Welcome to the Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning Lab!
Welcome to the McGill University Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning Lab!
The Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning Lab hosts the research projects of Lab Director marta.kobiela [at] mcgill.ca (Marta Kobiela). We conduct research aimed at understanding processes of teaching and learning within mathematics and are interested in how to empower learners to become authors and agents in their own learning. We focus in particular on the interactions and visualization practices that shape how people reason about and make sense of ideas. Our research falls within three general areas:
- Geometry and spatial reasoning
- Mathematical practices, particularly mathematical defining
- Teacher educator and teacher noticing and practice
Our lab is located in the Department of Integrated Studies at McGill University. On this website, you’ll learn more about who we are and our research. We also provide resources for mathematics teachers and teacher educators that we have developed through our research. If you are a prospective or current undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD student interested in working with us, please read the section called Join the Lab.
This researcher may be accepting graduate students for the upcoming academic year. Please read "Join our Lab" for more information.
Latest Updates
Curious about how we designed our logo? Members of the Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning Lab (VIRL) share our collaborative process for creating a lab logo, including how we researched logos, designed the logo, and chose a color scheme.
Four Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning Lab (VIRL) members participated in the McGill Education Graduate Students’ Society Conference (EGSS) on May 15 and 16, 2026.
The Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning Lab (VIRL) team participated in two talks during the annual conference of the International Society of the Learning Sciences 2026 hosted by the University of California, Irvine on June 15 to 19, 2026.
VIRL participated in the Concordia University Education Graduate Student Symposium and the University of Manitoba Education Graduate Students’ Research Conference.
Trois membres du Visualization, Interaction, and Reasoning Lab (VIRL) ont participé au 56e Colloque du Groupe de didactique des mathématiques du Québec (GDM), qui s’est tenu du 20 au 22 mai 2026 à l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR).
Ever wonder what it's like to be a lab volunteer? Lab member, Elisa Fogarty, shares her reflections about her experiences joining a research lab as an undergraduate volunteer.