Two U of Calgary researches, Sharon Friesen and Michele Jacobsen, found that computers alone don’t generate success in classes. The teachers need to be tech savvy themselves, and must use engaging instructional techniques in order for students to have success.

As Jacobsen stated, “The purpose of the investigation was to understand how students’ learning in grades four through nine is impacted in well-designed, well-supported, one-to-one personal technology-enabled environments.” Friesen explained,  “What we’ve found is that engaged teaching matters more than ever for learners and learning when computers come to school.”

While the Faculty of Education researchers were looking at elementary- and middle-school students, these findings are important for post-secondary instructors, too. First, these will be the students we will see in the future, and second, it shows that you must engage the students in order to teach effectively. As we start a new academic year, let’s not just incorporate technology, but consider how to engage our students (with or without technology).

More on the study from CBC News and Global TV.