When it comes to education, all good professional development must be rooted in research. If there are no numbers, teachers will often dismiss new ideas as trends (rightly so). Throughout this blog, I often reference research to support my suggestions. Below, you’ll find links to various studies regarding educational technology, organized by topic.
General Technology Integration
- The Technology Factor (2010) is one of the largest studies done on technology in education. It identified and prioritized nine keys to success when integrating technology in education.
- Learning with Technology: The Impact of Laptop Use on Student Achievement (2005) demonstrated that middle school students with access to laptops had significantly higher achievement in English language arts, math, reading, and overall grade point averages after a year, compared to a similar group of students without access to laptops.
- Focus on Technology Integration in America’s Schools (2009) found that, in high-needs schools, technology integration increased math and reading achievement scores, as well as graduation rates.
Blogging
- The Effect of Book Blogging on the Motivation of Third-Grade Students (2008) found that third-graders who blogged about the books they were reading had a marked improvement in motivation.
- Pew Research Center: Writing, Technology, and Teens (2008) reported that “teens are motivated to write by relevant topics, high expectations, an interested audience and opportunities to write creatively.”
- The Effect of Weblog Integrated Writing Instruction on Primary School Students Writing Performance (2009) found that blogging increased the quality of college students’ writing. According to the research, students who blogged and those who didn’t all showed increases on a writing test, but the bloggers’ increases were significantly greater — about 16 percent. Specifically, students who blogged scored better in the content and organization traits.
- New Tools for Teaching Writing (2010) outlines research that found blogging helps students acquire a second language.
- Young People’s Writing: Attitudes, Behaviour, and the Role of Technology (2010) showed that students who blog are more confident about their writing abilities. In addition, they’re more likely to write in various genres – short stories, creative non-fiction, poetry, etc.
Cell Phones in Education
- In a series of studies from Coventry University (2006-2011), researchers found that texting actually improved primary students’ literacy development. In one study, students who used ‘textisms’ (i.e. ‘c u l8tr’) performed better on spelling tests, possibly because textisms require higher phonological awareness.
- Speak Up (2010) surveyed hundreds of thousands of students, parents, teachers, and administrators about educational technology, and found some major disconnects. Among other things, the survey found that most parents are supportive of students using mobile devices in school, with even more parents willing to buy the devices for their kids. However, 65 percent of administrators oppose allowing students to use their own devices in classrooms.
- Pew Research Center: Social Media and Mobile Internet Use among Teens and Young Adults (2010) found that three-quarters of teens have cell phones, many of which are used for Internet access.
Social Networking
- Pew Research Center: Social Media and Mobile Internet Use among Teens and Young Adults (2010) found that 73% of wired American teens use social networking sites.
Video Gaming
- The Effects of Modern Math Computer Games on Mathematics Achievement and Class Motivation (2009) showed that educational math video games significantly increased high school students’ achievement.
- Brain Plasticity and Video Games (2002-2010) includes a series of studies from the University of Rochester. Among other things, researchers have found that video gaming can close the gender gap in spatial reasoning skills and can even improve vision. In addition to the above direct link to the studies, the research is outlined in this National Public Radio report.