Telecollaboration is ‘a shared teaching and learning experience that is facilitated
through the use of internet technology between distanced partners in institutional
settings’ (Dooly, 2008: 21). Collaborative learning can increase students’ interest in
learning (Dooly, 2008: 22), especially when the students are actively exchanging and
negotiating ideas, engaging in discussion and taking responsibility for their learning.
It is important for there to be group goals and individual accountability (Slavin, 1989:
231) and that each member of the group be responsible for a concept necessary for
completing the task. Social interaction when working together can lead to students
performing at higher intellectual levels than when working individually (Vygotsky,
1978: 84).