Back to History Current Version

The impact of Computer Assisted Learning in Higher Education: evidence from an at scale experiment in Ecuador

Last registered on February 28, 2022
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The impact of Computer Assisted Learning in Higher Education: evidence from an at scale experiment in Ecuador
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0009036
Initial registration date
February 28, 2022

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
February 28, 2022, 5:06 PM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
Ecuador
Region
Latin America

Primary Investigator

Name
Ciro Avitabile
Affiliation
World Bank
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Diego Angel Urdinola
PI Affiliation
World Bank
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Marjorie Chinen
PI Affiliation
World Bank
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2021-01-01
End date
2022-06-30
Keywords
Education
Additional Keywords
computer-aided learning, math instruction, personalized learning, technical education
JEL code(s)
C93, I21, I23
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Students often enroll in higher education lacking basic competencies and this is one of the most common reasons for student dropout. This is one of the first studies to evaluate the impact of personalized learning delivered through technology in the context of technical higher education in a developing country. We conduct an at scale cluster randomized experiment that involves 71 technical institutions in Ecuador to study whether the use of Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) during the first semester of higher education can improve short and medium terms outcomes. We evaluate the impact of the platform on student math knowledge during the first year of university, the probability of enrolling in the third semester and the probability of graduating.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Avitabile, Ciro, Marjorie Chinen and Diego Angel Urdinola. 2022. "The impact of Computer Assisted Learning in Higher Education: evidence from an at scale experiment in Ecuador." AEA RCT Registry. February 28. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.9036-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2021-01-01
Intervention End Date
2021-06-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
student math knowledge; enrollment in the third semester of higher education; on-time higher education completion
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Student math knowledge will be measured through the test that students have to take in order to enroll in higher education “Examen de Acceso a la Educación Superior” (EAES). Enrollment in the third semester of higher education will be measured through administrative outcomes provided by Senecyt; on-time higher education will be measured through administrative outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Randomized cluster trial with 39 institutions assigned to the treatment group and 32 institutions to the control group
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
randomization done in office by a computer
Randomization Unit
institution (school) level
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
71 institutions
Sample size: planned number of observations
11,431 students
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
39 treatment
32 control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials