British Council – Online CPD Feasibility Study

British Council - Online CPD Feasibility Study

Asia Pacific

2021 - 2022

Countries

China | Japan | South Korea

Lead M&E Consultant(s)

Simon Borg

Project Overview

Trinity College London has been commissioned by the British Council to conduct a study into online CPD for teachers of English in basic education (BE) settings in China, Japan, and South Korea. We have adopted the acronym BCEAS (British Council East Asia Study) for the project. Borg is the lead researcher on the project, working with two other colleagues on the central research team and seven further researchers in three in-country teams. The aims of the study are: (i) Complete a comprehensive needs analysis and landscape review of online English teacher CPD offers (available services and products) within China, Japan, and South Korea; (ii) Complete a follow-up ‘deep dive’ location review in mainland China, focusing on the digital teacher CPD context; (iii) Create a set of replicable research tools to allow further country-specific landscape reviews and country-specific localisation reviews that would result in data/reports that could be compared with those conducted by the team in China, Japan and South Korea. The project will run from November 2021 until March 2022.

Approaches & Outputs

The research project has two phases. Regional (Phase 1): Through a needs analysis and landscape review that utilises both primary and secondary research, this phase aims to have a better understanding of English teacher CPD needs and the current range of digital offers, products and services that meet those needs within the identified countries. This research data will establish a baseline of digital/online platforms and services across China, Japan, and South Korea (regional and in-country) that offer free and open digital resources and online English teacher development opportunities and explore English teacher digital trends and needs within this context. This review will be used to identify areas of future need and opportunity and inform higher level British Council decision making in BC East Asia and at country level. China (Phase 2): To build on the regional landscape review and needs analysis, to effectively and more deeply analyse ways to support and engage with local English teacher CPD digital needs and online trends, explore future partnership or localisation models, and make recommendations on the possible impact and costings of existing and potential models of digital engagement and/or partnerships in China. The findings will be used to inform specific China-related decision-making strategy. A research report will be delivered in March 2022.

Impact On

The report will support British Council strategic decision-making in South Asia, and particularly in China where engagement by local primary and secondary school teachers of English with British Council online products is modest. The report will also provide a framework and tools that the British Council can replicate in other countries or regions.

Challenges

Phase 1 will utilise an online survey and substantial work has been necessary to optimise the survey delivery strategy. For example, teachers of English in the target countries are more likely to respond to surveys in their own language, and so the survey is being translated into three languages. The surveying strategy has also been localised, for example, by using different online survey platforms according to what is popular in each country. Much work has also gone into identifying gatekeepers who can share the survey link with teachers.

British Council – Online CPD Feasibility Study