Exploration Penpals	0% 18% 32% 31% 6% 7% 22% 0% 1% 0% 0% 1% 5% 18% 2% 49% 1% 4% 0% 1% 16% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 5% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 4% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%	0% 8% 27% 23% 1% 5% 12% 2% 22% 1% 1% 0% 1% 12% 5% 25% 0% 4% 0% 2% 18% 0% 0% 2% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%	0% 20% 17% 8% 0% 3% 23% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 33% 1% 33% 0% 2% 0% 0% 7% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 34% 28% 2% 12% 19% 4% 4% 37% 4% 2% 2% 9% 48% 11%	0% 4% 25% 7% 0% 1% 32% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 31% 2% 18% 0% 0% 0% 0% 7% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 17% 30% 1% 14% 15% 11% 5% 32% 3% 2% 4% 18% 41% 6%

GIRLS: Messages From Alice: 197	Messages to Alice: 218
BOYS: Messages From Alice: 155	Messages to Alice: 171

Table 3. Social Functions of Messages Between Children and Teacher/Researcher by Gender

Social Functions of Messages	Girls To Alice	Boys To Alice	Girls From Alice	Boys From Alice
Insulting/ putting down Building friendship Sharing personal information Expressing positive feelings Expressing negative feelings Expressing opinions Asking questions Taunting/teasing Complying Discussing girl/boy friends Bragging/boasting Underestimating Making requests Expressing thanks Apologizing Discussing cmptrs/telecom Feeling excluded Being social (no topical substance) Discussing violence Testing limits Answering a question Correcting another Arguing Agreeing to take responsibility Demanding Gossiping Playing with language Complimenting looks Complimenting attitude Complimenting brains/cleverness Asking for help w/ daily tasks Discussing "nurturing" topics Discussing "academic" topics Discussing behavior/focus Giving instructions re email/Inet Asking questions re email/Inet Asking student what s/he wants to do next Telling stuent what to do next Thanking/complimenting for complying Asking student to comply w/ directions Uptaking kids ideas Cooperative/non-hierarchial Hierarchial Banking (imposing knowledge) Midwife (drawing out latent knowledge) Connecting/collaborating Separating/competing Encouraging self reliance Encouraging reliance on others Expressing disappointment Asking for clarification Modeling	0% 18% 32% 31% 6% 7% 22% 0% 1% 0% 0% 1% 5% 18% 2% 49% 1% 4% 0% 1% 16% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 5% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 4% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 30% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%	0% 8% 27% 23% 1% 5% 12% 2% 22% 1% 1% 0% 1% 12% 5% 25% 0% 4% 0% 2% 18% 0% 0% 2% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 19% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%	0% 20% 17% 8% 0% 3% 23% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 33% 1% 33% 0% 2% 0% 0% 7% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 34% 28% 2% 12% 19% 4% 4% 37% 4% 2% 2% 9% 48% 11% 0% 0% 7% 72% 0% 8% 1% 2% 1% 8%	0% 4% 25% 7% 0% 1% 32% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 31% 2% 18% 0% 0% 0% 0% 7% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 17% 30% 1% 14% 15% 11% 5% 32% 3% 2% 4% 18% 41% 6% 0% 0% 12% 55% 0% 13% 3% 3% 2% 8%

GIRLS: Messages From Alice: 197	Messages to Alice: 218
BOYS: Messages From Alice: 155	Messages to Alice: 171

Tables

4a. Topics Addressed in Newsletters by School and Gender

	Articles	School	Self	Computer	Workshop	Email
Girls
Newsletter 1	6	0	11	6	10	6
Newsletter 2	9	3	8	10	6	4
Newsletter 3	6	0	4	5	4	2

Totals	21	3	23	21	20	12
Percentages		1%	6%	5%	5%	3%

Boys
Newsletter 1	6	1	3	3	2	8
Newsletter 2	4	0	2	1	4	4
Newsletter 3	5	0	5	4	3	3

Totals	15	1	10	8	9	15
Percentages		0%	5%	4%	4%	7%

Summary

Girls		1%	6%	5%	5%	3%
Boys		0%	5%	4%	4%	7%

Table 4b. Topics Addressed in Newsletters by School and Gender

	Internet	Veronica	Mosaic	Penpals	Opinions
Girls
Newsletter 1	2	5	1	0	8
Newsletter 2	7	3	1	6	20
Newsletter 3	8	2	2	3	16

