TY  - JOUR
AU  - Barrow,Lisa
AU  - Markman,Lisa
AU  - Rouse,Cecilia E.
TI  - Technology's Edge: The Educational Benefits of Computer-Aided Instruction
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 14240
PY  - 2008
Y2  - August 2008
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14240
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14240.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Lisa Barrow
Economic Research
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
230 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60657
Tel: 312-322-5073
Fax: 312-322-2357
E-Mail: lbarrow@frbchi.org

Lisa Markman
A-17-H-1 Firestone Library
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544-2098
E-Mail: lmarkman@princeton.edu

Cecilia E. Rouse
Industrial Relations Section
Firestone Library
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544-1013
Tel: 609/258-6478
Fax: 609/258-0549
E-Mail: rouse@princeton.edu
AB  - We present results from a randomized study of a well-defined use of computers in schools: a popular instructional computer program for pre-algebra and algebra.  We assess the program using a test designed to target pre-algebra and algebra skills.  Students randomly assigned to computer-aided instruction score 0.17 of a standard deviation higher on pre-algebra/algebra tests than students randomly assigned to traditional instruction. We hypothesize that the effectiveness arises from increased individualized instruction as the effects appear larger for students in larger classes and in classes with high student absentee rates.
ER  -