Educational technology and student achievement

1
Educational technology and student
achievement CoSN Annual K-12 School Networking
Conference, 3rd March 2004 Washington DC Dr
Michael Harris, Evidence and Research
team, Becta, United Kingdom
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A (brief) review of the research evidence from
the UK
Two literature reviews Educational technology
and Attainment Educational technology and
Pedagogy
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What is Becta?

• British Educational Communications and
  Technology Agency
• UK Governments lead agency for technology in
  education, for
• learning and teaching
• educational management
• educational content
• technology infrastructure.

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Bectas research aims

• Develop an evidence base to underpin the use of
  technology.
• Draw together evidence from national and
  international sources.
• Identify and exemplify models of effective
  practice.
• Disseminate findings in ways that influence
  practice.
• Offer timely and informed advice.

5
A (brief) review of the research evidence from
the UK

• Positive effects on achievement found across
  subjects and ages
• Particularly when uses are appropriate, specific
  and deep
• Pedagogy really matters - in subject knowledge,
  and technology selection and use

6
A (brief) review of the research evidence from
the UK

• Positive effects on achievement found across
  subjects and ages when
• technology is selected and used appropriately by
  teachers
• use is closely related to the subject and
  learning objectives
• the right measures are used to capture the
  specific effects.

7
About the reviews

• Independent research team at Kings College
  London, led by Margaret Cox
• Research published in English
• Technology use in school ages 5-16
• Impact on learning of subjects, concepts,
  processes, skills
• Teacher pedagogy with technology as a key factor
  in this impact
• Identify other contextual factors
• Inform future research

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Does technology raise student achievement?
Strongest effects in math, science and English
Subject ICT use Impact
Programming and modelling
Understanding and applying concepts
Math
Science
Simulations and modelling
Scientific reasoning and explanations
English
Word processing, communications and presentations
Creativity and developing meaning
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Does technology raise student achievement?
Positive effects in other subjects
Subject ICT use Impact
Simulations and modelling
Concepts and relationships
Geography
History
Multimedia resources
Understanding and historical reasoning
Languages
Simulations and role playing
Specific language skills, vocabulary
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ImpaCT2 study (1999-2002)

ImpaCT2 - ICT and Pupil Attainment (2002)
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Effective pedagogy with technology

Organisation/ planning
Technology skills
Technology confidence
Subject knowledge
Appropriate resources
Approach to technology
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Implications for teachers

• Develop skills and confidence
• Adopt a informed critical approach
• Share more intelligence

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Implications for researchers

• Measure whats actually happening
• More detail on teacher pedagogy
• More effective at sharing evidence

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Implications for policy makers

• Stop asking does technology work?
• Fund more research
• Challenge assessment

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Bectas Research website
www.becta.org.uk/research
research_at_becta.org.uk
Literature reviews ICT and Attainment ICT and
Pedagogy
ImpaCT2 study
What the Research Says series
16

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Does technology raise achievement?
Subject Deep use Impact
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National data analysis (2003)

ICT and Standards reports (2003)
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Planned interventions

• ICT Test Bed project
• 2002-2006
• 27m (50m) investment in first two years in 31
  schools and colleges
• to enable transformational change in these
  schools and colleges
• emphasis on a holistic approach to technology
  implementation (training, technical support, home
  links).