The Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) houses the University of Pittsburgh Center for Learning in Out of School Environments (UPCLOSE).
The LRDC advances the science of learning by bringing together leading researchers in cognitive, social, and educational sciences. In the LRDC’s multidisciplinary setting, scientists study learning in its cognitive, neural, social, and organizational contexts, making research and development links to formal education practice, policy, and out-of-school settings.
UPCLOSE is an academic home for informal learning. UPCLOSE conceptualizes, develops, and studies informal learning experiences, connecting academic learning theory and real-world practice to explore what it means to learn and change as a result of activity in everyday environments including museums, commercial and community settings, on the web, and at home. Additionally, UPCLOSE research uncovers how museums, community organizations, and their relationships learn and change. UPCLOSE joins research and practice through collaborations and national field-building initiatives, such as CUSP.