Technology and Its Significant Impact on Student Achievement

Placing wide-area computer networks and other forms of advanced technology in schools has been taking place for a number of years now. This implementation process has been expensive for school districts and, at times, a source of controversy and frustration for school boards, upper- and mid-level administrators and teachers. This is mainly due to the fact that technology has not yielded the intended curricular and student learner achievements thought possible. On the other hand, a growing body of evidence is now substantiating the notion that, when implemented appropriately, technology does have a relevant impact on student achievement.

Several positive beneficial outcomes that accrue when a symbiotic relationship is established among technology, curriculum, and the learning environment have been cited.

According to the available research reports and articles on the effectiveness of technology in the student-learning environment, a variety of conclusions and opinions are offered. On one end of the continuum, supporters allude to research studies showing the positive impact of technology on student learning. On the other end of the spectrum, critics present arguments that there is little, if any, evidence from the research to support the claim that the use of technology in classrooms is worthy of the resources it requires. In this paper, I state 10 areas technology has impacted on student needs.