Effect of Information and Communication Technology on Self-Efficacy and Academic Achievement of Students

Aims: Considering the evolution of schools and the growth of smart schools, the aim of the present study was to compare the self-efficacy and academic performance of students in conventional and smart schools.
Instruments and This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted in Kerman, Iran, in 2015. 300 students of 8th grade studying in Kerman (145 smart school student and 155 conventional school students) were selected by multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected by a standardized academic self-efficacy questionnaire of Jinks-Morgan and analyzed using independent t-test, linear regression, Pearson correlation test and SPSS 20 software. Findings: Academic achievement in conventional and smart schools was statistically different. So that students of smart schools had better academic achievement than ordinary schools (p=0.0001). While the self-efficacy of the two groups did not differ significantly. There was a significant direct correlation between students' academic achievement and their self-efficacy score (r=0.159, p=0.006). Also, there was a significant statistical difference, according to the type of school, occupation, and education level of parents (p<0.0001). The academic self-efficacy of students in the two groups do not differ, students of smart schools have the higher academic achievement. School smartness and high self-efficacy will improve students' academic achievement.