PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Kenneth Richard Koedinger

Also known as Ken Koedinger, Kenneth R. Koedinger

Kenneth Richard Koedinger is a Carnegie Mellon researcher whose work connects AI models of human learning with intelligent tutors. He earned degrees in math, computer science and cognitive psychology and developed an AI geometry tutor used in Pittsburgh Public Schools. At Carnegie Mellon, he moved through research and faculty roles and co-founded Carnegie Learning in 1998. He coauthored the Knowledge-Learning-Instruction framework in 2012, became an ACM Fellow in 2023, and received the International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026. As of October 2026, he is a Hillman University Professor of Computer Science and directs LearnLab.

Works
732
Citations
27,687
h-index
79

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1984–1990

    Degrees and an AI geometry tutor

    He earns a BS in mathematics and computer science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1984 and an MS in computer science there in 1986, then completes a PhD in cognitive psychology at Carnegie Mellon in 1990. He joins CMU in 1986 and builds an AI geometry tutor that is eventually used in Pittsburgh Public Schools.

  2. 1993–2001

    Research and faculty roles

    At Carnegie Mellon, he moves from research computer scientist in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (1993–1999) to senior research scientist (1999–2001), then becomes an associate professor in 2001.

  3. 1998

    Co-founding Carnegie Learning

    He co-founds Carnegie Learning in 1998, an AI in Education company that brings intelligent tutoring technology into widespread use in schools.

  4. 2012

    The KLI framework

    In 2012, he coauthors the Knowledge-Learning-Instruction framework paper with Albert Corbett and Charles Perfetti. The paper sets out three coordinated taxonomies for knowledge, learning and instruction.

  5. 2023

    An ACM fellowship

    ACM names him a 2023 Fellow for advancing AI models of human learning and developing intelligent tutors to aid students.

  6. June 2025

    Practice with feedback

    In June 2025, three experiments by Ken Koedinger, Paulo Carvalho and Michael Asher find that replacing lectures with practice problems and immediate feedback helps students learn faster.

  7. August 2026

    A lifetime achievement award

    In August 2026, the International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society gives him its Lifetime Achievement Award for work advancing learning sciences and technology.

  8. As of October 2026

    Leading LearnLab

    As of October 2026, he is a Hillman University Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon and directs LearnLab.

Sources and credits

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  1. KENNETH R. KOEDINGER cs.cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Koedinger Wins Lifetime Achievement Award | Human-Computer Interaction Institute hcii.cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Ken Koedinger | Human-Computer Interaction Institute hcii.cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. ERIC - EJ972110 - The Knowledge-Learning-Instruction Framework: Bridging the Science-Practice Chasm to Enhance Robust Student Learning, Cognitive Science, 2012-Jul eric.ed.gov. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Four SCS Faculty Named 2023 ACM Fellows | Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Department csd.cs.cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Practice Makes Perfect | Human-Computer Interaction Institute hcii.cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. People – LearnLab learnlab.org. Checked 15 October 2026.