This document outlines the current research into the role of ICT in helping schools to improve standards. This goes beyond its use to raise pupil achievement, encompassing positive effects such as improving pupil motivation and behaviour, facilitating communications, enhancing assessment methods, reducing teacher workload, and increasing efficiency in school management.

The benefits of ICT use are outlined through a series of bullet-points offering the key research findings, with references directing readers to the appropriate research papers. Bullet-points are also used to indicate the main factors involved in the effective use of technology. An explanation of the findings deals with the specific uses and effects of ICT which have been identified by researchers.

As in all of Becta’s ‘What the research says’ series, sidebars provide information on the nature of the current literature and suggest avenues for future research. A case study looks at one school’s successful use of ICT, and the document ends with a useful roundup of further reading.

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