Can One-to-One Computing Narrow the Digital Divide and the Educational Gap in China? The Case of Beijing Migrant Schools

Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
Title
Can One-to-One Computing Narrow the Digital Divide and the Educational Gap in China? The Case of Beijing Migrant Schools
Abstract
One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is a high profile initiative to narrow the inequality of access to ICT and improve educational performance. However, there is little empirical evidence on its impacts. In order to assess the effectiveness of OLPC, we conducted a randomized experiment of OLPC with Chinese characteristics involving 300 third-grade students in Beijing migrant schools. Our results show that the program improved student computer skills by 0.33 standard deviations and math scores by 0.17 standard deviations. The program also increased student time spent using educational software and decreased student time spent watching TV. Student self-esteem also improved.
Publication
World Development
Volume
46
Pages
14-29
Date
June 1, 2013
Journal Abbr
World Development
Language
en
ISSN
0305-750X
Short Title
Can One-to-One Computing Narrow the Digital Divide and the Educational Gap in China?
Accessed
29/01/2020, 12:32
Library Catalogue
ScienceDirect
Extra
shortDOI: 10/gf5f3j
Citation
Mo, D., Swinnen, J., Zhang, L., Yi, H., Qu, Q., Boswell, M., & Rozelle, S. (2013). Can One-to-One Computing Narrow the Digital Divide and the Educational Gap in China? The Case of Beijing Migrant Schools. World Development, 46, 14–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.12.019