CORE Lab
University of Toronto and McMaster University
CORE Lab (Computational Research and Education) studies how people learn, teach, and work in computationally-driven fields.
About the lab
Our research spans computing education, assessment design, educational data mining, student experience, and human-centered AI tools for learning and research.
The lab brings together faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers from the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and partner institutions.
Research areas
- Adaptive Systems
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computing Education
- Educational Technology
- Human-Centered AI
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Learning Science & Analytics
- Machine Learning
- Student Experience
- UI/UX
145
Publications
Our research appears across leading computing education and human-computer interaction (HCI) venues, spanning full papers, working-group reports, and posters.
Where our research appears
Tile area is each venue’s share of all 145 publications, across 40 venues; bars show papers per year. Select a venue or a bar to see its papers.
- ITiCSE: 33 research outputs, 2020–26
- SIGCSE TS: 23 research outputs, 2020–26
- Pre-print: 17 research outputs, 2022–26
- Koli Calling: 8 research outputs, 2021–25
- CHI: 6 research outputs, 2023–26
- ICER: 5 research outputs, 2023–26
- DataEd: 4 research outputs, 2022–25
- WCCCE: 4 research outputs, 2023–26
- LAK: 3 research outputs, 2022–25
- Prague Stringology Conference: 3 research outputs, 2018–21
- Unlisted: 3 research outputs, 2019–26
- COMPSAC: 2 research outputs, 2023–25
- DIS: 2 research outputs, 2024–25
- PACM HCI: 2 research outputs, 2023–24
- SIGITE: 2 research outputs, 2021–22
- SIGMOD: 2 research outputs, 2024–25
- 2021 International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation (IPIN): 1 research output, 2021
- AAAI: 1 research output, 2026
- ACE: 1 research output, 2025
- ACM Inroads: 1 research output, 2021
- ACM SIGMOD Record: 1 research output, 2023
- ACM Transactions on Computing Education: 1 research output, 2026
- AIED: 1 research output, 2026
- Algorithms: 1 research output, 2020
- Annual Workshop of the Psychology of Programming Interest Group: 1 research output, 2020
- CHIWORK: 1 research output, 2025
- CompEd: 1 research output, 2025
- Complex & Intelligent Systems: 1 research output, 2025
- Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Medicine in Europe: 1 research output, 2026
- Discover Computing: 1 research output, 2026
- EduCHI: 1 research output, 2023
- EDUCON: 1 research output, 2025
- EuroVis 2025 - Education Papers: 1 research output, 2025
- HCOMP: 1 research output, 2024
- IUI: 1 research output, 2026
- L@S: 1 research output, 2024
- Nature Human Behaviour: 1 research output, 2026
- NYGH T&L Week: 1 research output, 2024
- Proceedings of the 8th Educational Data Mining in Computer Science Education Workshop (CSEDM 2024): 1 research output, 2024
- SFU Educational Review: 1 research output, 2024
- TSpace, University of Toronto: 1 research output, 2026
- VL/HCC: 1 research output, 2025
How we work
We aim for excellence and push the boundaries of our fields, and we believe that depends on an equitable lab. Every member, from first-year undergraduates to doctoral students, is trained in research methods, research ethics, and the tools we build with, and we revisit that training regularly as methods and expectations change.
The lab is structured so that no one works alone. Students are mentored by faculty and by more senior lab members, projects are run by small teams with clear roles, and credit is shared openly. Beyond our own universities, we work with industry partners and with international collaborators across Europe, Asia, and Oceania. That range of people and perspectives lets us take on questions that no single group could answer.
Affiliations & grant support
CORE Lab brings together researchers at the University of Toronto and McMaster University, with support from Canadian and international research organizations.
Affiliations
Sponsors & funders
NSERCCanada
Learning Engineering Tools CompetitionInternational innovation prize
ANRFrance
Data Sciences InstituteUniversity of Toronto
Our support spans national, international, and institutional programs: Canada’s NSERC Discovery Grants and Collaborative Research and Training Experience program (CREATE); the Learning Engineering Tools Competition; France’s ANR; and the University of Toronto’s Data Sciences Institute (DSI), Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy (ISUP), and Learning & Education Advancement Fund (LEAF), with additional support from McMaster University.
Support our research
Interested in funding or donating to our research? Gifts and sponsorships help us train student researchers, run studies in real classrooms, and build tools that instructors everywhere can use. Reach out to Michael or Angela to talk about how you can help.
Around the lab
Snapshots from lab events, conferences, and everyday life in the office.








