Due to the COVID-19 situation most of my projects are on hold. Below are some of the projects that are keeping me engaged and challenged during this summer period.
I’m still working with the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) on the Driving K-12 Innovation project. We’ll start our work on this annual report in July and then in January I’ll share the findings at the Future of Educational Technology (FETC) Conference in Orlando.
Since most of my consulting work has been on hold, I’ve spent more time on some of my volunteer projects. Over the past year I’ve been reviewing films for Film Pittsburgh. This summer I’m focusing on the upcoming Film Pittsburgh live version of Reelabilities, a focus on films around disability themes. The festival will take place this year from September 8-12 at the Carnegie Museum of Art. From November 10-21, Film Pittsburgh will also include a fall festival with both Pittsburgh Shorts and the 3 Rivers Film Festival incorporated into one event.
I’ve also explored new avenues with the Neighborhood Learning Alliance (NLA) for after-school programs. NLA has developed a health careers pathway with local healthcare institutions that includes college-level courses that high school students take at Carlow University and the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). In July I had a chance to visit the biology lab at Carlow with students from all around the Pittsburgh area.
Over the summer I’ll be working on my fall course for the CMU Osher Program, The Teachings of Fred Rogers. I’ll use the new book from Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski, When You Wonder, You’re Learning as the focus for my course. I’ll also invite a series of experts from the Fred Rogers Center, Fred Rogers Productions, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to join my “live” class with a possible field trip to the Children’s Museum to see a new exhibit around the work of Fred Rogers.
With my family and dogs I had a chance to explore with my camera the Asheville, North Carolina region as well as a variety of Pittsburgh neighborhoods including the Bloomfield Little Italy Days and this year’s Fair in the Park.