About me

Jinrong Li is a doctoral candidate in the program of Applied Linguistics & Technology. Her research focuses on the development and assessment of L2 writing, computer-mediated communication and L2 written development, research methods in applied linguistics, and developing and teaching hybrid and online ESL academic writing courses. At Iowa State University, she has taught ESL writing and college composition courses, and has participated in the development and implementation of the first online ESL writing course. Before coming to ISU, she received her M.A. degree in Applied Linguistics from Beijing Foreign Studies University, where she taught ESL writing, listening, reading and speaking courses, and co-edited practice test books for the National English Proficiency Tests in China.

Current Research Rrojects

• The Effects of Synchronous Computer-Mediated Communication (SCMC) on L2 Development in Academic Writing

Being my dissertation project, the study aims to argue that the use of SCMC in ESL academic writing courses can be shaped by instruction and task design to benefit aspects of learners' L2 development. Please see Research for details.

• Rethinking the Role of Criterion in ESL Writing Instruction

This project looked at the assessment and instructional value of automated essay evaluation (AWE) systems in the context of ESL writing classrooms. It seeks to better understand the instructors' approaches to the use of and their view of the AWE system, and how those approaches and perceptions may affect learners' improvement in writing shown in writing samples and learners' report in individual interviews. Please see Research for details.