Do Computers Make Kids Smarter?

Home | Corrections | About | Warren Buckleitner | Mediatech | LittleClickers| Submit Products | Dust or Magic | Subscribe

Do Computers Make Kids Smarter?

Sure, But It’s Just Not That Simple

It's been a matter of debate now for years. Do computers make children smarter? Do children in a classroom or home with access to technology have an academic, or perhaps even a social advantage, over children who don't? This is a tricky question to answer... the number of variables that can impact a child's learning and the ways in which computers are used vary tremendously.

In a recent review of the available research, Stanfords's Larry Cuban and Heather Kirkpatrick conclude that the relationship between computer use and children's academic performance is questionable at best. While many of the studies they reviewed found positive outcomes for children's achievement test scores, the value of this research was marred by small sample sizes and no control for teacher and classroom effects. Control groups-- comparable classrooms without technology-- were often lacking as well. (See "Computers Make Kids Smarter... Right?" TECHNOS, Vol. 7, No. 2, Summer 1998, page 26). Here are some other issues much of the research fails to address:

• What does "smarter" mean? You might define "smartness" as the ability to solve problems. Or is it the ability to type faster, or find out an answer to a question, like How much does a humpback whale weigh? Also, measuring degrees of "smartness" can be problematic. Standardized test scores or skill-specific tests are often used, but these generally measure lower level rather than more complex thinking skills.

• What type of "computer"? This may seem like a silly question, but not if you consider that the majority of the research considered by Cuban was done with ancient Apple II and MS-DOS computers (when the hard disk, CD-ROM and the Internet were years from development). What a child took away from the computer experience 10 or even five years ago is vastly different from that of today. The impact of a computer also depends, of course, on the nature of the software used, on whether it is hooked up to the Internet, its ability to recognize speech, the use of a printer and so on. And don't forget about other forms of microcomputers, such as those embedded in stuffed animals by Microsoft, or toys by Tiger Electronics.

• Where is the computer? It is also important to consider that research conducted in a crowded classroom may not apply to a home or library setting where you'll find an entirely different learning dynamic.

IN SPITE OF INADEQUATE RESEARCH SUPPORT...
...most of the school districts we know are refurbishing their older computer labs with new Macintosh G3 machines, or Windows based PCs. One source estimates that US schools will spend $5 billion on new technology this year! On the home front, too, exciting changes are taking place, with falling computer prices (as low as $500 for a complete system), making it feasible for more families to own a computer.

THE BOTTOM LINE
The answer to whether or not computers will give your child or your students a learning edge lies not with the hardware involved, but with the software you choose. For instance, if kids need to improve their typing skills, there's no doubt that Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon & Pumbaa offers a fun way to practice keyboarding. Likewise, even the most technophobic teacher can see in an instant the value of The Graph Club in making number-crunching jump to life. And for the school report on the Mir space station, the child equipped with resources like Microsoft Encarta (with links to NASA sites) will undoubtedly be more motivated to finish the report than the child stuck with only books. If you ask us (former teachers and current parents) about whether or not computers can give children an academic boost, our answer is yes, as long as the software is carefully selected to match the needs, interests and abilities of the child.

"If you ask us (former teachers and current parents) about whether or not computers can give children an academic boost, our answer is yes, as long as the software is carefully selected to match the needs, interests and abilities of the child.."

Home | Children's Software Finder (TM)
Subscribe | Feature Articles | About
Contact

Disclaimer and Copyright © 1997-2000 Active Learning Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.



Do Computers Make Kids Smarter?
Sure, But It’s Just Not That Simple It's been a matter of debate now for years. Do computers make children smarter? Do children in a classroom or home with access to technology have an academic, or perhaps even a social advantage, over children who don't? This is a tricky question to answer... the number of variables that can impact a child's learning and the ways in which computers are used vary tremendously. In a recent review of the available research, Stanfords's Larry Cuban and Heather Kirkpatrick conclude that the relationship between computer use and children's academic performance is questionable at best. While many of the studies they reviewed found positive outcomes for children's achievement test scores, the value of this research was marred by small sample sizes and no control for teacher and classroom effects. Control groups-- comparable classrooms without technology-- were often lacking as well. (See "Computers Make Kids Smarter... Right?" TECHNOS, Vol. 7, No. 2, Summer 1998, page 26). Here are some other issues much of the research fails to address: • What does "smarter" mean? You might define "smartness" as the ability to solve problems. Or is it the ability to type faster, or find out an answer to a question, like How much does a humpback whale weigh? Also, measuring degrees of "smartness" can be problematic. Standardized test scores or skill-specific tests are often used, but these generally measure lower level rather than more complex thinking skills. • What type of "computer"? This may seem like a silly question, but not if you consider that the majority of the research considered by Cuban was done with ancient Apple II and MS-DOS computers (when the hard disk, CD-ROM and the Internet were years from development). What a child took away from the computer experience 10 or even five years ago is vastly different from that of today. The impact of a computer also depends, of course, on the nature of the software used, on whether it is hooked up to the Internet, its ability to recognize speech, the use of a printer and so on. And don't forget about other forms of microcomputers, such as those embedded in stuffed animals by Microsoft, or toys by Tiger Electronics. • Where is the computer? It is also important to consider that research conducted in a crowded classroom may not apply to a home or library setting where you'll find an entirely different learning dynamic. IN SPITE OF INADEQUATE RESEARCH SUPPORT... ...most of the school districts we know are refurbishing their older computer labs with new Macintosh G3 machines, or Windows based PCs. One source estimates that US schools will spend $5 billion on new technology this year! On the home front, too, exciting changes are taking place, with falling computer prices (as low as $500 for a complete system), making it feasible for more families to own a computer. THE BOTTOM LINE The answer to whether or not computers will give your child or your students a learning edge lies not with the hardware involved, but with the software you choose. For instance, if kids need to improve their typing skills, there's no doubt that Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon & Pumbaa offers a fun way to practice keyboarding. Likewise, even the most technophobic teacher can see in an instant the value of The Graph Club in making number-crunching jump to life. And for the school report on the Mir space station, the child equipped with resources like Microsoft Encarta (with links to NASA sites) will undoubtedly be more motivated to finish the report than the child stuck with only books. If you ask us (former teachers and current parents) about whether or not computers can give children an academic boost, our answer is yes, as long as the software is carefully selected to match the needs, interests and abilities of the child.		"If you ask us (former teachers and current parents) about whether or not computers can give children an academic boost, our answer is yes, as long as the software is carefully selected to match the needs, interests and abilities of the child.."