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Dr. Sarah Jaewon Lee, assistant professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development at the UW ���ߺ���, is on a mission to create equitable and joyful learning spaces for multilingual and immigrant students. Drawing from her own experiences growing up in a multilingual household, Dr. Lee’s research bridges the gap between formal and informal education, using innovative technology to empower students and teachers alike.

Growing up in a Korean immigrant household, Dr. Lee was fluent in both English and Korean, but she often felt that her multilingual abilities were undervalued in formal school settings. This early experience shaped her commitment to creating inclusive educational environments where students can bring their full identities into the classroom. “I always wanted to create spaces where multilingual students could feel like their whole selves,” she explains.

Her research focuses on the intersection of language, technology and joyful learning. One of her most notable projects is the Science through Technology-Enhanced Play (STEP) initiative, which uses RFID tags and sensors to create immersive, body-based learning experiences for children. In these games, students control avatars on a screen as they engage in science-based activities, such as learning about bees and pollination by “flying” around a virtual garden. This approach not only makes science learning more engaging but also creates opportunities for students who may not yet be proficient in English to participate fully. “It’s a way of decentering English as the only mode of learning,” she says.

Beyond the classroom, she is deeply committed to working with community partners, particularly organizations that serve immigrant and refugee families. In Seattle, she collaborates with School Connect Washington, an after-school program that supports immigrant students in math and English. She is also exploring ways to integrate her technology-enhanced learning approaches into these programs, ensuring that students have access to innovative educational tools that resonate with their interests and experiences.

Dr. Lee’s work is rooted in the concept of joyful learning, which she defines as creating spaces where students feel fully seen and empowered to express their identities. “Joyful learning isn’t just about being happy,” she says. “It’s about feeling agency over your learning and being able to bring your whole self into the classroom.” This philosophy is reflected in her collaborative approach to research, where teachers and students are seen as co-creators of knowledge.

As she continues her work at the ���ߺ���, Dr. Lee hopes to secure grants that will allow her to pay her community partners fairly and expand her research. Her ultimate goal is to empower multilingual and immigrant students to feel confident in contributing to conversations about emerging technologies and global challenges like climate change. “These kids are so aware of the world,” she says. “They give me hope for the future.”

Learn more about Dr. Lee and her work here.