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- An Appreciation of Jazz: the Vocalists
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Item Number: W24ARTS301
Dates: 1/10/2024 - 2/7/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: David Stone
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 255
Jazz has many flavors, including traditional, big band, bebop, modern. Another flavor that adds variety to the genre is jazz vocals. Often ignored in favor of the instrumentalists (Davis, Getz, Brubeck, et al.), there is something uniquely captivating about hearing the human voice without the filter of an instrument. Some jazz singers emulate instruments (scat singing), others focus on interpretation of melody and lyrics. Vocalists often use the music of the Great American Songbook (Gershwin, Porter, Berlin) to impress the jazz flavor on the music. We will see and hear classic performances of iconic singers such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennet, Mel Torme, Billie Holiday, Diana Krall, and even songs by artists not normally thought of as jazz singers (Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles). The instructor will provide anecdotes revealing the human angle and personalities of the artists and the influences that shaped their lives and music.
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- Bach to the Future: Great Works for the Orchestra
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Item Number: W24ARTS303
Dates: 1/10/2024 - 3/6/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 9
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Cynthia Hutton
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 286
This lecture course traces the evolution of the modern orchestra from its beginning stage to the present time. Instruction focuses on works from the canon of classical music, beginning with the Baroque period and continuing into the modern era. Students should expect to listen to a YouTube recording of the work, to hear some background on its history and the composer, and to hear some comments on performance practice and text. A PowerPoint presentation will be the backbone of each session. No prior knowledge is required and there is no homework. Time will be allowed for discussion and questions at the conclusion of each section and will be encouraged.
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- Conversaciones
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Item Number: W24LANG161
Dates: 1/30/2024 - 3/5/2024
Times: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Maximum Enrollment: 18
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Ginny Blankinship
Max Seating Capacity: 18
Seats Available: 5
This course is designed to provide an opportunity to speak and listen to Spanish in a comfortable non-judgmental atmosphere. It is meant for those who already speak Spanish with some fluency but who don’t have all the opportunities to converse that they would like. The six weeks of the course will center on readings from the short novel “Lazarillo de Tormes,” from 16th century Spain. Lazarillo is considered world literature’s first pícaro, a direct ancestor of Becky Sharp and Huck Finn, and his story has been in print since 1554. During each class, we’ll talk in a whole group about the novel, see and discuss a bit of the movie of the same name, read a poem, and use provided questions in breakout rooms, where you can take the conversation in any direction. Materials, except the novel itself, will be posted on LearnerNotes. A bilingual edition or copies in both English and Spanish are recommended for the novel. Translations are provided for readings and song lyrics.
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- Decoding Medieval (and later) Art
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Item Number: W24ARTS305
Dates: 2/5/2024 - 3/11/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Alice Taylor
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 283
Why is an ox looking over that man’s shoulder? Is that bird dive-bombing the man below him? Maybe that pool belongs to the bird? Is that lady holding eyeballs on a tray? A key to understanding such puzzling images is often referred to as Christian Iconography, a vocabulary of narrative images. This lecture class will reveal some of the key codes in evangelist portraits, Gospel illustration, and the attributes of saints (to take those questions in order), and will examine illustrations of Revelation and the Old Testament. Prior to each class, students will receive an email with brief readings of the texts illustrated. Images will date from the third to the 21st centuries, with emphasis on the 12th and 13th. Discussion will be encouraged. No prior knowledge is assumed, although students with experience in this area are most welcome and will surely encounter examples they have not seen before.
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- DIY FUNdamental Stock Analysis for Beginners
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Item Number: W24LIFE142
Dates: 1/12/2024 - 3/1/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Marcia Couey, Michael Smith
Max Seating Capacity: 20
Seats Available: 11
Learn how to evaluate high-quality growth stocks and whether they are selling at a fair price. We use the same FUNdamental analysis methods as taught by www.betterinvesting.org to over five million investors over the past 72 years. Learn how to form sound judgments; compare values between companies; make wise, strategic portfolio choices; do research online; and document your judgments. We use an Internet-based stock analysis tool and various research websites to help us make judgments. Students evaluate a company and practice articulating their judgments during workshops. This class is an activities workshop with 75 minutes per week spent on outside video education and online tools practice. Students must have basic math skills, a Mac or PC, and a printer. Beginners and repeaters are welcome!
NOTE: Maximum benefits will be achieved by attending all eight sessions. Equities discussed are for educational purposes only; no recommendations will be made. No penny stocks, ADRs, ETFs, index funds, bonds, mutual funds, financial advisors, cryptocurrencies, or foreign stocks will be discussed. We do not present alternate portfolio management theories, technical analysis, or other investment strategies.
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- Earth's Climate: Past, Present and Future
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Item Number: W24STEM107
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 2/13/2024
Times: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Karen Grove, Benjamin Santer
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 271
We know that Earth’s climate is changing, but how do we know that human actions are a primary factor today, given that climate has changed throughout geologic time? We begin by examining the many natural factors that control climate change on timescales ranging from millions of years to just a few years. These natural influences include external factors such as the position of the continents, the orbital parameters of the Earth/Sun/Moon system, and volcanic eruptions. We also consider variability arising from within the climate system due to phenomena like El Niños and La Niñas. We then shift focus from geologic timescales to the natural and human influences on the climate of the last 2,000 years. How have scientists identified human “fingerprints” in observations of climate change? Are droughts, heat waves, and wildfires being affected by climate change? The final course segment examines projected climate changes over the next 100 years, based on different emissions scenarios.
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- Exotic Travel
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Item Number: W24LANG105
Dates: 2/8/2024 - 3/7/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Maria Geigel
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 264
Want to go vicariously to places you may never visit? In this lecture course, speakers will take you to Africa. On February 8, Maria Geigel will talk about her tour of Morocco; on February 19, Marianne Werner will show us Madagascar; on February 22, Art and Carolee Buck will share their experiences in Senegal; on February 29, Natalie Mettler will introduce us to Mali; and on March 9, Joan Lamont and Kris Davis will show us Egypt, including a seven-day cruise on the Nile. All presenters have personally visited the areas discussed and prepared pictures for viewing. There will be opportunities for questions and discussion.
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- Experiments in Artificial Intelligence
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Item Number: W24STEM304
Dates: 2/15/2024 - 3/14/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 40
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: James Jarrard
Max Seating Capacity: 40
Seats Available: 7
The Fall 2022 launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI led to a rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence in various forms. This seminar will explore the current state of publicly available AIs and how attendees can benefit from and responsibly utilize various AI tools. The seminar will cover free services that attendees are encouraged to use. There will also be presentation and discussion of paid services. In addition to demonstrating practical applications, we will critically examine the social impact of this technology. As AI capabilities continue to grow, so do concerns about bias, transparency, job displacement, and other issues. NOTE: Students should have a basic understanding of computer operations (installing programs/apps, cut and paste text).
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- Exploring the Naked-Eye Glories of the Winter Sky
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Item Number: W24NAT301
Dates: 1/12/2024 - 1/19/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 2
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Victoria Leo, Rick Baird
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 281
Explore the wonders of the winter sky! Learn at home, at your own pace, in an always-on online classroom, supplemented by optional Zooms for questions and discussion. After you complete an online module, follow up with practicing what you’ve learned with nightly activities, no matter where you live. Winter’s charismatic sights include Orion, his Dogs, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, the Andromeda Galaxy, and more. Unique photos, art works, and links in the online lessons make every object easy for beginners to find. The class includes information on upcoming eclipses, perihelion, meteor showers, comets, and how the moon’s face shifts through the month. Learning the wonders of the winter sky allows you to share this new hobby with grandchildren and friends. Winter sky wonders continue to be observable through mid-spring. No telescope or previous knowledge is required. Optional Zooms Jan 12 and 19, 1-2 PM, with additional evening Zooms as weather permits.
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- Exploring Ukrainian Culture Through Women's Lives
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Item Number: W24PERS267
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 2/27/2024
Times: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 25
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Louise Paré
Max Seating Capacity: 25
Seats Available: 24
Explore the complexity and significance of women’s lives in contemporary Ukraine through stories of Ukrainian women writers, scientists, social activists, leaders, and artists whose work changed their culture and the world. The values of the matriarchal cultures that sourced Ukraine continue to be transmitted through her folk arts, music, and dance. Ukrainian women continue to bring forth from within themselves individually, and as a diverse community, new expressions of the values and beliefs of their culture. Discover the meaning of Ukrainian goddesses in Ukrainian women’s spirituality and the impact of Russian colonization on Ukrainian identity then and now. The course can be repeated since it will combine lecture, new guest speakers, discussion on events that currently impact Ukrainians, and ritual circle-sharing as well as out-of-class readings and reflective writing.