Totals	17	10	4	9	44
Percentages	4%	2%	1%	2%	11%

Boys
Newsletter 1	3	4	1	0	6
Newsletter 2	3	5	0	1	8
Newsletter 3	0	5	0	0	12

Totals	6	14	1	1	26
Percentages	3%	7%	0%	0%	12%

Summary

Girls	4%	2%	1%	2%	11%
Boys	3%	7%	0%	0%	12%

Table 4c. Tables 4 a & b continued

	Explore	Facts	Telecom	Relationship	Learning	Feelings
Girls
Newsletter 1	5	18	5	14	10	7
Newsletter 2	3	22	3	15	11	18
Newsletter 3	5	8	0	15	10	13

Totals	13	48	8	44	31	38
Percentages	3%	12%	2%	11%	8%	9%

Boys
Newsletter 1	3	31	0	11	2	4
Newsletter 2	3	16	1	5	3	3
Newsletter 3	1	3	1	1	0	5

Totals	7	50	2	17	5	12
Percentages	3%	23%	1%	8%	2%	6%

Summary

Girls	3%	12%	2%	11%	8%	9%
Boys	3%	23%	1%	8%	2%	6%

Table 4d. Tables 4 a & b continued

	Alice	Gopher	Modem	CD-ROMs	Newsletter
Girls
Newsletter 1	6	5	4	0	0
Newsletter 2	6	1	0	2	0
Newsletter 3	13	2	0	0	0

Totals	25	8	4	2	0
Percentages	6%	2%	1%	0%	0%

Boys
Newsletter 1	1	1	1	0	1
Newsletter 2	1	1	0	6	0
Newsletter 3	1	1	0	0	0

Totals	3	3	1	6	1
Percentages	1%	1%	0%	3%	0%

Summary

Girls	6%	2%	1%	0%	0%
Boys	1%	1%	0%	3%	0%

Table 5. Children's Codable Meanings of Computers

Meanings
Fun technology
Tool for research
Confusing/frustrating technology
Tool for building relationships
Tool for playing games
Tool for communicating with others
Tool for playing with language
Tool to gain one-upmanship
Place for chit chat (pleasant)
Tools for insulting others
Tool for exploring romance
Tool for getting great pictures
Human vs. nonhuman
Control vs.lack of control
Tools that adults teach kids
Tool for personal use/productivity
Tool that provides independence
Good, wholesome hobby/career
New way to view communication
Place for gossip (negative)
Expensive technology
Tool for building quiet leadership

Table 6. Topic Codes Used During Data Analysis of Children's Written Documents

Topics
Behavior
Boyfriends/Girlfriends
Computer
Facts
Family
Feelings
Food
Holidays
Illness
Internet/Internet Tools
Leaning
Penpals
Personal Information
Pets
Relationships with Adults
School
Sports
Telecommunications Workshop
Trips
Violence

Table 7. Social Functions Used During Data Analysis of Children's Written Documents

Social Functions
Answering Questions
Apologizing
Asking Questions
Being Social
Bragging/Boasting
Building Friendship
Complimenting
Complying
Connecting
Demanding
Expressing Feelings
Expressing Opinions
Expressing Thanks
Gossiping
Insulting/Putting Down
Requesting Help
Separating
Teasing/Taunting
Testing Limits
Underestimating

Table 8. Topics and Topic Attributes of Children's Internet Exploration

	Girls' Topics	Attributes of Girls' Topics	Boys' Topics	Attributes of Boys' Topics
Heroes	Martin Luther King	humanitarian	Spiderman	helpful, stylish
	Dorothy of the Wizard of OZ		Darth Vader of Star Wars	cartoon character
	Brady Bunch	playful fantasy	Killer Cop	violent fantasy

