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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    Note: DEV ED LS
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Carolina Ferreira Costa & Andresa Monique de Brito Silva & Maximilian Espuny & Aglaé Baptista Torres Rocha & Otávio José de Oliveira, 2024. "Toward quality education: Contributions of EdTech to the achievement of the fourth United Nations sustainable development goal," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 1634-1651, June.
    2. repec:rfh:bbejor:v:13:y:2025:i:3:p:642-648 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Ye, Zihan & Post, Thomas & Zou, Xiaopeng & Chen, Shenglan, 2025. "Savings goals matter–Cognitive constraints, retirement planning, and downstream economic behaviors," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    4. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Zou, Jinyang & Chen, Pei-Fen, 2025. "The impact of artificial intelligence on the energy consumption of corporations: The role of human capital," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    5. Hong, Junjie & Liu, Wanlin & Zhang, Qing, 2024. "Closing the digital divide: The impact of teachers’ ICT use on student achievement in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 697-713.
    6. Hui Hu & Yuqi Zhu & Chien-Chiang Lee & Alastair M. Morrison, 2023. "The effects of foreign product demand-labor transfer nexus on human capital investment in China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. 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.
    8. Araya, Roberto & Arias Ortiz, Elena & Bottan, Nicolas & Cristia, Julian, 2025. "Integrating learning platforms within regular school time: experimental evidence from Chilean primary schools," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    9. 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.
    10. Ma, Yue & Fairlie, Robert & Loyalka, Prashant & Rozelle, Scott, 2024. "Isolating the “Tech” from EdTech: Experimental Evidence on Computer-Assisted Learning in China," Santa Cruz Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt99m4r92g, Department of Economics, UC Santa Cruz.
    11. Zha, Fangjing & Zhou, Di, 2025. "The long-term effect of television on children's human capital development in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    12. 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.
    13. DI PIETRO Giorgio & KARPINSKI Zbigniew, 2024. "Teaching mathematics for success: A data-driven review and analysis of best practices," JRC Research Reports JRC140539, Joint Research Centre.

    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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