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The Effect of Computer-Assisted Learning on Students' Long-Term Development

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  • Nicola Bianchi
  • Yi Lu
  • Hong Song

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the effect of computer-assisted learning on students’ long-term development. We explore the implementation of the “largest ed-tech intervention in the world to date,” which connected China’s best teachers to more than 100 million rural students through satellite internet. We find evidence that exposure to the program improved students’ academic achievement, labor performance, and computer usage. We observe these effects up to ten years after program implementation. These findings indicate that education technology can have long-lasting positive effects on a variety of outcomes and can be effective in reducing the rural–urban education gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Bianchi & Yi Lu & Hong Song, 2020. "The Effect of Computer-Assisted Learning on Students' Long-Term Development," NBER Working Papers 28180, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28180
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    2. Guanfu Fang & Xin Li & Tianyu Tang, 2024. "Growing up without health insurance: Evidence from rural China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 363-390, February.
    3. 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.
    4. Laia Navarro-Sola, 2021. "Secondary Schools with Televised Lessons: The Labor Market Returns of the Mexican Telesecundaria," Working Papers 2021-053, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • 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
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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