Skip to Content
Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Information and Computer Technology

Overview

  • Influence: Information and Computer Technology
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: ICT
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Once referred to as computer-assisted instruction, and more recently notion of Information and Computer Technology (ICT) involving the use of technology, such as computers, iPads, iPhones.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 63
  • Number of studies: 3,893
  • Number of students: 278,495
  • Number of effects: 6,331
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.54
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Dissertation Hartley Meta-analysis of the effects of individually paced instruction in mathematics 1977 ICT on achievement 33 NA 89 0.41
Educational Communication and Technology Journal Clark Evidence for confounding in computer-based instruction studies: Analyzing the meta-analysis 1985 ICT in schools 42 NA 42 0.09
Education Technology Research Schwalb, Schwalb, & Azuma Educational Technology in the Japanese Schools: A Meta-Analysis of Findings 1986 Technology in Japan 104 NA 33 0.49
Contemporary Educational Psychology Gillingham & Guthrie Relationships between CBI and research on teaching 1987 Computer based instruction 13 NA 13 1.05
Contemporary Educational Psychology Kulik & Kulik Review of Recent Research Literature on Computer-Based Instruction 1987 ICT on achievement 199 NA 199 0.31
Computers in the Schools Roblyer, Castine & King The Effectiveness of Computer Applications for Instruction: A review and synthesis of recent research findings 1988 ICT on achievement 85 NA 85 0.26
Dissertation Cunningham The contribution of computer-generated instructional graphics on measured achievement gains: A meta-analysis 1988 Computer generated graphics on achievement 37 NA 37 0.33
Dissertation Lee The effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction and computer programming in elementary and secondary mathematics: A meta-analysis 1990 ICT in elementary and high 72 NA 243 0.38
Computers in Human Behavior Kulik & Kulik Effectiveness of computer-based instruction: an updated analysis 1991 ICT on achievement 248 240 248 0.30
Educational Administration Quarterly Ryan Meta-Analysis of Achievement Effects of Microcomputer Applications in Elementary Schools 1991 Microcomputer applications 40 NA 58 0.31
Dissertation Palmeter The effects of computer programming on children's higher-level cognitive processes: a review of the research on Logo 1991 ICT/Logo on higher cognitive processes 37 NA 144 0.48
Journal of Research on Computing in Education Liao Effects of computer-assisted instruction on cognitive outcomes: a meta-analysis 1992 ICT on achievement 31 NA 207 0.48
IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science Najafi, Rezaei, Boura, & Mottagi A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Information and Communications Technology and Academic Achievement in Iran. 2014 ICT on achievement 18 2,653 18 0.61
EdMedia+ Innovate Learning Liao & Chen Computer simulation and students' achievement in Taiwan: A meta-analysis. 2005 ICT on achievement 22 NA 22 0.52
Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Journal Lai A Network Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Information and Communication Technology on Students' Learning Achievement in Taiwan 2019 ICT in Taiwan 34 NA 34 1.71
Computers and Education Chauhan A meta-analysis of the impact of technology on learning effectiveness of elementary students 2017 ICT with elementary students 122 32,096 212 0.55
International Journal of STEM Education Sokolowski, Li, & Willson The effects of using exploratory computerized environments in grades 1 to 8 mathematics: a meta-analysis of research 2015 Computerized environments 24 4,256 24 0.60
Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education Dikmen & Tuncer A meta-analysis of effects of computer assisted education on students' academic achievement: a-10-year review of achievement effect. 2018 ICT in Turkey 43 2,434 43 1.03
Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences Shakibaei, Khalkhali, & Andesh Meta-analysis of Studies on Educational Technology in Iran 2011 ICT in Iran 12 NA 12 0.35
