Federal Study Finds No Edge for Students Using Technology-Based Reading and Math Products

A $10-million study of 15 educational software products has found no discernible difference in achievement between students who used the programs and those who didn't.

The findings are contained in a report to be presented to Congress on the first year of the two-year, federally funded study. The research adhered to the U.S. Department of Education's standards for scientific rigor.

Software products were selected in four math and reading categories, including 6th grade pre-algebra and 9th grade algebra. The study team recruited school districts with large proportions of students in poverty, and compared classes overseen by teachers who used the technology with classes of teachers who taught using different methods. Trained classroom observers monitored how well the software was implemented. Researchers measured student achievement by standardized test scores.

The study does not disclose individual performance results for each product, but only aggregated findings.

SOURCE: Education Week, 04 April 2007 (Web only) WEBSITE: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/04/04/32software_web.h26.html