Animals	elephant	circus animal	lions	king of the jungle
	mice	tiny creatures	dinosaurs	huge creatures
	monkeys	human-like	monsters	not humanlike
	hummingbirds	associated with beauty	bats	associated with horror
	dolphins	friendly	dragons	fierce
	dogs	domestic	coyotes	wild

Places	Disneyland	fantasy land	NASA	land of science
	the Louvre	classical art	cartoons	pop art
	University of Vermont	serving people	weather maps	serving science

Physical Activities	dance	collaborative art	karate	competitive art
	skiing	family sport	soccer	competitive sport

Teacher/ Researcher Challenged Children

Example 1

To Tom	August 2, 1994	I was so happy to hear about school. Now that you're so good with the computer, can you use the computer for any of your written assignments?
To Nathaniel	June 10, 1994	Thanks for telling me how you play the violin and the sax in the band at your school. I wanted to tell you a little about the music department here at ASU. It's a four year program in vocal or instrumental and almost any kinds of instrument is available for student use.
To Beth	September 29, 1994	You are doing a great job with Children's Writing Center. It seems like you're a good writer and really enjoy writing. Do you keep a journal? What kind of writing to you like best?
To Christi	July 30, 1994	ESP stands for Extra Sensory Perception. It's like being able to read somebody else's mind. I asked you some questions in my note and you had already answered them in your note that I hadn't read yet! It's like you read my mind! That's ESP!
To Christi	August 3, 1994	You are a good observer, so I bet you know alot about human nature and behavior that you don't even know you know!
To Laurie	November 21, 1994	I'm so glad you're enjoying your study of the Amazon Rainforests! Have you found any information on the different layers in a rainforest? What about animals that live there?

Example 2

To Eve	November 14, 1994	How's everything in Kentucky? I know you'll be able to find a computer at the university so you can write to us! Good luck!
To Luanna	September 29, 1994	Every day you're able to do more and more on the computer by yourself! Aren't you proud of yourself?
To Tom	July 7, 1994	Kid Pix is a great graphics program designed for kids. Play around with it and experiment. Let me know what you think.
To Andy	June 11, 1994	Aren't you proud of yourself for all you did alone without my help!

Teacher/Researcher Encouraged Self-Reliance

Sample Messages

To Carol	June 16, 1994	How do YOU think you could solve this problem. Complaining to me isn't really a solution.
To Tony	July 13, 1994	What is the trouble you're having with asumail. I bet you can figure it out yourself. I can't figure it out long distance. Remember, you can always be resourceful and call the HELP DESK.
To Al	November 16, 1994	Please try to use your time wisely today. Can you figure out a plan to help yourself do that?

Teacher/Researcher Praised Boys and Girls for Different Things

The teacher/researcher praised boys for their brains and cleverness and praised girls for their cooperative attitude, effort and occasionaly for their brains and cleverness.

Sample Messages
The stark contrast in compliments is evident in the representative messages below.

To Tom	October 2, 1994	Your writing is getting much better since you've been writing alot in our Workshop.
To Dave	September 28, 1994	I like your sense of humor. Your remark about electronic distance was very clever.
To Mike	October 23, 1994	I'm so proud of you. You've taken to the Internet like a fish to water. You're turning into a great researcher.
To Charles	October 26, 1994	I'm so proud of you and the learning you are doing in our Telecommunications Workshop!

And to girls I wrote:

To Eve	September 28, 1994	I sure appreciate your cooperation and good attitude.
To Julia	December 5, 1994	I'm so proud of the interest you've taken in our class and the effort you've put in! Thanks so being such a grand participant!
To Christi	June 14, 1994	Thanks for being such an interested and cooperative student.
Linda	June 21, 1994	I was so proud of you yesterday. You acted so responsibly.

On several occasions I even complimented girls (and one boy) for their looks or grace:

To Eve	October 17, 1994	You look very graceful. I am not surprised that you want to be a ballerina when you grown up.
To Julia	October 26, 1994	You have the graceful look of a dancer!
To Susie	October 23, 1994	Smile! You look pretty when you smile!
To Tom	June 22, 1994	I hope this doesn't embarrass you, but I think you look "cute" without your baseball cap.


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