Study: Computers Do Not Improve Student Results

Diji1 on 16/09/2015 - 20:47

A large scale study has found no connection between IT and learning outcomes. Further, as you might expect, use of IT was correlated with lower grades in some population segments (ie. students with lower socio-economic status). This is the second large scale study to find such results.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34174796

Good thing da gummints, parents, universities and schools aren't doing things like buying every child a laptop and expecting (by some unexplained miracle hinted at by overconfident nerds) higher grades right. Oh right, that's already happened.

Education & Work

Comments

  • subywagon on 16/09/2015 - 21:03

    One of the best things I ever did was buy my 3 year old a laptop. They are 7 now, and has an adults reading level and can easily use Google, Youtube and find their way around Windows.

  • Settero on 16/09/2015 - 21:18
    +1

    this surprised you ?
    technology has no way to impact on how it is used.
    give a scholar a computer and they will make very good academic use of it. give every man a computer and they will look at cat videos.

  • spychiatrist on 16/09/2015 - 21:40
    +1

    It's how an item is used. No different to giving a kid a book and she uses the book on her head to practice her catwalk.

  • SydStrand on 16/09/2015 - 23:33
    +1

    No one said computer access would automatically transform Ralph Wiggums into Lisa Simpsons. Giving kids computers early, is to prepare them for a future that is increasingly connected, not less. There are fields where computer use is unavoidable, and tasks which are difficult, if not impossible, to do without.

  • indium on 16/09/2015 - 23:45

    I think laptops are helping university students. Note taking on a laptop is much more effective than writing (except for things which require maths). They are clearing computers out of libraries to make room for more communal desk spaces as many students like to use their own laptops these days. With laptops group work is a lot easier, can all be working on a single document on google drive.

    Although my experience of computers in high school and primary school was games, games and technology not working. I think they would be more of a distraction in a class room rather than an aid.

    • ausmechkeyboards on 16/09/2015 - 23:58

      Note taking on a laptop is much more effective than writing

      In most cases they completely removed the need for note taking. With lecture slides being uploaded and the lectures themselves being recorded, you can now focus completely on the lecture rather than trying to listen and parse for key points in real time.

      Not to mention how access to Wikipedia has changed education on a fundamental level (i.e open source information) as well as how easy the research process has become for thesis/paper writing and traversing. Rather than going to a library and trying to dig up papers relevant for your topic, you can now search a number of different journals in the blink of an eye.

      The idea that it hasn't impacted students is nuts — I'd like to see the people who performed the "large scale study" try to repeat their literature review without a computer.

    • obsolet on 17/09/2015 - 09:44

      Actually, a number of studies proved that to be wrong.

      Check out this recent source for a layman's explanation:

      https://hbr.org/2015/07/what-you-miss-when-you-take-notes-on…

      or the actual source if interested in the real study:

      http://pss.sagepub.com/content/25/6/1159

      • indium on 17/09/2015 - 15:07

        Thanks, that's an interesting article. I was basing my opinion off of my personal experiences pre and post laptop. I've become efficient in using the snipping tool to make a hybrid document of notes and slides which i upload to google drive.

        Subjects involving calculations i purely use a work book though.

        I do some subjects which involve field work and my note taking for this is pretty poor but this may be a result of my reliance on a laptop.

        I'll try hand written note taking for one or two of my subjects next semester and see how i go.

  • Cluster on 17/09/2015 - 00:09
    +2

    I have seen the meme "install more computers, the kids will be smarter" pushed for over 25 years now. The high school I attended had the highest computer to student ratio of any public school in the state. The primary school before that had a passionate advocate for IT as the principal.

    Yet, it didn't appear to do much good.

    Kids still hated mathematics, English teachers complained the basics of grammar were being completely neglected while Shakespeare was shoved down everyone's throat, and science class still had experiments as seeing things go boom in real life is much more fun than on a screen. The school didn't produce a bunch of geniuses.

    What was the solution? More computers. That'll fix it! Now every child has a computer and… kids still despise mathematics and now rely too heavily on spell checkers.

    Computers do one thing really well: training kids for higher paying jobs that require computing skills. I am all for teaching advanced topics early in primary school such as programming, and more advanced stuff like robotics in high school. But beware of anyone who claims more computers will make kids smarter. They're either selling the stuff, or pushing to get more funding for themselves.

    In the above examples I specifically left out using computers to speed up doing homework. Obviously it's much faster to do a Google search for information than go to the library and start looking through books (which may be lent out already). Most five year olds can use Google and by the time they're ten they probably use it and Wikipedia far better than their parents ever could. But that still doesn't make the child smarter or necessarily improve their grade.

  • Davo1111 on 17/09/2015 - 00:33
    +1

    my general knowledge is a lot better because of computers. Every generation complains the next gen's maths and english are not up to standard. I'm sure parents were saying the same thing 40 years ago too.

  • obsolet on 17/09/2015 - 09:56
    +1

    As most people already remarked, it's the Khan (Academy) vs Cat (lolz) argument: the tech is just a tool, what really matters is how it is being used.

    I have friends with kids who grew up on laptops, with parents nudging them to Code Academy, Khan Academy, Mathletics, Language Perfect, etc. The kids are very proficient in foreign languages and coding/programming, and they're under 14. Mind you, their handwriting is horrible - or maybe they just hate writing those old fashioned cards:)

    Equally, I hear from other folk whose kids are spending hours on all kind of games and watching youtube.

    I'm sure it's the same in schools: it actually takes effort to incorporate and make good use of technology in the classroom. Unfortunately, it seems that overall, pedagogy may have not cracked that nut yet..

