I don't look at collaboration as a goal, completing something is the goal, collaboration may be a tool to get it done faster or better

For example, if your goal is for students to learn more about other cultures, what better way than cross cultural communication, like skype

I keep thinking of the acronym for Team: Together Everyone Accomplishes More. I think that is the purpose of Collaboration. Working with

others I can accomplish more than I can by working alone.

communication among those parties involved. Sharing ideas to create possible solutions to an issue at hand. Other perspective is same as

mweisburgh said....to learn about others cultures and life.

teacherricks, I like the TEAM definition.

click link to article on collective intelligence