Warning: ICT in the classroom may harm pupil performance

Jan van de Craats pointed me to this very interesting study of the OECD on correlation between ICT in the classroom on one hand and performance of the pupils on the other hand. Here's a quote:

But while PISA results suggest that limited use of computers at school may be better than not using computers at all, using them more intensively than the current OECD average tends to be associated with significantly poorer student performance. ICT is linked to better student performance only in certain contexts, such as when computer software and Internet connections help to increase study time and practice.

In other words, a little bit of ICT in the classroom is good, but a lot is bad. This summary says the same, in slightly different words:

 • Resources invested in ICT for education are not linked to improved student achievement in reading, mathematics or science.
 • In countries where it is less common for students to use the Internet at school for schoolwork, students’ performance in reading improved more rapidly than in countries where such use is more common, on average.
 • Overall, the relationship between computer use at school and performance is graphically illustrated by a hill shape, which suggests that limited use of computers at school may be better than no use at all, but levels of computer use above the current OECD average are associated with significantly poorer results (p. 146).

Here's the hill shape that the quote mentions. Note that it's not just a little effect - too much ICT can completely wipe out any benefit you might get from a little ICT, and more:



But what is really interesting are the responses from various people in the British media. For instance,

Mark Chambers, chief executive of Naace, the body supporting the use of computers in schools, said it was unrealistic to think schools should reduce their use of technology. "It is endemic in society now, at home young people will be using technology, there's no way that we should take technology out of schools, schools should be leading not following." 

or

Head teacher John Morris also strongly rejected the idea. "When people say too much money is being spent on technology in school, my response is 'Nonsense'. What we need is more money, more investment." (both from the BBC)

In other words: we don't care if what we do is harming the pupils - we're going right ahead anyway!