Effects of Digital Media on Learning in School: Synthesis of Meta-analytical Findings

This systematic review of meta analyses on the effects of digital media in school examined the question, to what extent digital media affects the quality of teaching with respect of cognitive activation. The control conditions and experimental conditions of 79 effect sizes from 10 meta analyses were coded using the ICAP taxonomy. The ICAP taxonomy specifies four levels of cognitive activation: (1) passive, (2) active, (3) constructive and (4) interactive. Effect sizes were clustered by effects of digital media within the same level of cognitive activation and between different levels of cognitive activation. Results support the assumption that digital media are an effective means to support learning, if digital media are used to facilitate specific cognitive processes. Also supported, is the assumption that digital media are an effective means to support learning, if digital media are used to increase the level of cognitive activation.