Protocol for a Systematic Review: Provision of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Improving Academic Achievement and School Engagement in Students Aged 4-18

Improving educational attainment, while reducing social inequality, is one of the fundamental pillars of education policy across the world (Ananiadou & Claro, 2009; Voogt, Knezek, Cox, Knezek, & ten Brummelhuis, 2013). Information and communications technology (ICT) is often provided by schools or national education departments with the intention of improving attainment and addressing this inequality (SQW Ipsos Mori & London Knowledge Lab, 2011) and yet -- despite the need to justify and prioritize sparse educational resources -- this spending is often not based upon evidence of effectiveness. This review will focus on the different forms of ICT in education with the aim to identify which forms yield the most educational benefits for students. Policymakers and schools both require evidence to guide them on which ICT to invest in. It is imperative for teachers, education policy makers, and local planners to know whether and how money spent will impact on the learning of pupils who receive it. This is particularly important in the face of multiple marketing efforts from competing manufacturers and developers and increased demand for ICT in schools from parents and students.