CRITICAL LITERACY IN SCHOOL-COLLEGE COLLABORATION THROUGH COMPUTER NETWORKING - A FEMINIST RESEARCH-PROJECT

This project investigated the practice of critical literacy through as ynchronous computer networking as students in a school-college collabo ration examined assumptions relating to gender issues. The study aimed to understand how a discussion of gender issues through computer netw orking might affect the development of voice in the 6 college women wh o organized and participated in the discussion with students from an u rban and a suburban high school. A secondary purpose was to understand the features of computer networking that facilitated the practice of critical literacy. The research methodology followed the paradigm of e thnography modified by the goals of feminist research. Findings reveal ed that the medium proved to be an apt environment for the practice of critical literacy as students named experiences relating to gender iss ues that touched their lives. Data also suggested that the medium serv ed as an effective environment for the development of voice in the pre sence of conflict. Students felt free to share ideas and disclose expe riences that might have gone unheard in the classroom. Students also b enefited from the computer's ability to extend classroom borders. As a result students were moved to think more deeply as they engaged in cr itical inquiry with diverse students.