Satu Piispa-Hakala

Satu Piispa-Hakala serves as a Project Researcher and Doctoral Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education within the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). Her research focuses on digital learning environments, teacher development in technology integration, and children's emotional experiences with digital gaming. She actively contributes to understanding how digital transformation impacts educational practices and student well-being, with particular attention to inclusive approaches across educational contexts.

Dr. Piispa-Hakala's research program spans three interconnected domains that define her scholarly identity. Her work in digital pedagogy examines how teachers develop professional agency when implementing digital learning approaches, with recent focus on AI readiness among pre-service educators. Her groundbreaking research on gamer rage investigates children's emotional responses to digital gaming experiences, giving voice to young people's perspectives on frustration and emotional regulation in gaming contexts. Additionally, she makes significant contributions to inclusive arts education, exploring practical methods to ensure all children can access and participate in artistic and cultural activities regardless of ability or background. Her methodological approach typically combines qualitative insights with practical applications, ensuring her research has direct relevance to educational practitioners.

Analysis of Dr. Piispa-Hakala's publication trajectory from 2019-2025 reveals an evolving research focus that increasingly emphasizes children's perspectives on digital experiences while maintaining strong connections to teacher development. Her early work (2019-2021) established foundational understanding of learning landscapes in digital environments, while her 2021-2023 publications expanded into children's emotional responses to gaming. Most recently, her research has incorporated emerging technologies like AI into teacher education contexts. The consistent thread across all her work is a commitment to practical application and inclusivity, ensuring educational research translates into meaningful classroom practices that serve all learners.

Dr. Piispa-Hakala maintains active engagement with collaborative research communities that support her work. She was a core member of the DigiErko research group (2017-2023), which focused on Learning and Teaching in Digital Environments, and currently participates in the TOTY research group. She is set to lead the significant upcoming project "Did It Get to You? – A Multidimensional Study on Gamer Rage Among Children and Youth" (2025-2028), which promises to deepen understanding of emotional responses to gaming among young people through multiple methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks.