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The Impact of Computer-Assisted Instruction on Student Performance: Evidence from the Dual-Teacher Program

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Haizheng

    (Georgia Tech)

  • Liu, Zhiqiang

    (University at Buffalo, SUNY)

  • Yang, Fanzheng

    (Central University of Finance and Economics Beijing)

  • Yu, Li

    (Central University of Finance and Economics)

Abstract

We present findings from an evaluation study of the Dual-Teacher program, a computer- assisted instruction program, that makes lecture videos and other teaching resources from an elite urban middle school available through the internet to schools in poor and remote areas in China. The unique design of the study allows us to not just estimate the effect of the program on student performance but distinguish the direct effect coming from students' exposure to the lecture videos in class and the indirect effect due to improved instruction quality of the local teacher who uses the lecture videos in lesson preparation. Using the difference-in-differences method, we find that the Dual-Teacher program improves student performance in math by 0.978 standard deviations over the three-year middle school education, of which 0.343 standard deviations are attributable to the indirect effect. We also find that the positive impacts of the program are cumulative and robust to student and teacher characteristics as well as a plethora of other considerations. From a policy perspective, our findings suggest that the Dual-Teacher program is an effective and low cost means to improve education outcomes in underserved areas and hence help close cross-region gaps in education.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Haizheng & Liu, Zhiqiang & Yang, Fanzheng & Yu, Li, 2023. "The Impact of Computer-Assisted Instruction on Student Performance: Evidence from the Dual-Teacher Program," IZA Discussion Papers 15944, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15944
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonalde Desai & Veena Kulkarni, 2008. "Changing educational inequalities in india in the context of affirmative action," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 45(2), pages 245-270, May.
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    3. Abhijit Banerjee & Rukmini Banerji & James Berry & Esther Duflo & Harini Kannan & Shobhini Mukherji & Marc Shotland & Michael Walton, 2016. "Mainstreaming an Effective Intervention: Evidence from Randomized Evaluations of “Teaching at the Right Level” in India," NBER Working Papers 22746, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Battaglia, Marianna & Lebedinski, Lara, 2015. "Equal Access to Education: An Evaluation of the Roma Teaching Assistant Program in Serbia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 62-81.
    5. Duflo, Esther & Banerjee, Abhijit & Banerji, Rukmini & Berry, James & Mukerji, Shobhini & Shotland, Marc & Walton, Michael & Kannan, Harini, 2016. "Mainstreaming an Effective Intervention: Evidence from Randomized Evaluations of “Teaching at the Right Level†in India," CEPR Discussion Papers 11530, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Daron Acemoglu & David Laibson & John A. List, 2014. "Equalizing Superstars: The Internet and the Democratization of Education," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(5), pages 523-527, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Iqbal, Syedah Aroob & Patrinos, Harry Anthony, 2023. "Learning during the Pandemic: Evidence from Uzbekistan," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1292, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Hojun Lee & Youngsik Kim, 2023. "Exploring the Effects of Computer and Smart Device-Assisted Learning on Students’ Achievements: Empirical Evidence from Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-16, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    computer-assisted instruction; computer-assisted learning; education policy; inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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