Kirk Vanacore

Kirk Vanacore is a researcher specializing in the use of statistical, machine learning, and causal inference methods to study learning processes within educational technologies. He earned his Ph.D. in Learning Sciences & Technologies from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and did his postdoctoral work at the Penn Center for Learning Analytics, mentoring graduate students and facilitating research in Learning Analytics and Educational Data Mining. He is currently the Research Director of the National Tutoring Observatory.

Kirk’s research primarily employs experimental and quasi-experimental methods, including regression discontinuity and propensity score matching, to explore how interactions within educational platforms affect learning behaviors and outcomes. His recent projects have integrated behavior detection model outputs with principal stratification analyses to uncover how specific student behaviors moderate learning impacts. Additionally, Kirk investigates the effects of gamification, generative AI feedback, and tutoring interventions on student persistence and self-regulated learning.