Kids, Computers, Books

Nicholas Carr writes in Kids, computers, books about a recent large study circulated by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

"The analysis reveals that home computers have "modest but statistically significant negative impacts" on academic performance as measured by math and reading test scores. In addition: "The introduction of high-speed internet service is similarly associated with significantly lower math and reading test scores in the middle grades." Worse yet, "the introduction of broadband internet is associated with widening racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps." Attempts to close the "digital divide" by, for example, subsidizing PC purchases may actually end up widening the divide between rich and poor in academic performance."

There are a bunch of caveats about the study described in the article, one being: "Vigdor and Hamm note that the negative consequences of computer use could be tempered if students began to use computers more for homework and less for goofing off. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that that's happening."

I liked this point too: "The other study, to be published later this year, also indicates a strong connection between having books at home and performing well in school, particularly for low-income students. As Salon's Laura Miller reported, the study "found that simply giving low-income children 12 books (of their own choosing) on the first day of summer vacation 'may be as effective as summer school' in preventing 'summer slide' - the degree to which lower-income students slip behind their more affluent peers academically every year.""