Dr. Ken Koedinger

Biography

Kenneth R. Koedinger is a professor of Human-Computer Interaction in the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. He holds an M.S. in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology. With experience teaching in urban high schools, his multidisciplinary background supports his research goals in understanding human learning and creating educational technologies that increase student achievement. Koedinger has developed Cognitive Models, which are computer simulations of student thinking and learning that guide the design of educational materials, practices, and technologies. These models form the basis of a revolutionary approach to educational technology known as Cognitive Tutors, which support learning in rich problem-solving environments. Alongside his colleagues, he has developed Cognitive Tutors for mathematics, science, and language, testing them in laboratories and real courses alike. His research has contributed new principles and techniques for designing educational software and has produced fundamental insights into the cognitive science of mathematical thinking and learning. He has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, received multiple paper awards, and has been funded through more than 30 grants. Koedinger is also a co-founder of Carnegie Learning, Inc. and leads the LearnLab, a Pittsburgh Science Learning Center that leverages computational approaches to identify instructional conditions that lead to robust student learning.

Research Interests