Journal of Research on Computing in Education Khalili & Shashaani The effectiveness of computer applications: A meta-analysis 1994 ICT on achievement 36 NA 151 0.38
Technology assessment in Education and Training Kulik Meta-analytic studies of findings on computer-based instruction. 1994 All education 97 NA 32 0.35
Dissertation Christmann A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Computer-Assisted Instruction on the Academic Achievement of Students in Grades 6-12: A Comparison of Urban, Suburban, and Rural Educational Settings 1995 ICT on achievement 35 3,476 35 0.23
Journal of Educational Computing Research Fletcher-Flynn & Gravatt The efficacy of computer assisted instruction (CAI): a meta-analysis 1995 ICT in schools 120 NA 120 0.17
Dissertation Fazal Effectiveness and costs of computer-based instruction in higher education and defense training: A meta-analysis 1996 ICT on achievement 48 NA 48 0.35
Book Woolf & Regian Knowledge-based Training Systems and the Engineering of Instruction 2000 Technology in schools 233 NA 233 0.39
Book Woolf & Regian Knowledge-based training systems and the engineering of instruction. 2000 ICT on achievement 177 NA 177 0.33
Report Akiba Computer-Assisted Instruction 2002 ICT on achievement 21 NA 21 0.37
Report Roberts The role of computers in school restructuring: A meta-analysis. 2002 Technology vs. traditional teaching on achievement 31 6,388 165 0.69
Report Abrami, Bernard, Wade, Schmid, Borokhovski, Tamim, Surkes, Lowerison, Zhang, Nicolaidou, Newman, Wozney, & Peretiatkowicz A review of e-learning in Canada: A rough sketch of the evidence, gaps and promising directions. 2006 Constructivist technology intensive learning 250 NA 250 0.62
Report Waxman, Connell, & Gray A quantitative synthesis of recent research on the effects of teaching and learning with technology on student outcomes 2002 ICT in elementary & high school classrooms 20 4,400 138 0.39
Dissertation Chambers Designing and Evaluating a Computer Assisted Tutoring Programme for Young Students At-Risk for Reading Failure 2002 ICT in elementary & high school classrooms 57 64,766 125 0.51
Dissertation Chambers Efficacy of educational technology in elementary and secondary classrooms: A meta-analysis of the research literature from 1992–2002. 2002 ICT on achievement 25 NA 25 0.40
Learning Point Associates Waxman, Lin, Michko A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of teaching and learning with technology on student outcomes 2003 ICT in Taiwan 29 7,728 167 0.54
Computers and Education Liao Computer simulation and students' achievement in Taiwan: A meta-analysis 2005 ICT on achievement 52 4,981 134 0.55
Technology Literacy Applications in Learning Environments Chang & Lim The role of information technology in learning: A meta-analysis. 2005 ICT on achievement 58 NA 58 0.51
Dissertation Sandy-Hanson A meta-analysis o the impact of computer technology versus traditional instruction on students in kindergarten through twelfth grade in the United States: A comparison of academic achievement, higher-order thinking skills, motivation, physical outcomes and social skills 2006 e-learning in Canada 23 9,897 23 0.28
Journal of Educational Computing Research Rosen & Salomon The differential learning achievements of constructivist technology-intensive learning environments as compared with traditional ones: a meta-analysis 2007 ICT in Turkey 32 NA 32 0.46
Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice Camnalbur & Erdogan A Meta Analysis on the Effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Instruction: Turkey Sample 2008 ICT in Turkey 78 5,096 78 0.95
Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching Tekbiyik & Akdeniz A meta-analytical investigation of the influence of computer assisted instruction on achievement in science, 2010 ICT in Turkey 52 NA 65 1.12
Journal of Educational Computing Research Thomas, Alexander, Jackson, & Abrami The differential effects of interactive versus didactic pedagogy using computer-assisted instruction 2013 ICT in interactive vs didactic settings 40 NA 55 0.18
Journal of UGC-ASC Sudhirkumar & Pinalben Meta-Analysis of Effectiveness of Computer-Aided Instruction 2012 ICT on achievement in India 35 NA 35 0.75
Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education Han, Kim, & Heo A meta-analysis on the effectiveness of smart-learning 2014 Smart learning devices 104 NA 104 0.89
The Journal of Economic Education Johnson & Meder A meta-analysis of technology: Interventions in collegiate economics classes.  2021 Technology in economics 34 NA 34 0.03
Computer Assisted Language Learning Sharifi, Rostami AbuSaeedi, Jafarigohar, & Zandi Retrospect and prospect of computer assisted English language learning: a meta-analysis of the empirical literature 2018 Web vs. face-to-face instruction 140 11,597 158 0.50
Cukurova University Faculty of Education Journal Palavan, & Sungur A Meta-Analysis Study On The Effect Of Computer-Aided Teaching On The Academic Success Of Primary School Students. 2017 ICT on achievement 60 NA 1,162 1.16
Children and Youth Services Review Lei, Xiong, Chiu, Zhang, & Cai The relationship between ICT literacy and academic achievement among students: A meta-analysis 2021 ICT literacy 45 70,350 50 0.64
Dissertation Xie The Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction on Mathematics Achievement in Mainland China: A Meta-Analysis. 2018 Computer assisted instruction 31 13,028 31 0.35
Journal of Physics: Conference Series Yuwono & Sujono The effectiveness of E-learning: a meta-analysis. 2018 e-learning 15 1,096 15 0.67
Journal of Turkish Science Education Dýnçer Effects of computer-assisted learning on students' achievements in Turkey: A Meta-Analysis. 2015 ICT in Turkey 26 NA 26 1.21
Journal of Research on computing in Education Ahmad & Lily The effectiveness of computer applications: A meta-analysis. Journal of Research on computing in Education 1994 ICT 36 NA 151 0.38
Participatory Educational Research Çavus & Deniz The Effect of Technology Assisted Teaching on Success in Mathematics and Geometry: A Meta-Analysis Study.  2022 Technology assisted teaching 98 NA 98 0.94
Journal of Pedagogical Research Elaldi & Çifçi The effectiveness of using infographics on academic achievement: A meta-analysis and a meta-thematic analysis.  2021 Inforgraphics on achievement 12 NA 12 1.60
Conference paper Wang, Huang, Sommer, Shidfar, Rehman, Ritzhaupt, & Martin The efficacy of artificial intelligence-enabled adaptive learning from 2010-2020 on learner cognitive outcomes: A meta-analysis. 2023 Adaptive learning with AI 18 NA 18 0.70
Dissertation Gao The Potential of Adaptive Learning Systems to Enhance Learning Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis 2023 Adaptive learning compared to large group instruction 46 NA 46 1.03
Distance Education in China Ocean & Dongwei The impact of educational software on learning outcomes. 2020 Software on learning 38 NA 38 0.83
Language Testing in Asia Rahmati, Izadpanah, & Shahnavaz A meta-analysis on educational technology in English language teaching.  2021 Ed Technology in English language teaching 60 NA 60 0.91
Education and Information Technologies Wu Exploring the effects of digital technology on deep learning: a meta-analysis.  2024 Digital learning on deep learning 60 NA 60 0.68
Journal of Educational Technology & Society Chang & Hung Effects of technology-enhanced language learning on second language acquisition.  2019 Technology enhance learning 84 NA 84 0.99
Remedial and Special Education Weng, Maeda, & Bouck Effectiveness of cognitive skills-based computer-assisted instruction for students with disabilities: A synthesis.  2014 CAI interventions on achievement 8 389 8 0.35
Journal of East China Normal University Lei & Li What is the effect of digitally enabled teaching on student learning outcomes. 2022 Digital tools on learning 105 19,077 115 0.48
Investigations in Mathematics Learning Sun, Else-Quest, Hodges, French & Dowling The effects of ALEKS on mathematics learning in K-12 and higher education: A meta-analysis.  2019 ALEKS interactive learning 33 9,238 56 0.12
International Journal of Evaluation and Research Education Ahmad, Setiawati, Prihatin & Fitriyah Technology-based learning effect on the learning outcomes of Indonesian students: a meta-analysis. 2024 Technology based learning 51 3,104 51 1.29
Journal of the Japan Society for Educational Technology Saito & Kinji Meta-analysis of the effects of e-Learning on higher education. 2009 e-learning in higher ed 24 2,205 24 0.42
TOTAL/AVERAGE 3,893 278,495 6,331 0.59
Back to top