The effects of web-based social networks on student achievement and perception of collaboration at the middle school level

The purpose of this study is to address the contribution modern, web-based collaborative tools (blogs, wikis and online forums) have on student achievement in a middle school classroom. It evaluated the impact these tools have on student learning, as well as their usefulness in increasing student collaboration.; A control and treatment group comparison design was used to examine the effects these tools have in grades 6 and 8, as well as explored the differences in the usage and perception of collaboration by grade level and gender. For this study independent variables included student exposure to online collaborative tools (blogs, wikis and online forums), grade level and gender. Dependent variables included student grades, perception of collaboration and usage of collaborative tools.; An examination of the results indicates a complex relationship between technology and the students that use it. Online collaborative technology did not affect student achievement. It was also found that the use of such tools as online forums, wikis and blogs increased student perception of collaboration. However, this perception of collaboration was not influenced by student gender. Finally this project looked to determine whether gender and grade level impacted the use of online collaborative tools. Girls utilized mechanisms to collaborate online to a greater extent than boys. While gender affected usage student grade level did not when comparing sixth graders to eighth grade students.; While online collaborative tools might not directly affect student achievement, the impact on perception and differences as seen through gender usage are important. The increasing awareness by the educational community of the diverse and demanding learning styles of today's younger generation must include the knowledge that these tools are dynamic and influential.