no+direct+effect+on+raising+scores

=**Correlation between** online collaboration and test scores = = =  Administrators and/or parents might object to the use of online collaboration in education because they cannot see a direct effect on raising scores. While it is true that testing does not measure the ability to collaborate, a teacher will choose to use a method of online collaboration not as an end in itself but as a means to an end- which is the delivery of the curriculum. If students are more engaged in learning when they are collaborating online, then they will gain a deeper understanding of the material, which will in fact have a positive impact on test scores. In addition, students will gain another valuable life skill- learning to work with other people, which is important in any work environment and will become more so as the world becomes increasingly connected (or flattened) by technology.

These references support the use of online collaboration:
 * A recent article in the //Washington// //Post// ([]) demonstrates how online collaboration brings an element of the real world to learning. I would argue that real-world relevance would enhance our ability to keep students engaged in their learning.
 * A few years ago, an article in the //New York Times// ([]) stated that “Schooling global citizens is the educational imperative of the 21st century. …But while the forces of globalization bring people closer together, education has largely failed to keep pace, and the result is that we still do not know one another very well. The result of such misunderstanding and ignorance can often lead to tragic results.” Using online collaboration in schools is an important way to achieve this imperative.
 * In the AASL Standards for the 21st –Century Learner, the 3rd skill is to “Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society.” Using online collaboration meets the criteria for many of these skills.