ICT has positive impact on basic reading and writing skills, but potential is not fully exploited

The study shows that ICT is a valuable tool for improving basic skills such as reading, writing and calculation. Furthermore ICT provides teachers with the possibility of differentiating their teaching because pupils can work at their own pace, in accordance
with their preferred learning styles and with different subjects when at the same time teachers can provide each of them with personal support and feedback. However, this potential could be used better.

The impact of using ICT on the individual pupil’s performance could be enhanced but a prerequisite for doing so is thorough documentation on which methods work the best.
It is important to all Nordic countries that pupils in primary as well as secondary schools perform better, that they are educated beyond primary education and that the drop-out rate from secondary education is reduced. ICT is a strong tool when it comes to motivating pupils to learn, to giving them confidence in their own capabilities and to enhancing their learning. This study shows that ICT is assessed to have a positive impact on pupil performance in basic skills such as writing, reading and calculation skills, especially in the 5th and 8th grades (see Chapter 4). The impact can be seen among both the academically weak and the academically strong pupils while at the same time teachers
assess that the use of ICT does not increase the differences between these groups. Furthermore the study indicate that ICT improves pupils’ skills the more ICT is used, the more different types of ICT that are used and the more varied pedagogical methods
that are used (see Chapter 5).
This study underlines the importance of making the use of ICT more widespread and making more teachers aware of the benefits for the individual pupil. Ramboll Management recommends that policy makers and school managers focus on:
• Documenting the types of ICT use that enhance pupils’
learning
• Providing good examples of ICT use that are related to objectives
in curricula
• Supporting the development of good digital learning resources,
to make it possible to differentiate and organise
collaborative work.

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