Access and Experience with Digital Devices

Exhibit 3.4 presents the results for three questions students were asked about how they used computers and tablets more than 30 minutes a day. The first question pertained to using these devices to prepare reports and presentations. About one-third (34%) of the students reported that they spent more than 30 minutes a day using computers and tablets to prepare reports and presentations, and they had higher ePIRLS achievement than their counterparts (549 vs. 535). The next question was about using the devices for schoolwork to find information and read information, and only 19 percent reported that they did so. These 19 percent had somewhat lower achievement than their counterparts (534 v. 541), which is consistent with some research showing schools encourage more frequent tablet use for lower achieving students. Finally, the third question asked simply about reading information on the Internet each day. Here, 39 percent of the students responded affirmatively, but they also had somewhat lower ePIRLS achievement (536 vs. 543). It could be the case that students are reading on the Internet about many different types of information.