Stephen, it would be interesting to measure whether the boys' discussion was also increased when online.
I feel that it is what the technology can do which can energise excitement in girls and boys. Quite often a learner may be put off by the sight of technology and the thought of yet another uninspiring ICT lesson. It is being shown what ICT can do and what they, the user, can do with ICT with leads to excitement and participation.

Thanks for the comment, Ron. I wholeheartedly agree with you that Visualization is a useful technique in goal-setting. Vision boards, too, are a fantastic tool especially for people who prefer to express themselves visually or creatively rather than using just words.