Technology and Child Development: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program

Julian Cristia (), Pablo Ibarraran (), Santiago Cueto, Ana Santiago and Eugenio Severin

No 4764, Research Department Publications from Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department

Abstract: Although many countries are aggressively implementing the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) program, there is a lack of empirical evidence on its effects. This paper presents the impact of the first large-scale randomized evaluation of the OLPC program, using data collected after 15 months of implementation in 319 primary schools in rural Peru. The results indicate that the program increased the ratio of computers per student from 0. 12 to 1. 18 in treatment schools. This expansion in access translated into substantial increases in use both at school and at home. No evidence is found of effects on enrollment and test scores in Math and Language. Some positive effects are found, however, in general cognitive skills as measured by Raven’s Progressive Matrices, a verbal fluency test and a Coding test.

JEL-codes: C93 I21 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ict
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (56)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Technology and Child Development: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program (2017)
Working Paper: Technology and Child Development: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program (2012)
Working Paper: Technology and Child Development: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program (2012)
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