Computer-Aided Instruction Led to Algebra Gains

Computer-aided instruction can potentially improve student learning in prealgebra and algebra, partly because the technology gives teachers the ability to tailor instruction to children’s individual needs, a new study says.

The study , which appears in the February issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy , found that students using a particular program made gains in mathematics test scores. Those improvements were especially strong for students in large classes and those with high absentee rates.

Computer-assisted instruction “has the potential to significantly enhance student mathematics achievement in middle and high school,” the authors conclude, and could be easier for schools and districts to use...