Academic Profile : Faculty
Assoc Prof Chen Wenli
Head, Learning Sciences & Assessment
Associate Professor, National Institute of Education - Learning Sciences & Assessment
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Associate Professor CHEN Wenli is the Head of the Learning Sciences and Assessment (LSA) Academic Department at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore. She specialises in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and learning analytics. Dr Chen is widely recognized as the "go-to expert" for innovative techno-pedagogical design for collaborative learning in authentic classrooms. Her interdisciplinary research bridges theory and practice by integrating learning sciences theories, pedagogical expertise, educational technologies, and learning analytics to design, implement, and sustain impactful collaborative learning environments. She has been serving on Singapore Ministry of Education’s e-Pedagogy Work Group and Teaching with Technology Work Group.
Dr Chen has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences, including the prestigious International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2024. She has received multiple Best Paper Awards from international conferences. She was awarded the Distinguished Researcher Award by the Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education. Additionally, she received the "Excellence in Research Commendation" from NIE in 2022, the "Excellence in Teaching Commendation" in 2015 and 2017, and the "Nanyang Education Award" from NTU in 2016.
Dr Chen serves as the founding co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Computers in Education (SJR Tier 1A) and the co-editor-in-chief of Learning: Research and Practice. She is also an Associate Editor for Instructional Science (SJR Tier 1A), Research and Practice in Technology-Enhanced Learning (SJR Tier 1), and an editorial board member for the International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (SJR Tier 1A).
In addition to her editorial roles, Dr Chen is an executive committee member of the Asia Pacific Society of Computers in Education (APSCE) and the Global Chinese Society of Computers in Education (GCSCE). She served as the co-chair of the CSCL community committee of the International Society of the Learning Sciences from 2016 to 2021. Her international leadership in the field includes roles as Program Committee Chair for the International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE) 2017, Co-Chair for the International Conference of the Learning Sciences 2016, and Organizing Committee Chair for the ICCE 2012.
Before joining NIE/NTU, Dr Chen was a journalist at a prominent international news agency, receiving numerous journalistic accolades.
Dr Chen has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences, including the prestigious International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2024. She has received multiple Best Paper Awards from international conferences. She was awarded the Distinguished Researcher Award by the Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education. Additionally, she received the "Excellence in Research Commendation" from NIE in 2022, the "Excellence in Teaching Commendation" in 2015 and 2017, and the "Nanyang Education Award" from NTU in 2016.
Dr Chen serves as the founding co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Computers in Education (SJR Tier 1A) and the co-editor-in-chief of Learning: Research and Practice. She is also an Associate Editor for Instructional Science (SJR Tier 1A), Research and Practice in Technology-Enhanced Learning (SJR Tier 1), and an editorial board member for the International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (SJR Tier 1A).
In addition to her editorial roles, Dr Chen is an executive committee member of the Asia Pacific Society of Computers in Education (APSCE) and the Global Chinese Society of Computers in Education (GCSCE). She served as the co-chair of the CSCL community committee of the International Society of the Learning Sciences from 2016 to 2021. Her international leadership in the field includes roles as Program Committee Chair for the International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE) 2017, Co-Chair for the International Conference of the Learning Sciences 2016, and Organizing Committee Chair for the ICCE 2012.
Before joining NIE/NTU, Dr Chen was a journalist at a prominent international news agency, receiving numerous journalistic accolades.
Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Learning Analytics
- APPLETREE: Assessing Processes and Products for Learning (APPLE) by Tracking and Reporting Efficacy and Effectiveness (TREE) of Collaborative Idea Improvement
- Mandarin eBook App and Singaporean Children's Home Reading Quantity, Quality, and Emergent Literacy Outcomes
- Growth in Bilingual & Biliteracy Proficiency: Environmental, Individual & Experiential Factors (GIBBER)
- InsightPeer: An AI-supported Peer Feedback System to Improve Students' Feedback Literacy
- Collaborative Inquiry on Improving Primary School Students' Attitudes and Competencies in ICT-mediated Chinese Writing
- Sustainability and Scalability of AppleTree Supported Collaborative Argumentation
- Peer Feedback as a Systematic Pedagogy for Developing Graduate Students' AI Literacy and Interdisciplinary Collaborative Problem-Solving Competency
