A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Teaching and Learning With Technology on Student Outcomes

Previous | Contents | Next

Conclusions

The results of this meta-analysis are generally encouraging. The result from the present study indicate that the overall effects are nearly twice as large as other recent meta-analyses conducted in the area of instructional technology. This finding suggests that the overall effects of technology on student outcomes may be greater than previously thought.

Another aspect of the present study that is encouraging and that may stimulate future research lies in the comprehensive list of variables included in the meta-analysis (see Appendix). This conceptualization suggests that teaching and technology processes either may directly impact student outcomes or may interact with technology features and indirectly impact outcomes. We also believe that the coding procedures effectively captured the essential features of the original research we synthesized. The final list of variables and specific codes included in the Appendix reflects a collaborative process among researchers and practitioners that evolved over time. The high interrater agreement we obtained in coding the studies supports our claims of the viability of the process.

There are, of course, many unanswered questions about the effects of teaching and learning with technology on students' outcomes. We maintain, however, that research can play a critical role in answering some of these questions. Policymakers, however, will need to invest more money on research in technology. The findings from this research synthesis suggest that more and better research needs to be funded and conducted by researchers in this area. Although recognition of the uniqueness of each school and classroom situation will always need to be considered, the accumulation of research evidence over time and across studies may provide consistent findings that enhance our understandings of the role of teaching and learning with technology.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Hersh Waxman, College of Education, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5872. Electronic mail may be sent via Internet to HWaxman@UH.Edu.

Previous | Contents | Next