May 2004 — Exclusive Series: SBR
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Making the Case: Research Efforts on Educational Technology
- Question: What is educational technology?
Recommendation 1: Examine technology applications designed to support teaching and learning.
Recommendation 2: Use a public submission process to identify technology applications to study. - Question: What is "effective"?
Recommendation 3: Use experimental designs to measure effects.
Recommendation 4: Study the effects of technology applications for schools or teachers who don't currently use the applications but are interested in using them.
Recommendation 5: Design the study to detect "moderate" to "large" effects of technology applications. - Question: What kinds of students?
Recommendation 6: Study the effects of technology applications for K-12 students.
Recommendation 7: Study the effects of technology applications for schools that are eligible to receive Title I funds. - Question: What is academic achievement?
Recommendation 8: Study the effects of technology applications on student academic achievement as measured by commonly used standardized tests, and collect data on other academic indicators to provide a fuller picture.
Recommendation 9: Study the effects of technology applications that support instruction in reading and mathematics.
In September 2003, Mathematica Policy and their subcontractor, SRI International, were awarded a three-year, $10 million contract to conduct the actual study. This team brings together expertise with randomized assignment research and the topic of educational technology. The team will immediately begin the work of identifying the technology interventions and schools that will participate in the study.
National Educational Technology Trends Study (NETTS). NETTS will examine program implementation in schools receiving federal Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grants authorized under NCLB, with a particular emphasis on understanding how and to what extent the EETT program helps further the goals of NCLB. In addition, the study will collect data relevant to EETT program performance as detailed in the Education Department's Strategic Plan.
Evaluation questions:
1. How do states differ in their plans and strategies for using EETT funds?
2. What types of entities are receiving EETT funds (a) under the competitive program and (b) under the formula grant program?
3. How are subgrantees using EETT funds?
4. Are school uses of EETT funds supporting program goals?
a. Is the EETT program helping to close the gap between high- and low-poverty schools regarding students' and teachers' actual access to technology?
b. Is the EETT program supporting teachers, principals and school administrators in effective integration of technology into curricula and instruction?
NETTS will also investigate how access, support for, and use of educational technology vary by school poverty rates and other key factors, as well as whether EETT funds have improved integration of technology in districts of high poverty. The study is sponsored by the Education Department's Policy and Program Studies Service, and is being conducted by SRI's Center for Technology in Learning, American Institutes for Research and the Urban Institute.