- Singapore primary and secondary students' perceptions, challenges and attainment in Chinese and Tamil composition writing: A comparative study on computer-based and paper-and-pen-based writing
- Leveraging Generative AI for 21st Century Teaching and Learning
- Supporting Collaborative Learning with Individual Preparation and Group Awareness: A Multi-Modal Learning Analytics Study
- An Investigation of Learning and Teaching Supported by Personal Learning Devices (PLDs) in Secondary Schools
- A multimodal learning analytical approach to highlight group engagement and collaboration for learning
- Computer-Supported Collaborative Argumentation in Social Studies and History Classrooms
Awards
Teaching Awards:
- Nanyang Education Award. Nanyang Technological University, 2016
- Excellence in Teaching Commendation. National Institute of Education, 2015, 2017
Research Awards:
- Finalist, Nanyang Research Award, 2023
- Excellence in Research Commendation. National Institute of Education, 2022
- Distinguished Researcher Award. Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education, 2020
- Young Research Leader Award. Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education, 2011
Best Paper Awards:
- Best Paper Award. International Conference on Computers in Education, 2022
- Best Paper Award. Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education, 2020
- Best Technical Design Award. Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education, 2014
- Special Mention Award. International Conference on Computers in Education, 2012
- Outstanding Paper Award. Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education, 2009, 2011
- Best Paper Award, International Conference on Computers in Education, 2007
- Best Paper Award, International Conference on Computers in Education, 2006
- Nanyang Education Award. Nanyang Technological University, 2016
- Excellence in Teaching Commendation. National Institute of Education, 2015, 2017
Research Awards:
- Finalist, Nanyang Research Award, 2023
- Excellence in Research Commendation. National Institute of Education, 2022
- Distinguished Researcher Award. Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education, 2020
- Young Research Leader Award. Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education, 2011
Best Paper Awards:
- Best Paper Award. International Conference on Computers in Education, 2022
- Best Paper Award. Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education, 2020
- Best Technical Design Award. Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education, 2014
- Special Mention Award. International Conference on Computers in Education, 2012
- Outstanding Paper Award. Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education, 2009, 2011
- Best Paper Award, International Conference on Computers in Education, 2007
- Best Paper Award, International Conference on Computers in Education, 2006
Fellowships & Other Recognition
Journal Editorship:
- 2014 - present, Founding Co-Editor in Chief, Journal of Computers in Education (SJR Tier 1A) (Springer)
- 2022 - present, Co-Editor in Chief, Learning: Research and Practice (Taylor & Francis)
- 2018 - present, Associate Editor, Instructional Science (SJR Tier 1A, SSCI) (Springer)
- 2016 – Present, Associate Editor, Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning (SJR Tier 1) (Springer)
- 2017 – 2024, Associate Editor, Asia Pacific Journal of Education (SJR Tier 2) SSCI) (Taylor & Francis)
- 2016 – 2022, Advisory Editor, Asia Pacific Education Review (SSCI) (Springer)
- 2020 – present, Editorial Board, International Journal of CSCL (SJR Tier 1A, SSCI) (Springer)
Service to International Society:
- 2012 - present, Executive committee member, Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education
- 2016 - present, Conference committee member, International Society of the Learning Sciences
- 2016 - 2021, CSCL community committee co-chair
- 2015 - present, Executive committee member, Global Chinese Society of Computer in Education
- 2014 - present, Founding Co-Editor in Chief, Journal of Computers in Education (SJR Tier 1A) (Springer)
- 2022 - present, Co-Editor in Chief, Learning: Research and Practice (Taylor & Francis)
- 2018 - present, Associate Editor, Instructional Science (SJR Tier 1A, SSCI) (Springer)
- 2016 – Present, Associate Editor, Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning (SJR Tier 1) (Springer)
- 2017 – 2024, Associate Editor, Asia Pacific Journal of Education (SJR Tier 2) SSCI) (Taylor & Francis)
- 2016 – 2022, Advisory Editor, Asia Pacific Education Review (SSCI) (Springer)
- 2020 – present, Editorial Board, International Journal of CSCL (SJR Tier 1A, SSCI) (Springer)
Service to International Society:
- 2012 - present, Executive committee member, Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education
- 2016 - present, Conference committee member, International Society of the Learning Sciences
- 2016 - 2021, CSCL community committee co-chair
- 2015 - present, Executive committee member, Global Chinese Society of Computer in Education
Courses Taught
Doctoral Degree courses:
- SE811 Advanced Quantitative Research Methodology
- SE812 Quantitative Research Design & Analysis
- NEDD802 Answering Questions with Quantitative Data Analysis
- NEDD902 Quantitative Research Methods
- NEDD901 Literature Review Methods
- GP8000 Artificial IntelligenceLiteracy
Master's Degree Courses:
- MALC832 Curriculum and Program Evaluation
- MID909 Designing, Conducting and Reporting Investigations
- MED871 Educational Inquiry (I)
- MED872 Educational Inquiry (II)
- MID945 Capstone Project for Instructional Design
- MID944 Data Collection and Analysis for Instructional Design Project
- MID941 Evaluation Models & Methods
- MTD912 Program Evaluation Models & Methods
- MTD901 Professional Practice Inquiry Project
- MLT909 Research Methodologies in Learning Sciences
- MMM800 Critical Inquiry
- MAP812 Statistics in Applied Psychology
Post-Graduate Diploma Courses:
- QED50G Technologies for Meaningful Learning
- QED507 ICT for Meaningful Learning
- QED522 ICT for Engaged Learning
Undergraduate Degree Courses:
- DED107 ICT for Meaningful Learning
Leadership Program Courses:
- MLS3107 Leadership in Artificial Intelligence for Education
In-service Program Courses:
- ICT0512 Towards Better Tests & Teaching– Item Analysis in Achievement Tests
- TLP2 Leading in the Design of ICT-enabled Learning Experiences and Environments
- TLP101 Integration of ICT into Curriculum
- ILS0014 Introduction to Program Evaluation
- R4E201 Action Research
- SE811 Advanced Quantitative Research Methodology
- SE812 Quantitative Research Design & Analysis
- NEDD802 Answering Questions with Quantitative Data Analysis
- NEDD902 Quantitative Research Methods
- NEDD901 Literature Review Methods
- GP8000 Artificial IntelligenceLiteracy
Master's Degree Courses:
- MALC832 Curriculum and Program Evaluation
- MID909 Designing, Conducting and Reporting Investigations
- MED871 Educational Inquiry (I)
- MED872 Educational Inquiry (II)
- MID945 Capstone Project for Instructional Design
- MID944 Data Collection and Analysis for Instructional Design Project
- MID941 Evaluation Models & Methods
- MTD912 Program Evaluation Models & Methods
- MTD901 Professional Practice Inquiry Project
- MLT909 Research Methodologies in Learning Sciences
- MMM800 Critical Inquiry
- MAP812 Statistics in Applied Psychology
Post-Graduate Diploma Courses:
- QED50G Technologies for Meaningful Learning
- QED507 ICT for Meaningful Learning
- QED522 ICT for Engaged Learning
Undergraduate Degree Courses:
- DED107 ICT for Meaningful Learning
Leadership Program Courses:
- MLS3107 Leadership in Artificial Intelligence for Education
In-service Program Courses:
- ICT0512 Towards Better Tests & Teaching– Item Analysis in Achievement Tests
- TLP2 Leading in the Design of ICT-enabled Learning Experiences and Environments
- TLP101 Integration of ICT into Curriculum
- ILS0014 Introduction to Program Evaluation
- R4E201 Action Research
Supervision of PhD Students
Current Doctoral Students:
- Su Guo: Designing for effective interdisciplinary collaborative learning (PhD, Main supervisor)
- Zheng Lishan: The impact of group awareness on students' collaborative game-based learning: A Multi-modal learning analytics (PhD, sole supervisor)
Graduated Doctoral Students:
- Dr Lyu Qianru (2025): The impact of individual preparation support before collaboration on students’ knowledge co-construction process in engineering education (PhD, sole supervisor)
- Dr Colin Lu (2024): Teachers’ TPACK and practice: Using design scaffolds for ICT Integration (EdD, sole supervisor)
- Dr Jonathan Foo (2024): The effects of augmented feedback on skills acquisition and retention of a series of motor tasks in fencing in an immersive Virtual Reality learning environment (EdD, main supervisor)
- Dr Jesmine Tan (2021): Scripting collaborative knowledge improvement – A study of pre-service Teachers’ collaborative lesson design In Singapore (PhD, main supervisor)
- Dr Jiao Fuzhen (2021): Collaborative knowledge building through peer evaluation in a CSCL environment: An exploratory study in a Chinese language writing class in a Singapore Primary school (PhD, co-supervisor)
- Dr Alwyn Lee (2019): Idea identification and analysis (I²A) for sustained idea improvement in knowledge-building discourse (PhD, co-supervisor)
- Dr Wen Yun (2014): Investigating group interactions in a networked second language classroom: Appropriating a representational tool for collaborative language learning (PhD, main supervisor)
- Su Guo: Designing for effective interdisciplinary collaborative learning (PhD, Main supervisor)
- Zheng Lishan: The impact of group awareness on students' collaborative game-based learning: A Multi-modal learning analytics (PhD, sole supervisor)
Graduated Doctoral Students:
- Dr Lyu Qianru (2025): The impact of individual preparation support before collaboration on students’ knowledge co-construction process in engineering education (PhD, sole supervisor)
- Dr Colin Lu (2024): Teachers’ TPACK and practice: Using design scaffolds for ICT Integration (EdD, sole supervisor)
- Dr Jonathan Foo (2024): The effects of augmented feedback on skills acquisition and retention of a series of motor tasks in fencing in an immersive Virtual Reality learning environment (EdD, main supervisor)
- Dr Jesmine Tan (2021): Scripting collaborative knowledge improvement – A study of pre-service Teachers’ collaborative lesson design In Singapore (PhD, main supervisor)
- Dr Jiao Fuzhen (2021): Collaborative knowledge building through peer evaluation in a CSCL environment: An exploratory study in a Chinese language writing class in a Singapore Primary school (PhD, co-supervisor)
- Dr Alwyn Lee (2019): Idea identification and analysis (I²A) for sustained idea improvement in knowledge-building discourse (PhD, co-supervisor)
- Dr Wen Yun (2014): Investigating group interactions in a networked second language classroom: Appropriating a representational tool for collaborative language learning (PhD, main supervisor)