QIUFANG WEN (BEIJING FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY)
ZHENG BI (Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press)
LIN QIU (College of Foreign Languages)

DEVELOPING AND APPLYING AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES IN A CLOUD COMMUNITY : TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

To promote the sharing of high-quality resources among foreign language teachers across China, we have been spearheading a cloud community initiative since 2020, aiming to comprehensively enhance the professional development of foreign language teachers. Based on more than four years of theory-practice interaction, a cloud community construction theory called “Cloud Interconnectedness Theory” has been established, and an effective practical plan for running the Cloud Community has been explored. This symposium will focus on the evaluation of the Community members’ development of learning outcomes. The first speaker will report on an evaluation framework for the development of learning outcomes. The framework incorporates five main components: evaluation subjects, evaluation nature, evaluation dimensions, evaluation indicators, and evaluation evidence. Given the substantial diversity in learners’ needs, a developmental assessment is adopted, focusing on tracking the long-term development and potential of learners. The second speaker will report on the process of generating the evaluation framework. Based on the dialectical research paradigm, the process incorporates iterative cycles of learning-theorizing-practicing-reflecting/interpreting, aiming at achieving a triple goal, i.e., optimizing theory-practice-interpretation. The third speaker will report on the application of the evaluation framework. Taking the cognitive dimension as an example, she will use a case study to illustrate how to apply the framework to evaluate the cognitive interconnectedness of the members of the Community. The theory and practice of evaluating the development of learning outcomes in the Cloud Community might provide insights for managing other online professional learning communities for teachers.

Qiufang Wen works at National Research Centre for Foreign Language Education, BFSU, as Professor of Applied Linguistics. She is also Vice president of Aisa TEFL and Vice-president of China Association for Comparative Studies of English and Chinese. Her research interests include second language teaching and learning, and teacher professional development.

Zheng Bi works as an academic editor in Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, China. She received her Ph.D degree in foreign language teaching and learning at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Her research interests include foreign language teaching and learning and teacher development.

Lin Qiu is an associate professor in Capital Normal University in China. Her research interests include second language acquisition, foreign language teaching, and teacher development. She has published 20 papers and has been working as a facilitator in a online teacher professional community led by Professor Wen Qiufang in the last four years.