Literature-Based E-Mail Communications Across an Urban High School and a Rural Teacher Education Context

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: Critical Issues in Literacy Research Roundtable 3

Abstract

This research project involved investigation of electronic communications between rural, university students in education with urban, high school student pen pals. The research questions for this study were: What is the nature of literature-focused email correspondences between pre-and in-service teachers in a rural area and high school students in an urban area? and What happens when these students from different cultures exchange emails that are expected to relate to a commonly read book? Themes across the written reflections and email messages included: (a) humanity/empathy, (b) geographical contexts, (c) literacy, (d) enjoyment and frustration, (e) seeking commonalities, (f) the significance of choice in supporting student learning, and (g) graduate students’ valuing of communication with the secondary students.

Authors

• William P. Williams, Concord University

• Mary Alice Barksdale, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• John Istel, New Design High School