Vol. 26 No. 1 (2012)
Research Articles

One Laptop per College Student? Exploring the Links Between Access to IT Hardware and Academic Performance in Higher Education E-learning Programs

Aaron Alzola Romero
The Open University (UK)
Bio

Published 2012-03-07

Keywords

  • Digital divide,
  • online learning,
  • ICT,
  • IT hardware

How to Cite

Alzola Romero, A. (2012). One Laptop per College Student? Exploring the Links Between Access to IT Hardware and Academic Performance in Higher Education E-learning Programs. International Journal of E-Learning & Distance Education Revue Internationale Du E-Learning Et La Formation à Distance, 26(1). Retrieved from https://www.ijede.ca/index.php/jde/article/view/756

Abstract

Abstract In an attempt to foster student integration in virtual education programs, several higher education institutions have launched systematic large-scale hand-outs of personal computers, inspired by the “One Laptop per Child” distribution model. However, the level of impact of these initiatives on academic performance is not yet well understood. This article aims to explore student responses to changing levels of access to IT hardware, applying multiple correspondence analysis. Some of the broader socio-economic factors affecting education are also examined. Résumé Dans le but de favoriser l'intégration des étudiants aux programmes d'enseignement virtuel, quelques établissements d'enseignement supérieur ont distribuées des grandes quantités d'ordinateurs personnels à ses étudiants, suivant le modèle de distribution du projet "One Laptop per Child". Cependant, les effets de ces initiatives sur le rendement scolaire ne sont pas encore bien compris. Cet article vise à evaluer le rendement des étudiants vis-à-vis ses differents niveaux d'accès aux ordinateurs, en appliquant l'analyse des correspondances multiples. Des facteurs socio-économiques qui influent sur l'éducation seront aussi explorés.