We
are an academic home for informal learning at the University of Pittsburgh.
We do learning research, engage in community-engaged
research/practice partnerships, and pursue field-building and professional
development for the informal learning world. See all our publications
or browse by collections below. You can also access doctoral dissertations
completed at UPCLOSE. UPCLOSE is a project of
Pitt’s
Learning Research and Development Center
(LRDC) and School of Education,
which offers a part-time
educational doctorate degree in Out-of-School Learning for those who want
to be transformational leaders in educational practice. Kevin Crowley works with practitioners and communities to understand, support, and advocate for informal learning. He holds a Ph.D. and MS in Developmental Psychology from Carnegie Mellon, and a BA in Psychology and Education from Swarthmore College. Karen Knutson has interests in
museum learning, art education, and organizational change in informal
institutions. She holds a Ph.D. in Art Education from the University of
British Columbia and an MA and BA (Hons) in Art History from Queen's
University in Canada. Mary Ann Steiner focuses on
informal learning and community engagement. She has a background in youth
development, and has worked at the Science Museum of Minnesota, the National
Science Foundation, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. She has a
Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, an MEd from the University of
Minnesota and a BFA from Bard College. Updated
July 2024 |