AI has had an immediate impact on education across all levels and has created just as many questions. Is AI a tool to assist with homework or a crutch harming critical thinking? AI’s role in education is and remains a contentious topic. Join us for a conversation with panelist from varying education levels to discuss AI’s role in the classroom and education. This program takes place in the South Wing Reading Room on the 2nd floor of CLP-Main Library. Registration is recommended, walk ins welcome.
Tag: Pittsburgh Events
The 2027 Three Rivers EdTech Conference (TRETC) is an exciting professional development opportunity to advance the integration of educational technology for teachers, administrators, students, and industry experts in Southwestern PA.
Join us for TRETC: Learning Amplified and engage with thought leaders, educators, and technologists as we uncover the tools and strategies that are revolutionizing how knowledge is constructed. Through feature speakers, professional development sessions, topic-based mini-summits, and an Innovation Hall, participants connect to elevate learning outcomes.
The goal is to leave with at least: One new skill. One big question. One meaningful connection.
TRETC 2027:
Date: Monday, January 18, 2027 (MLK Day)
Time: 8:00 AM-3:00 PM
Location: Fox Chapel School District, Fox Chapel High School, 611 Field Club Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
2026 is the FIRST EVER Unicorn Palooza. You might be saying, “Why did Assemble wait so long to have such a fun event?” Great question! We decided to remix MakerDate (thank you for all the years) and transform it into something new, like nothing before. Instead of bidding on dates during the live and silent auction, we will be remixing carnival games where folks can “spin the wheel” to land on a learning experience with a local ceramist, welder, writer, or celebrity! Pick up the duck to see if you won tickets to a museum or a charcuterie board! Unicorn Palooza will have plenty of amazing opportunities to connect with creatives, artists, makers, and technologists. Want to sign up to offer a making experience? Fill out our Maker Form here!
The Unicorny Awards
To be announced soon…
In celebrating 15 Years of Assemble, we want to shout-out our gratitude to the folks who have helped Assemble to keep Assemble-ing!
Awards include: Unsung Unicorn, Fabulous Funder, Afrofuturist Activator, and Magical Maker.
Why Unicorns?!
Our mascot, which was designed by Brenna Thummler in 2016, is a Unicorn Robot in Outer Space. From kids to grown-ups, folks love Unicorns – and feel like them too! Do you ever feel like you have something special to share, yet it might not be visible to others? You, too, might be a unicorn.
All funds raised at Unicorn Palooza directly support Assemble’s STEAM education programs for youth, teens, and adults, like Assemble Afterschool, Saturday Crafternoons, Hack the Future, and Summer Camps!
What to expect at Unicorn Palooza:
Carnival Games, featuring a variety of local Makers Experiences (sign up here!)
The inaugural Unicorny Awards
Flash Tattoos and temporary body art
Drinks by WBU
Delicious hors d’oeuvres
Community Cookie Table
Hands-on activities & games made by Assemblers
Green-screen photo booth
Music by DJ
Spectacular fun for a good cause!
Event tickets include drinks tickets + hors d’oeuvres.
All proceeds raised at Unicorn Palooza support Assemble’s STEAM education programs.
Celebrate summer with a mushroom walk at Frick Park with author & mycophile Maria Pinto! Learn some of the basics of mushroom identification, reading the landscape, and traveling at mushroom speed. Seekers of all levels welcome!
Meet us Wed, July 22nd, 4 pm @ Frick Environmental Center & join us post-walk for a cooking demo with foraged mushrooms at the Kingsley Association.
Presented in collaboration with Dreams of Hope, The Black Unicorn Library and Archive Project, and Rainbow Serpent.
NOTE: Spaces are limited, so registration is required. If you need to cancel your ticket, please email us at info[at]dreamsofhope[dot]org so we can give it to someone else
Join us on August 4th the first program in our 2026–2027 series of teacher trainings. Register here.
These trainings are designed for teachers across grade levels and subject areas, whether you are new to teaching the Holocaust and antisemitism or looking to deepen your existing practice. Each session will offer practical guidance, classroom-ready resources, and time to think through common challenges with other educators.
Act 48 credits will be available.
