This study examined the effects of a computer-mediated telecommunications learning environment on the writing of fifth grade students. The students in experimental and control groups used word processing to write four texts collaboratively with a partner during an eight week period. In the experimental group, a telecommunication network was designed to allow the students to send their work to a distant audience of readers who responded to their writing. The experimental group received a written response from a reader via the network for each of the four writings submitted. The control group wrote for the classroom teacher;The first goal was to investigate the effect of the computer-mediated telecommunications network audience on the quality of the written product. The second goal was to investigate the effect of same sex writing partners on the quality of written product. The third goal was to investigate changes in attitude of the males and females toward selected attitude composites;Findings of this study suggest that writing for the purpose of communicating to a distance audience had a positive effect on the quality of writing of the experimental group. Results also suggest females used the computer technology when the environment was cooperative and they had equal access to the equipment. There is also evidence that writing to communicate to a distance audience may have contributed to the males in the experimental group scoring significantly higher on the writing assignments than the males in the control.