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Are Classroom Internet Use and Academic Performance Higher after Government Broadband Subsidies to Primary Schools?

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Listed:
  • Hyland, Marie
  • Layte, Richard
  • Lyons, Seán
  • McCoy, Selina
  • Silles, Mary

Abstract

This paper combines data from a government programme providing broadband access to primary schools in Ireland with survey microdata on schools', teachers' and pupils use of the internet to examine the links between public subsidies, classroom use of the internet and educational performance. Provision of broadband service under a government scheme was associated with more than a doubling of teachers' use of the internet in class after about a two year lag. Better computing facilities in schools were also associated with higher internet use, but advertised download speed was not statistically significant. A second set of models show that use of the internet in class was associated with higher average mathematics scores on standardised tests, but that any association with reading scores was marginal. A range of confounding factors is also explored, with results broadly in line with previous literature.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Hyland, Marie & Layte, Richard & Lyons, Seán & McCoy, Selina & Silles, Mary, 2015. "Are Classroom Internet Use and Academic Performance Higher after Government Broadband Subsidies to Primary Schools?," Papers RB2015/2/6, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:esr:wpaper:rb2015/2/6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joshua D. Angrist & Alan B. Krueger, 2001. "Instrumental Variables and the Search for Identification: From Supply and Demand to Natural Experiments," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 15(4), pages 69-85, Fall.
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    4. Smyth, Emer & McCoy, Selina, 2009. "Investing in Education: Combating Educational Disadvantage," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS006.
    5. Rodrigo Belo & Pedro Ferreira & Rahul Telang, 2014. "Broadband in School: Impact on Student Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(2), pages 265-282, February.
    6. Maresa Sprietsma, 2012. "Computers as pedagogical tools in Brazil: a pseudo-panel analysis," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 19-32, November.
    7. Hægeland, Torbjørn & Raaum, Oddbjørn & Salvanes, Kjell G., 2012. "Pennies from heaven? Using exogenous tax variation to identify effects of school resources on pupil achievement," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 601-614.
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    9. Joshua Angrist & Alan Krueger, 2001. "Instrumental Variables and the Search for Identification: From Supply and Demand to Natural Experiments," Working Papers 834, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
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    11. repec:fth:prinin:455 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Coyne, Brian & McCoy, Selina, 2016. "The Student Perspective on In-school Personal Electronic Devices and Online Safety: A Qualitative Study," Papers WP547, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    2. McCoy,Selina & Lyons,Seán & Coyne,Bryan & Darmody,Merike, 2017. "Teaching and Learning in Second- Level Schools at the Advent of High-Speed Broadband," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS51.
    3. Daniele Checchi & Enrico Rettore & Silvia Girardi, 2019. "IC technology and learning: an impact evaluation of Cl@ssi 2.0," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(3), pages 241-264, May.
    4. Smyth, Emer & McCoy, Selina & Kingston, Gillian, 2015. "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS39.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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