Jillianne Code

Jillianne Code is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Education. As Director of the ALIVE Research Lab (Assessment for Learning in Immersive and Virtual Environments), she focuses on postdigital learner agency, exploring how digital technologies shape educational experiences and power dynamics. Her work integrates immersive environments like VR, game-based learning, and social media to empower student autonomy. Dr. Code holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Simon Fraser University, with postdoctoral training at Harvard University and visiting scholar roles at the University of Edinburgh. She co-founded the HeartLife Foundation, Canada’s first national patient-led heart failure advocacy network, leveraging her personal journey as a heart transplant recipient to advance patient-centered healthcare. Her research bridges education and health equity, addressing algorithmic literacy, digital access, and agency in both academic and medical contexts.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Simon Fraser University
• M.Ed. and B.Ed. in Science Education, University of Alberta
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Visiting Scholar, University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research in Digital Education

Research emphasizes critical pedagogy in postdigital spaces, examining how technologies mediate learning and health outcomes. Key themes include equity in edtech adoption, agency in virtual environments, and healthcare advocacy for chronic conditions like heart failure. Her interdisciplinary approach merges educational theory with clinical practice, resulting in interventions such as digital counseling systems for heart patients and frameworks for assessing inquiry-based learning in VR settings.

Labs/Initiatives:

• ALIVE Research Lab (UBC)
• HeartLife Foundation (national patient advocacy network)

Key contributions include the development of immersive assessment tools for science education and patient-centered frameworks for chronic disease management. Her work is funded through interdisciplinary grants focusing on technology’s role in education and healthcare innovation.