Effectiveness of Computer-Based Education in Colleges

Abstract

A meta-analysis of findings from 101 controlled evaluations showed that computer-based education (CBE) has usually had positive effects on college students. CBE raised student examination scores by 0.26 standard deviations in the average study—a small but significant effect. CBE effects were somewhat lower in unpublished studies than they were in published ones, and they were also somewhat lower in the hard and nonlife sciences than in the social sciences and education. In addition, CBE produced small but positive changes in student attitudes toward instruction and computers. Finally, CBE also reduced substantially the amount of time needed for instruction.