Hyeyeon Lee, a postdoctoral fellow in Georgia Tech’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), is helping shape teaching practices and enhance student learning across campus.

Before coming to Tech, Lee spent four years as a graduate research assistant at Penn State’s Teaching with Technology Center, where she supported faculty in using active learning strategies to engage students in technology-enhanced classrooms.  

That experience led her to Tech’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, where she explored the use of “story-driven learning interventions” to foster engineering students’ entrepreneurial mindset. Her work at BME focused on support for instructors by developing pedagogical guidelines for implementing story-driven learning interventions.  

Now at CTL, Lee draws on both experiences to translate educational research into classroom practice. She also prepares workshops offered to instructors and teaching assistants that promote effective teaching practices and meaningful learning throughout the semester.  

Helping Students Navigate Digital Learning Challenges

Beyond her support for faculty and students, Lee has led a research program grounded in her academic background of Educational Psychology, with a focus on helping students become better self-regulated learners in a digital world. “In today’s world, we rely heavily on the internet for everyday life and academic tasks. However, the overwhelming amount of information presents significant challenges in making sense of it,” said Lee.  

Determining which sources are useful, credible, and necessary for completing assignments is often a complex task. For Lee, these challenges highlight the importance of self-regulated learning and metacognition, that is, students’ ability to plan, process, monitor, and adapt their learning processes.   

“I am passionate about studying these self-regulated learning processes to help others effectively access and use online resources,” said Lee. “I believe these are essential skills in the digital age, especially as generative AI becomes increasingly integrated into how we interact with information.”  

Lee’s research has been published in leading educational psychology and technology journals, such as Contemporary Educational Psychology, Learning and Individual Differences, and Educational Technology Research and Development. “I always make sure to block dedicated time each day for writing—especially when working on manuscripts intended for peer-reviewed publications,” Lee said.  

Research that Enhances Student Well-Being Through Collaboration

For Lee, supporting students goes beyond academic success—it means caring deeply about their mental health and well-being. “Through my graduate school experience, I have seen many students struggle with anxiety and depression, which significantly affect their academic performance and quality of life,” Lee explains. “That’s why I aim to better understand mental well-being and the psychological mechanisms behind these challenges. Fortunately, I had a collaborator who was studying this topic during my time as a graduate student, which gave me an opportunity to engage in mental health research and deepen my understanding through collaboration.”  

Fencing, Food, and Finding Balance

Outside of work, Lee makes time for balance and fun. She enjoys at-home workouts, fencing club, and discovering new restaurants on the weekend.  

“There are so many great options here, so I don’t stick to just one spot,” said Lee. “My favorite place in Atlanta is Buckhead. There are so many great restaurants to try, like Yeppa, Pricci, and Okiboru.” Lee is also a coffee enthusiast and enjoys exploring local cafés, particularly those that serve hand-drip coffee. “There are some nice options for hand-drip coffee in Chamblee, Midtown, and Downtown,” she said.  

Sundays, however, are more relaxed.  

“I usually keep Sunday low-key without making big plans, so I can ease into Monday smoothly,” said Lee.