
Jia LiUniversity of Ontario Institute of Technology | UOIT · Faculty of Education
Jia Li
Doctor of Philosophy
Lead 5 research projects on the integration of digital technology in education.
About
210
Publications
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Introduction
Dr. Jia Li is a Professor at the Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University. She was a Canada-U.S. Fulbright Scholar at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (2011-2012) and John A. Sproul Research Fellow at UC Berkeley (2018-2019). She received her doctoral degree from University of Toronto, and conducted her postdoctoral research at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on data-driven innovative instruction using new technologies for language and literacy development.
Publications
Publications (210)
Technology including social media and other technology applications enabled by different technology devices offer many possibilities for second language learners to improve their learning, if they are interested in doing so. We investigated purposes for using technology among urban adolescents, including both English language learners (ELLs) and na...
This article reports a case study that investigates the learning preferences and strategies of Chinese students learning English as a second language (ESL) in Canadian school settings. It focuses on the interaction between second language learning methods that the students have adopted from their previous learning experience in China and ESL instru...
This article reports on a study that examined the effectiveness of an intervention using text messages to enhance the academic vocabulary acquisition of English language learners (ELLs). With a random control trial design, we compared students' learning gain of target vocabulary (direct effect) and its subsequent impact on academic vocabulary learn...
Despite the growing body of technology-assisted vocabulary intervention studies, few have addressed learning outcomes beyond target vocabulary and the interaction between the interventions and English language learners’ (ELLs) initially different levels of vocabulary knowledge. The study examined the differential effects of a texting-based interven...
Expository writing skills, integrating perspectives and evidential supporting sources, are critical for students to succeed in college. However, many students at the onset of postsecondary education lack adequate reading and writing skills to complete integrated language tasks, including paraphrasing and synthesizing information critically and cohe...
Indigenous students speak diverse languages, and many of them are English language learners (ELLs). Research has consistently shown that it takes at least 5–7 years for ELLs to catch up with their English-speaking peers in academic language skills. Inequitable access to learning resources, along with diverse political, socioeconomic, and historical...
Many students begin post-secondary studies with inadequate reading comprehension and expository writing skills. Strong skills in these areas are necessary for interpreting source material, integrating multiple ideas, and formulating clear and coherent arguments to complete integrated reading and writing tasks typical of most post-secondary assignme...
A growing body of research has revealed that the use of digital technology, including digital media, for writing instruction positively impacts English language learners' (ELLs') overall learning and engagement; however, little is known about how this instruction impacts their writing skills. This scoping literature review comprises empirical evide...
Thriving online: A guide for busy educators focuses on helping educators (secondary school and higher education level) succeed and thrive in blended and online learning settings. Grounded in evidence-based practices and principles, we share diverse and extensive insights on starting out, differentiated learning, learning activities, feedback and as...
This book brings together some thought-provoking papers around the theme of “Smart CALL.” The term “smart” nowadays means “connected to and exchanging information with other devices.” The contributions in this volume focus on a more human-centered perspective, namely the definition of smartness in terms of three qualities or dimensions: personaliza...
Mental health issues in Indigenous communities have been increasingly documented by media, research, and government reports. High rates of suicide, depression, and substance abuse are prevalent among Indigenous people, especially youth. Research has reported that many Indigenous communities have adopted and are keen to adopt digital technologies, w...
Indigenous people have experienced negative inter-generational impacts of colonization and socioeconomic stress, which has led to persistent subpar academic performance compared to non-Indigenous populations. This has prevented them from graduating high school and pursuing post-secondary education and professional opportunities. One of their most c...
The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat is committed to providing teachers with current research on instruction and learning. The opinions and conclusions contained in these monographs are, however, those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies, views, or directions of the Ontario Ministry of Education or the Literacy and Numeracy...
This article reports on a vocabulary intervention using text messaging to enhance undergraduate English language learners' vocabulary knowledge. To our knowledge, this study was the first to examine the transfer effect of a texting-based academic vocabulary intervention on the general vocabulary for university ELLs studying in an English-medium env...
Considerable research has been conducted in the domain of K-12 online learning, however, a limited number of studies have been conducted on the quality learning using this format and best practices [1, 2]. While standards have been created for developing online learning environments [3], no formally developed, evidence-based, reliable and valid sca...
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of teaching practice and research studies using digital storytelling through a collective community effort to enhance academic language skills of Indigenous students, many of whom learn English as a second language. The epistemological assumptions of the nature of Indigenous knowledge and the relationshi...
Do students using OneNote outperform students using traditional collaborative methods in their expository writing skills? Research tells us that collaboration benefits student learning; however, traditional tools for collaborative writing in the classroom can be cumbersome for students and teachers to manage. This workshop introduces how OneNote wa...
Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs in many Ontario colleges offer adult learners who have low literacy and basic skills with opportunities to improve their employment skills as well as results on prerequisite courses for entrance into post-secondary education. LBS students encounter many challenges and require extra interpersonal instructiona...
Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs in many Ontario colleges offer adult learners who have low literacy and basic skills with opportunities to improve their employment skills as well as results on prerequisite courses for entrance into post-secondary education. LBS students encounter many challenges and require extra interpersonal instructiona...
This paper reports on a study, thoroughly documenting the data of an open, online collaboration tool that is implemented to bridge the gaps of reading comprehension and expository writing skills for college students. Developing academic, expository writing skills, which are mostly source-based and require sound and credible arguments,
Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) programs have gained increasing acceptance among English language learners (ELLs). However, recent literature has indicated that mobile-assisted learning programs which are predominantly used for learners' self-access learning have shown little effectiveness (Chen & Denoyelles, 2013; Burston, 2015; Stockwell...
We examined the role of university English language learners’ (ELLs) behavior and perception of a texting-based instruction intervention on their academic vocabulary acquisition. This article reports on the data pertaining to 108 ELLs from six undergraduate classes taking two comparable undergraduate courses on content-based English for Academic Pu...
We examined the role of university English language learners’ (ELLs) behavior and perception of a texting-based instruction intervention on their academic vocabulary acquisition. This article reports on the data pertaining to 1081 ELLs from six undergraduate classes taking two comparable undergraduate courses on content-based English for Academic P...
Text messaging has become enormously popular as the primary means of written communication among adolescents and young adults from different first language (L1) backgrounds. A growing body of research has reported on the positive effects of texting-based instruction on English language learners' (ELLs) vocabulary learning. This article investigates...
Competency-based education in health care requires rigorous standards to ensure professional proficiency. Demonstrating competency in hands-on laboratories calls for effective preparation, knowledge, and experience, all of which can be difficult to achieve using traditional teaching methods. Virtual laboratories are an alternative, cost-effective a...
This study examined university undergraduate English language learners’ (ELLs) perspectives on an intervention, Word Matters, that aimed to enhance functional academic vocabulary learning critical to their cognitive academic language proficiency development (Cummins, 1989), a challenge faced by many ELLs in English-medium universities. This interve...
This study examined the performance of Mandarin-speaking students in a K–Grade 4 50/50 Chinese/English bilingual program. The program was intended to facilitate students’ learning of English and their adjustment to English-medium instruction within the school context. The bilingual-program students were compared to students from Mandarin-speaking b...
A considerable proportion of mobile assisted-language learning (MALL) takes place outside the classroom and is beyond the control of teachers, effective learning hinges upon learners' capacity to self-regulate their own learning adequately (Ma, 2016). Self-regulation has proved to be one of the key predictors of academic success (Zimmerman & Kitsan...
It reports on a study that examined the effectiveness of using text messages to enhance English language learners’ (ELLs) academic vocabulary learning in a large Canadian University.
Chinese immigrant ELLs preferred strategies by Oxford’s (1990) framework
Cultural and educational breakdown of strategies Chinese ELLs preferred
Semi-structured student interview – Chinese immigrant ELLs learning experience (to be conducted in Chinese or English, depending on student preference)
Previous research on distractions and the use of mobile devices (personal digital assistants, tablet personal computers, or laptops) have been conducted almost exclusively in higher education. The purpose of the current study was to examine the frequency and influence of distracting behaviors in Bring Your Own Device secondary school classrooms. Qu...
Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs offer adult learners with a variety of special needs opportunities to improve employment skills and pre-requisite courses for entrance into post-secondary education. Barriers to learning that adult learners encounter in LBS programs might be reduced through a blended learning instructional approach. The purp...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an online virtual lab as a learning tool to prepare allied health students for face-to-face laboratory sessions. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 64 university students (55 females, 9 males) and analyzed to assess attitudes towards the virtual lab. Students...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an online virtual lab as a learning tool to prepare allied health students for face-to-face laboratory sessions. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 64 university students (55 females, 9 males) and analyzed to assess attitudes towards the virtual lab. Students...
Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs offer adult learners with a variety of special needs opportunities to improve employment skills and pre-requisite courses for entrance into post-secondary education. Barriers to learning that adult learners encounter in LBS programs might be reduced through a blended learning instructional approach. The purp...
This research linked 47 Hong Kong and 35 Canadian teacher candidates in a new participatory culture project within the theoretical framework of _new media literacies_. This paper reports the qualitative data with quantitative descriptions of participants’ social interactivity within the cross-border communities of practice. Besides the constraints...
Adopting Cummins’ model of intervention for collaborative empowerment, this study reports on a transnational project that examines (1) the effectiveness of enhancing critical cultural awareness by engaging culturally diverse university students in online discussions and (2) students’ perspectives on understanding different cultures through mass med...
Modern teens have pervasively integrated new technologies into their lives, and technology has become an important component of teen popular culture. Educators have pointed out the promise of exploiting technology to enhance students’ language and literacy skills and general academic success. However, there is no consensus on the effect of technolo...
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I would like to understand the differences between the two terms.