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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Ipads / Touch devices

Overview

  • Influence: Ipads / Touch devices
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Mobile/touch
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: The use of iPad or touch devices to augment or replace traditional teaching

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 8
  • Number of studies: 264
  • Number of students: 20,397
  • Number of effects: 347
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.56
  • Robustness index: 4

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Psychology in the Schools Petersen-Brown, Henze, Klingbell, Reynolds, Weber, & Codding The use of touch devices for enhancing academic achievement: A meta-analysis 2019 Touch devices 64 NA 65 0.73
Planning and Evaluation Service, US Department of Education Penuel, Kim, Michalchik, Lewis, Means, Murphy, Korbak, Whaley, & Allen Using Technology To Enhance Connections Between Home And School: A Research Synthesis 2002 Laptop programs between school & home 14 NA 14 0.16
Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Larwin & Aspiranti Measuring the academic outcomes of iPads for students with autism: A meta-analysis. 2019 Ipads 6 NA 6 0.94
Frontiers in Psychology Xie, Peng, Qin, Huang, Tian, & Zhou Can touchscreen devices be used to facilitate young children's learning? A meta-analysis of touchscreen learning effect 2018 Touch devices 36 4,206 79 0.46
International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organization Xiao, Li, Young, & Wang effects of the iPad use on K-12 students' STEM achievement: a meta-analysis.  2023 Ipad on Stem achievement 17 NA 17 0.37
Computers and Education Open Karchner, Trautner, Willeke, & Schwinger How handheld use is connected to learning-related factors and academic achievement: Meta-analysis and research synthesis, 2022 Handheld use on achievement 55 4,259 59 0.71
Education and Information Technologies Lo, Wei, Pemg, Su, & Song Divergence and convergence of young children's touchscreen learning: a meta-analysis review.  2023 Touchscreen learning 15 5,075 48 0.21
Dissertation Kalati An integrative study of the effect of early learning with touchscreen technologies using SAMR framework: A meta-analysis and systematic review 2022 Touch screens on early learning 57 6,857 59 0.48
TOTAL/AVERAGE 264 20,397 347 0.51
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