I am a researcher and a designer.
Currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching & Agency (DELTA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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My research sits at the intersection of Human–Computer Interaction and the Learning Sciences. Grounded in constructivist perspectives, I focus on digital and physical embodied environments as sites for learning and collaboration. I explore knowledge building and knowledge community, AI for learning, distributed intelligence in computer-supported collaborative learning, immersive environments and games, through the Design-Based Research (DBR) approach.
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With a strong background in art and design, spanning spatial and environmental design, UI/UX, and product design, I design and study technologies that connect space, interaction, and learning, blending tangible and digital forms of experience.
My Experience and Reseach
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, US
Ph.D. program - Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching & Agency, Curriculum & Instruction, College of Education
Master's program - Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching & Agency, Curriculum & Instruction, College of Education
Master's program - Landscape Architecture, College of Fine and Applied Art
Graduate Minor - Art History, School of Art and Design
Graduate Minor - Game Study and Design
Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
Bachelor of Engineering, Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture
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Research
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Pixel Playground Lab, University of Illinois, lead by Mike Tissenbaum
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SimSnap: Complex simulation with snap tablets collaborate learning plant biology curriculum design, NSF founded. Participation: Curriculum design, user testing and UI/UX design of the Idea Wall (a collaborative communication tool), simulation design, test run with local school, research on small group collaboration​
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City Settlers: Complex simulation collaborative and competitive decision-making urban sustainable develop game. Participation: Test run with local summer camp, research on small group collaboration
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Embodied and Immersive Technologies (EmIT) Lab, University of Illinois, lead by Robb Lindgren
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Embodiment Learning with Haptic: Design embodied learning experience membrane potential with haptic devices. Participation: Interface design, research on haptic devices, and grant writing
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Publications
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Zeng, L., Xiao, Y., & Xia, F. (n.d.). 2025 Connected Learning Summit. In Talking to a Tree: A Generative AI-Mediated Collaborative Game for Knowledge Community. Retrieved 2025,.
Zeng, L., & Tissenbaum, M. (2025). The Role of Free Movement in the Physical Space for Productive Disequilibration in Collaborative Simulations. In Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning-CSCL 2025, pp. 430-434. International Society of the Learning Sciences.
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Sultana, A., Zeng, L., Wang, M., Cernova, S., Cang, X., Gnesdilow, D., ... & Mazalek, A. (2024, June). A Plant Simulation Tool for Collaborative Biology Experiments in Middle-school Classrooms: An In-the-wild Study. In Proceedings of the 50th Graphics Interface Conference (pp. 1-12).
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Zeng, L., Cang, X., Sultana, A., Wang, M., Cernova, S., Gnesdilow, D., ... & Tissenbaum, M. (2024). SimSnap: Supporting Knowledge Communities Across Individual, Small Group, and Whole Class Configurations.
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Zeng, L., Cang, X., Sultana, A., Cernova, S., Wang, M., Gnesdilow, D., ... & Tissenbaum, M. (2024). Spatial Manipulative Note-Taking Tool for Small Group Face-to-Face Collaboration in Science Class. In Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning-CSCL 2024, pp. 431-432. International Society of the Learning Sciences.
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Cang, X., Zeng, L., Tissenbaum, M., Gnesdilow, D., & Puntambekar, S. (2024). Convergent Group Understanding: Indicator of Knowledge Integration?. In Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning-CSCL 2024, pp. 197-200. International Society of the Learning Sciences.
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Zeng, L., Hadinezhad, S., & Tissenbaum, M. (2023, June). Spatially Manipulable Interactive Note Taking Tool to Facilitate Collaborative Learning in Science Education. In Proceedings of the 22nd Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference (pp. 614-618).
Sultana, A., Bakogeorge, A., Tibu, T., Zeng, L., Hadinezhad, S., Zaccagnini, L., ... & Mazalek, A. (2023, June). In-class Collaborative Learning Environment for Middle School Children: A Usability Study. In Proceedings of the 22nd Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference (pp. 661-666).
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Tarun, A., Andric, V., Yang, L., Tibu, T., Zaccagnini, L., Litong Zeng, L., ... & Mazalek, A. (2022). SimSnap: Supporting Collaborative Learning through Reconfigurable Simulations. Computersupported collaborative learning
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Tissenbaum, M., Lindgren, R., Danish, J., Kim, T., Zeng, L., Planey, J., ... & Pea, R. (2022). The Role of the Physical Space in Distributed Intelligence. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning-CSCL 2022, pp. 533-540. International Society of the Learning Sciences.
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Zeng, L., & Tissenbaum, M. (2022). The Impact of Device Orientation on Small Group Collaboration During Whole Class Game-Based Simulations. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning-CSCL 2022, pp. 27-34. International Society of the Learning Sciences.