Many telescopes and astronomical program publish data online. In this workshop Dr. Carlos Badenes, University of Pittsburgh Physics and Astronomy, will present introductions to several databases. Teachers will then work in small groups to start projects based on the data and report back. Everyone will leave with ready-to-implement projects for middle and high school students.
Lunch, Act 48 credit and a $100 honorarium is provided for teachers. Others are welcome and will receive lunch.
Please contact kerry.handron@pitt.edu with any questions.
Registration at https://tinyurl.com/AOTeacherData
Come together with Dreams of Hope and Cutting Root Farm for this TEAtastic workshop! Michelle Soto will guide us in making personal tea blends and share herbal medicine wisdom.
NOTE: Spaces are limited, so registration is required. We ask that you treat registration as a commitment. If you need to cancel your ticket, please email us at info[at]dreamsofhope[dot]org so we can give it to someone else. Visit dreamsofhope.eventbrite.com to register.
Meet us Sat, March 14th 2 pm @ Kingsley Association 6435 Frankstown Ave, PGH, PA 15206
Accessible via the 74, 75, 77, 82, 86, and P17 bus lines. Also 71C, 88, and 89 (5-10m walk from Penn Ave)
Parking lot and nearby street parking.
Join Pittsburgh authors Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski for an inspiring look at the legacy of Fred Rogers. Drawing from their acclaimed book, “When You Wonder, You’re Learning,” they use stories and songs to bring today’s adults back to the Neighborhood. Discover a proven blueprint for raising healthier children and building a more just world.
Experience the forefront of innovation in Pittsburgh at the 2026 STEM Summit! This event highlights the wide range of dynamic and evolving STEM careers shaping the future workforce in the Pittsburgh Region.
WHEN: Friday, April 10, 2026 From 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
WHERE: Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 + Multiple Tour Stops
We welcome students in grades 8-12 to connect with leaders from the innovation sector. Participants will have the opportunity to embark on industry tours to delve deeper into the STEM sector.
The STEM Summit will include a keynote address, exhibit booths, and industry site tours.
The interactive experience of the STEM Summit will highlight how an individual’s strengths, interests, and passions can lead to multiple pathways to jobs in the tech industry! More information provided upon registration.
Educator Bus Experience
Educators, take a front-row seat to the world of technology! Join our Educator Bus to tour four local companies, explore their workplace culture, and hear directly from industry leaders about open positions, in-demand skills, and workforce trends. This is a unique opportunity to gain insights that can inspire your students and connect classroom learning to real-world careers.
Educator Agenda:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Registration
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Industry Tours
1:30 PM | Return to Energy Innovation Center
Cost:
Students (Grades 8–12): $30
Adult Chaperones (with student groups): Free
Individual Adult Attendees: $30
*10% discount available for Tech Council Members
Chaperone Policy: we require one teacher or adult for every 10 students.
TEACHERS: If you are registering multiple students and wish to be billed via invoice, please email Marie Pelloni at mpelloni@pghtech.org to get a group form.
Agenda:
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Registration
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM | Welcome & Keynote Speaker
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM | Grab & Go Lunch, Travel to tour stops
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Industry Tour #1
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Travel and Lunch on Bus
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Industry Tour #2
1:30 PM | Return to Home School
Questions?
For Programming Questions: Marie Pelloni, Senior Director of Talent, STEM, and Workforce Innovation Initiatives, mpelloni@pghtech.org.
For Registration Questions: Autumn Ashbaugh, Event Assistant, aashbaugh@pghtech.org.
For Membership Questions: Brooke Wozniak, bwozniak@pghtech.org.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Please contact Ashley Steckel, VP of Business Development, asteckel@pghtech.org.
Join CyLab Security Academy for a full-day, in-person professional development workshop designed for middle and high school educators interested in bringing cybersecurity concepts into their classrooms.
This hands-on event will introduce teachers to picoCTF, Carnegie Mellon’s cybersecurity learning platform, and provide practical strategies for integrating cybersecurity activities into existing CS and STEM courses. Participants will hear from CMU faculty and students, explore CMU research spaces, and leave with classroom-ready ideas and resources.
Date: March 6
Time: 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA