Educational Technology

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Educational technology refers not only to the hardware and software used in an educational setting, but how technological resources are used to support teaching and learning. RAND researchers form multidisciplinary teams to field rigorous studies of educational technology that provide actionable information to educators, policymakers, and product developers.

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  • Serving Time or Wasting Time?

    Infographic

    Correctional Education Can Make a Difference

    Inmates who participate in any kind of educational program behind bars are up to 43 percent less likely to reoffend and return to prison. They also are more likely to find a job, and the social stability that comes with it, after their release. Every dollar invested in correctional education saves nearly five in reincarceration costs over three years.

    May 22, 2014

  • prisoner graduating holding a diploma

    Report

    Prison-Based Education Declined During Economic Downturn

    Large states cut spending on prison education programs by an average of 10 percent between the 2009 and 2012 fiscal years, while medium-sized states cut spending by 20 percent. While the drop appears to have resulted from budget cuts prompted by the economic downturn, evidence suggests that the curtailment of prison education could increase prison system costs in the longer term.

    Mar 18, 2014

  • Pencil and notebook with crumpled paper

    Research Brief

    How Correctional Education Could Move Forward

    Correctional education improves the chances that inmates released from prison will not return and may improve their chances of postrelease employment. A survey of U.S. state correctional education directors and a review of programs offers recommendations for improving correctional education.

    Mar 4, 2014

  • kindergarten girls using computer

    Project

    “T” Is for Technology: Early Childhood Education and the Digital Divide

    Despite the central and growing role of digital technology for knowledge-based work, children in low-income families have relatively limited access to computer-based devices, software applications, and the Internet. “T” Is for Technology explored the potential for early childhood education to help narrow this digital divide.

    Mar 3, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Early Education Plays Role in Bridging the 'Digital Divide'

    Technology literacy plays an important role in a child's ability to succeed in school and later life. Incorporating technology into early childhood education help close the “digital divide” that separates low-income students and their more-advantaged peers.

    Mar 3, 2014

  • Report

    Report

    Developing Army Leaders: Lessons for Teaching Critical Thinking in Distributed, Resident, and Mixed-Delivery Venues

    Evaluated the effectiveness of the Common Core -- the first phase of the U.S. Army's system for developing critical thinking skills in its officer corps -- and the extent of differences among distributed, resident, and mixed-delivery course venues.

    Mar 3, 2014

  • preschool teacher with students around a laptop

    Report

    Early Education Plays Role in Bridging the 'Digital Divide'

    Digital literacy plays an important role in a child's ability to succeed in school and later life. Incorporating technology into early childhood education help close the “digital divide” that separates low-income students and their more-advantaged peers.

    Mar 3, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Prison-Based Education Declined During Economic Downturn; More Work Is Needed to Better Focus Spending

    State-level spending on prison education programs declined sharply during the economic downturn, with the sharpest drop occurring in states that incarcerate the most prisoners.

    Feb 18, 2014

  • College students attending a lecture in Gurgaon, on the outskirts of New Delhi

    Commentary

    India Embraces MOOCs, but What If It Is a 'Lousy Product'?

    One hundred engineering colleges around India will rely heavily on virtual instruction under a new program. Given the amount India is investing, it is important to make the best possible use of the complex and evolving Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) model.

    Jan 8, 2014

  • high school students using computers, boy blue plaid shirt

    Blog

    Cognitive Tutor: Encouraging Signs for Computers in the Classroom

    A first-year algebra curriculum that blends tutoring software with conventional textbook learning had a positive effect for high school algebra students. Researchers found significant improvements—a change equivalent to moving from the 50th percentile to the 58th on an algebra posttest.

    Nov 19, 2013

  • group of students working on computers

    Research Brief

    Does an Algebra Course with Tutoring Software Improve Student Learning?

    A “blended” approach that combines traditional textbook learning and computer-based instruction could help improve performance among algebra students.

    Nov 18, 2013

  • News Release

    News Release

    Education and Vocational Training in Prisons Reduces Recidivism, Improves Job Outlook

    Inmates who participate in correctional education programs have a 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than those who do not. Employment after release is 13 percent higher among prisoners who participated in either academic or vocational education programs than those who did not.

    Aug 22, 2013

  • prison

    Research Brief

    How Effective is Correctional Education?

    One strategy to counter recidivism is to provide education to inmates while incarcerated so that they have the knowledge, training, and skills to support a successful return to their communities.

    Aug 22, 2013

  • prisoners attending a class

    Report

    Education and Vocational Training in Prisons Reduces Recidivism, Improves Job Outlook

    Inmates who participate in correctional education programs have a 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than those who do not. Employment after release is 13 percent higher among prisoners who participated in either academic or vocational education programs than those who did not.

    Aug 22, 2013

  • Report

    Report

    Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills for Army Leaders Using Blended-Learning Methods

    This report assesses the effectiveness of the Command and General Staff School's Advanced Operations Course for junior field-grade officers when taught in a blended distributed learning environment.

    Jul 17, 2013

  • High school students holding a class election

    Commentary

    Lessons from the Science of Learning for 21st-Century Schools

    To succeed in the 21st century, students need to be able to communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve with people beyond national boundaries. Director of RAND Education Darleen Opfer describes how teachers can teach 21st-century skills, using nine lessons from the science of learning.

    Sep 7, 2012

  • Events @ RAND Audio Podcast

    Multimedia

    Lessons from the Science of Learning for 21st-Century Schools

    Several factors, such as globalization, technology, migration, international competition, and changing markets, present new challenges in preparing today's students for work, citizenship, and life. V. Darleen Opfer discusses what we know about how students learn and about how to teach these skills in the 21st century.

    Sep 5, 2012

  • Report

    Report

    Analysis of Costs in an Algebra I Curriculum Effectiveness Study

    Examines the costs of implementing Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor Algebra I curriculum and comparison algebra I curricula (published by Prentice Hall, Glencoe, and McDougal Littell).

    Jul 12, 2012

  • Report

    Report

    Making Improvements to The Army Distributed Learning Program

    Assesses the performance of The Army Distributed Learning Program (TADLP) and looks at ways to strengthen the Army's interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) program by improving both the quality of the product and the efficiency of the process.

    Mar 28, 2012

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Measuring Instructional Practice in Science Using Classroom Artifacts: Lessons Learned from Two Validation Studies

    This article summarizes the results of two studies that investigated the properties of measures of instruction based on a teacher-generated instrument (the Scoop Notebook) that combines features of portfolios and self-report.

    Jan 1, 2012

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