  • inherentchoice on 17/09/2015 - 12:10

    Computers may not improve results but they do make studying and writing assignments easier and faster.

    Don't think anyone really wants to go back to using slate chalkboards or outdated encyclopedia sets that weigh 50kg.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7aJ3xaDMuM

  • Diji1 on 20/11/2015 - 00:37
    Merged from Study Finds Tablets and Smartphones Lower Children's IT Skills

    After a couple of unpopular studies finding that introducing IT does er, nothing, to educational outcomes - which makes the prevailing nerd orthodoxy very mad because the magical things didn't happen etc. there's this new study that has found children's tech skills diminish if they use tablets and mobiles.

    Delicious, delicious irony :D

    Considering the ridiculous parents (I'm sure I'll go stupid lala if I ever have kids :P ) are buying their little darlings tablets and mobiles so they aren't left behind. Quite what they're leaving behind without the magical things is unknown … they think they'll become prepared for the future if they let them use operating systems they themselves have no problem using?

    Sausage; http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/11/19/kids_tech_skills_go_…

    • scrimshaw on 20/11/2015 - 01:35

      The same argument could also be made when scientific calculators were introduced into the school curriculum. Back then people used the humble abacus and the slide ruler and became really good at mental arithmetic.

      Nowadays most kids will whip out a calculator to calculate simple percentages, while most older adults I know of can do the mental math. That's because they had no calculators in school back then. So you could say that with the advancement of 'simple-to-use' technology people are finding themselves rarely performing intellectually stimulating tasks and are ever more reliant on computers and other tools to do the work.

      Unless of course, you actively encouraged your kid to learn mental arithmetics and stop using the damn calculator every damn time, there's no way they can improve their math skills.

      The point I'm trying to make though is that ICT skills is something that is learnt through experience with using a traditional computer. And you'd have to actually teach it to them for them to pick up ICT skills. iPads and iPhones aren't in the strictest sense, computers, so naturally a kid whose only computing experience is in using an iFruit will never learn to do things like install an operating system, learn how to code, set up a router or a home network or even unscrew a hard drive from a laptop.

      The news article seems rather alarmist — yes, kids aren't really learning about computers because unlike generation X's they are very likely to have an iPad as their primary tool for learning and might not have actually used a PC to do most of their stuff. But it doesn't mean we're going to have a nation of computer illiterate people anytime soon, it just means a lot of kids are getting a late start to picking up adequate computing skills. Most of us after all, need to know how to use a PC in the later years of high school or at university.

  • Diji1 on 13/05/2016 - 10:27
    Merged from Study Finds That Computers Lower Academic Performance

    Billions of dollars are spent by the IT industry to manipulate people into having the belief that the mere existence of computer technology raises academic performance (somehow which isn't explained usually - it just does that magically OK!).

    The marketing campaigns have been largely successful with the mainstream view being that children and adults who do not have access to computer technology at all times are now "missing out" on something or that in the case of children they will be "left behind".

    There have been several studies that came to the conclusion that merely "adding computers" actually had no effect at all on educational outcomes which obviously should give one pause what with the billions of dollars being spent in this area but hey, at least it's not harming little Timmy right?

    Well that was until this latest study which showed computers caused lower academic performance: ruh roh, all those billions and the kids do worse now?

    https://seii.mit.edu/research/study/the-impact-of-computer-u…

    Are you going to believe the marketing or are you going to believe the study that's at least attempting to be rational.

    • lupiter on 13/05/2016 - 10:41
      +1

      They will be "left behind" in computer literacy if they don't learn how to use computers. Given how many jobs require you to use a computer, it's an important skill set, like being able to write a letter or do basic accounts. (How they're supposed to learn computer literacy when lots of their teachers aren't great at it is another question.)

      This study isn't peer-reviewed (yet), is from a University not a school context, and only considered one Economics subject. The main use-case for devices was for an electronic textbook (US college and school subjects are very dependent on textbooks). I don't think you can draw such broad conclusions as "computers cause lower academic performance" from this study.

      Note that I do think the "just add computers!!" hype has gone too far, like video or slides or coloured felt shapes or any other technology it has a place in the classroom but it doesn't need to be ubiquitous.

    • spackbace on 13/05/2016 - 10:51

      Got a question?

    • retiredfeline on 13/05/2016 - 11:50
      +1

      What no gum mint in the post?

    • airzone on 13/05/2016 - 12:03
      +2

      Hi, evil IT industry guy here.
      I spend millions of dollars on IT so that we can use advanced cad and simulation tools to design our aircraft so that the first few are less likely to break apart and fall out of the sky due to incorrect engineering calculations.
      I also spend on upgrading milling and measuring machine controllers so that in conjunction with a precise machine, operators can machine and check parts to 10th's of micron accuracy. Software controlled cutters and placement projectors allow our workers to be precise when making parts. All minimising mistakes and waste, helping to keep manufacturing competitive when compared to low cost countries.
      I also have systems where chemical safety data is readily accessible on computers so that factory workers can find it quickly if there is a need and people are potentially at risk.

      So while taking a laptop to school might not help with your english score, the only workers in this growing and competitive manufacturing business who don't need computer literacy skills are the cleaners. I feel sorry for the guys without those skills as they invariably don't make it past probation.

  • spackbace on 13/05/2016 - 13:01

    There comes a certain point where ya need to stop re-hashing the same post…

    • airzone on 13/05/2016 - 13:03

      I noticed that… Seeing this, I'm surprised he's computer literate enough to post on ozb - he seems to be quite scared of computers!

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