Get All Access for $5/mo

Classroom Tech Delivers 'No Noticeable Improvement' in Student Performance, Study Finds A global report released today by the OECD found that students who use computers 'very frequently' at school do much worse than those who use them rarely.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Technology may be infiltrating today's classrooms, but a recent report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicates that school computers are delivering no noticeable improvements to education on a global level -- and, in many cases, have come to serve as impediments for students.

The report looked at the performance of 15-year-old students in math, science and reading in 31 different countries and concluded that students who use computers "very frequently" at school do much worse than those who use them rarely.

This would seem to run counter to admonitions from tech companies, like Microsoft, who strongly urge educators to adapt new interactive products -- even as studies show that reading and writing with physical objects improves memory and retention.

Classroom tech has not only come to serve as a distraction, OECD education director Andreas Schleicher told the BBC, but can result in students cutting and pasting their assignments from the web.

Related: SAT Scores Fall to Lowest Level in 10 Years

And given that many digital skills, such as web navigation, can be taught using standard reading lessons, focusing on such baseline proficiencies "will do more to create equal opportunities in a digital world than solely expanding or subsidizing access to high-tech devices and services," according to the report.

While the OECD is not advocating that schools remove tech from classrooms, the organization says that "countries need to invest more effectively and ensure that teachers are at the forefront of designing and implementing this change."

"If you look at the best-performing education systems, such as those in East Asia, they've been very cautious about using technology in their classrooms," Schleicher added. While students in Singapore boast the best web-browsing acumen worldwide, for instance, schools there tend to have a relatively smaller percentage of students using computers (70 percent) in comparison with other countries.

Today, annual global spending on classroom tech amounts to roughly $27 billion, according to the BBC.

Related: Want to Make A Lot of Money? Majoring in Engineering Is One Good Option.

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Science & Technology

Why We Shouldn't Fear AI in Education (and How to Use It Effectively)

Facing resistance to new technologies in the educational process is nothing new, and AI is no exception. Yet, this powerful tool is set to overcome these challenges and revolutionize education, preparing students and professionals for a future of unparalleled efficiency and personalized learning.

Business News

Apple's AI Has a Catch — And It Could Help Boost Sales

Not every iPhone owner will get to use the new Apple Intelligence.

Business News

Elon Musk Threatens to Ban Employees from Using Apple Products, Says Will Lock Devices in 'Cages'

The Tesla founder sounded off on X following Apple's 2024 Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday.

Business News

Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here's What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

The famed startup accelerator offers a free course on building a business — and answers five pressing questions for founders.

Business Culture

You'll Always Have Anxious Employees if You Don't Follow These 4 Leadership Tactics

Creating a thriving workplace environment hinges on the commitment of company leaders to nurture and inspire their teams.