Strategy 8

We will develop and implement plans to effectively use technology to improve student achievement.

Research cluster: Outside Resources:

Research question: What does current research tell us about the use of technology to improve student achievement?

Research answers:

Students learn more, increasing test scores (1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11)

Students learn faster (1, 2, 6, 8, 11)

Students are more motivated  (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

Computer based instruction is effective & efficient in some domains (1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11)

Online communications improve writing (2, 7, 9)

Internet access and uses improves learning (2, 4, 9, 11)

Improves attendance and decreases dropout rates (2, 3, 4, 7, 11)

Improvement in achievement in all subjects, pre-k to 12, regular & special-needs students (2, 8, 9, 10, 11)

Constructivist teaching using computers improves achievement (2, 3, 6, 12, 13)

Significant increase in standardized test scores across all grades, schools, and subjects (2, 9, 11)

Effective use requires: 1. Professional development;  2. Technical Support; 3. Access; 4. Functionality (4, 5, 6, 7, 11)

I think these are the best overall reports regrading our research question (in order):
(11) RAND: Fostering the Use of Educational Technology
(9) Apples effectiveness reports
(6) Using technology to support educational reform
(2) Technologies impact
 
 

1.    Math tutoring - acceleration
            From CMU, 1996 - Computer tutoring in high school algebra - suggest 1 letter grade improvement
            in test scores - master subject in 1/3 rd the time!
2.    Technologies impact
            Summarizes other research
            Students learn more in less time using CBI
            Students in technology-rich environments experienced positive effects on achievement
                      in all major subject areas, preschool through higher education, for both regular and
                      special-needs students
            Use of internet improves student learning (middle school study)
3.     Tech ed research
             Frank Paul Elementary School
             Hawthorne elementary school
             Open School
             Northbrook Middle School
             Ralph Bunche Computer Mini-School
             Saturn School of Tomorrow
             ShareNet
             Skyline Elementary
             West High School (ACOT)
4.     Teachers and technology, making the connection
            some great stuff here, not all apropos this question, a PDF file report
5.    Realizing the promise of technology
            Effective use of technology requires: 1. Professional development;  2. Technical Support;
                                                                        3. Access; 4. Functionality
6.     Using technology to support educational reform
             Lots of good stuff in this report
7.    Christopher Columbus middle school success story
             wired school to home, computers in every home, at school. phenomenal results
8.    Technology improves student performance
             8 one line summaries and references that show technology improves student performance
9.     Apples effectiveness reports
             Excellent stuff here!
10.  SPA report on Tech Ed
              Good summary, some interesting tidbits.
11.  RAND: Fostering the Use of Educational Technology
              Excellent stuff here, report from 1995
              Cost for effective, ubiquitous use of technology estimated at about $300/student/year
12.  Computer Criticism vs. Technocentric Thinking
              Excellent paper by Papert, re. constructionism, logo etc. circa 1990
13.  A critique of technocentrism in thinking about the school of the future
             Another excellent paper by Papert, re. constructionism, logo etc. circa 1990
 
 
 

These sites below, while interesting, were not really apropos our question.

1.    Teacher training
               There was no cause/effect studied re. student achievement, however, teachers gained a comfort level.
               Predominately dealt with internet tools (eudora, netscape, telnet ...)
2.    Canada - educational resources
               National Center for Technology planning
                      interesting link, but not really apropos our immediate task
               Educational research
                      Nothing
               The Future of Information Technology in Education
                      Nada
               Pedagogy
                      Best Practices in Educational Technology
                           descriptions of uses of technology, but no real outcome information
4.    Technology & math ed
               Not much, some conflicting info.  I suspect that results depend on software used.
5.    Yahoos Education starting points
               Didn't really find anything useful here.
6.    Educational library
7.    US Department of Education
               Technology Initiatives
8.    Dept. of Ed studies on Tech and education
9.    White house propaganda re. Ed Tech
                What's working in use of Technology in Education
                    Interesting paper
11.  Links found at the best school web site I've ever seen!
              Nothing applicable, but a great insight into what a district web presence should be.
12.  Survey report on multi-national tech ed
              Not much ere
13.  Office of education research
              Can't find anything useful
14.  The Epistemology and Learning Group
              E&L Papers
16.  Apple Classroom of Tomorrow (ACOT)
17.  National center for Educational Statistics
              Couldn't find anything here.
18.  reinventing schools, the technology is now
              interesting but not apropos