Recreational use of computers: what is the contribution to student performance?

The effect of ICT on student learning achievement is not solely associated with the availability of computers and tablets, among other devices, inside and outside of the academic context. For the effect of ICTs to be positive or negative on learning achievement, other variables should be taken into consideration, such as the type of use, frequency of use, and place of use. When reviewing in detail the results presented by TERCE, the use of computers for recreational activities, considering the cultural and socioeconomic status, has a negative effect on learning achievement. The negative effect is more prevalent in natural sciences and less so in reading, albeit a large part of the countries exhibits a negative effect in all of the academic subjects, even when the socioeconomic status is taken into account.