Staff profile

I have worked as a Post-doctoral Research Associate for the Durham University Evidence Centre for Education, managing EdTech Innovation Test-bed trials funded by Nesta and DfE. I have also collected data on educational programmes such as Glasses in Classes, Philosophy for Children, and Understanding the Complex Determinants of Teacher Shortages. My expertise is developing and analysing process evaluation tools, questionnaire designs, and project management liaison with schools, colleges, and government organisations. Over the past ten years, I have studied and worked within British primary and secondary schools as a researcher across private and state-funded sections. My research interests primarily lie in music education, including Britain’s notable choir school education. My PhD was focused on the overall education of English Cathedral choristers and its particular cultural and social aspects. 2023 I initiated two whole school music and poetry events at Shincliffe Primary School and St. Oswald’s Primary School in Durham.

• Music Education

• 2023: Researcher Development Grant: I was awarded funding of £906.55 from the Durham University Research Staff Association Researcher Development Grant Fund in December 2023.

Chapter in book

• Evaluation of the impact of Glasses-in-Classes on infant's educational outcomes
  Dong, L., Cairns, J., Huat See, B., & Gorard, S. (2024). Evaluation of the impact of Glasses-in-Classes on infant's educational outcomes. In S. Gorard, & N. Siddiqui (Eds.), An International Approach to Developing Early Career Researchers: A Pipeline to Robust Education Research. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003455066-12

Journal Article

• Exploring the religious and spiritual trajectory of cathedral choristers in England
  Dong, L., & Ward, S. (2023). Exploring the religious and spiritual trajectory of cathedral choristers in England. Journal of Beliefs and Values, 44(4), 502-516. https://doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2023.2267928
• Is technology always helpful?: A critical review of the impact on learning outcomes of education technology in supporting formative assessment in schools
  See, B. H., Gorard, S., Lu, B., Dong, L., & Siddiqui, N. (2022). Is technology always helpful?: A critical review of the impact on learning outcomes of education technology in supporting formative assessment in schools. Research Papers in Education, 37(6), 1064-1096. https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2021.1907778
• Music Achievements of Being an English Chorister
  Dong, L., & Kokotsaki, D. (2021). Music Achievements of Being an English Chorister. British Journal of Music Education, 38(3), 249-263. https://doi.org/10.1017/s026505172100019x
• A systematic review of the impact of technology-mediated parental engagement on student outcomes
  See, B., Gorard, S., El Soufi, B., Lu, B., Siddiqui, N., & Dong, L. (2021). A systematic review of the impact of technology-mediated parental engagement on student outcomes. Educational Research and Evaluation, 26(3-4), 150-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803611.2021.1924791