Investing in Technology: The Learning Return

Investments in education technology can pose major dilemmas for policymakers. Most agree that in today's world, computer-based technology is not a frill but an important part of any modern curriculum. Equally clear, however, is its expense. Computers alone are big-ticket items, and educators are buying more of them. Over the last decade, K-12 spending on computer-based technology in the United States has tripled. Given these realities, policymakers at state and local levels want to know how and under what circumstances technology can make a difference in instruction and learning. This Policy Brief addresses that issue. It reports on research findings, focusing on policy and pedagogical issues.