Evaluating Technology in Education

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to evaluating the impact of technology on student learning and the principles guiding the adoption of educational technology.

Causally informative evidence

Evidence that demonstrates direct cause-and-effect relationships, important for assessing the impact of technology on learning.

RCT

Randomized Controlled Trial; a study design that randomly assigns participants to treatment or control groups, considered a gold standard in research.

Multitasking

The ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, which has been shown to impair performance in various cognitive tasks.

WM task performance

Working Memory task performance; consistency in this measurement indicates stability in cognitive processing despite technological changes.

One Laptop Per Child

An initiative aimed at providing every child with a laptop to enhance education, raising questions about the actual impact on learning.

Distributional effects

The impact of technology on students, particularly focusing on equity and accessibility for children with varying backgrounds.

Early adopter

An individual who embraces new technology before it becomes widely popular, often to gain a competitive advantage or learn from its implementation.

Audiobook

A recorded reading of a book, which can be an alternative to traditional reading but raises questions about its effects on comprehension and motivation.

Background knowledge

The prior knowledge that students have, which is essential for integrating new information effectively in the learning process.

Tradeoffs

The considerations and compromises involved when making decisions about educational practices, evaluating benefits against potential drawbacks.