NOTE: Required text: “Your Ad Could Go Here: Stories by Oksana Zabuzhko,” edited by Nina Murray.
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- Exploring Your Immune System
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Item Number: W24STEM191
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 2/6/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: John Kalb
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 293
Let us explore the immune system together in a step-by-step fashion to untangle its many mysteries, components, and functions. Second only to the brain in complexity, this life-saving system protects us on a daily basis from a world of threats, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and toxins. Some of the topics we will cover include innate and adaptive immunity; the major organs, cells, and messenger molecules involved in immune function; and how the immune system distinguishes between “self” and “non-self.” Knowledge is powerful if it leads to appropriate action. The better we understand the workings of our immune system, the better we can support its function and not weaken it. This is especially important right now with all the confusion surrounding COVID-19 and the other infectious diseases out there. This introductory science-based Zoom course will use colorful and easy to understand slide presentations and lectures, and some discussion with questions and answers.
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- Fake News, Filter Bubbles, and Fact Checking
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Item Number: W24SOC301
Dates: 1/18/2024 - 1/25/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 2
Maximum Enrollment: 100
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Alice Yucht
Max Seating Capacity: 100
Seats Available: 72
Not sure if what you’ve heard or read is for real? Just because you saw it online or in a message from a friend doesn’t mean it’s true. Learn how to spot misinformation, sort out “alternative facts,” identify reputable news sources, check for authenticity and accuracy, and become a more knowledgeable information consumer. Over the course of two classes, we’ll cover such topics as propaganda, truth decay, and eroding trust in public statements, characteristics of misinformation, how filter bubbles impact our beliefs, media biases, and more.
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- Four Small Choral Masterpieces
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Item Number: W24ARTS306
Dates: 2/22/2024 - 3/14/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Peggy Evans
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 272
This lecture course will look at four small choral masterpieces: Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” Bach’s “Magnificat,” Schubert’s “Mass in G,” and Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass,” with one piece being looked at each week. Students should expect to listen to a YouTube recording of the work, to hear some background on its history and the composer, and to hear some comments on performance practice and text using a PowerPoint format. Students do not need any prior knowledge. Questions and comments will be encouraged via Chat.
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- Gamache's World, Part 2
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Item Number: W24LIT300
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 2/29/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 3
Maximum Enrollment: 80
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Alice Yucht
Max Seating Capacity: 80
Seats Available: 56
Let’s explore Louise Penny’s ongoing mystery series about Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Quebec and the villagers of Three Pines. Through lectures and discussion, we will focus on overarching themes, character development, and literary devices in the books, with attention to the arts, cultural elements, history, humor, philosophy and even food in these award-winning novels. The class sessions are as follows: 1) January 11: “A Trick of the Light” (2011) and ”The Beautiful Mystery” (2012), 2) February 1: “How the Light Gets In” (2013) and “The Long Way Home” (2014), 3) February 29: “The Nature of the Beast” (2015) and “A Great Reckoning” (2016), 4) March 21: “Glass Houses” (2017) and “Kingdom of the Blind” (2018).
NOTE: This is Part 2 of a year-long 12-session course. Students need not have participated in Part 1. Participants should read the specific titles before each lecture/discussion session. The sessions are not consecutive weeks. This course meets three times on Thursday, 1/11, 2/1, and 2/29, with an optional fourth session that meets after the end of the OLLI term on 3/21.
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- Gardening for Beauty and Biodiversity
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Item Number: W24NAT102
Dates: 1/17/2024 - 2/14/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 40
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Robin McKenzie
Max Seating Capacity: 40
Seats Available: 19
This online lecture course is presented from an artistic and amateur scientific point of view, profusely illustrated, and designed to appeal to all levels of nature, butterfly, and gardening enthusiasts. Topics include: what it takes to create a pollinator-friendly landscape, basics of habitat, soils, basic design, growing from seed, and best plants for sustained bloom. Other topics of interest such as lawn reduction, removal or replacement, as well as irrigation and plant selection for water conservation, are emphasized. This presentation is fast-paced and packed with images, many from the instructor’s wildlife photography portfolio. No textbook is required. The basic principles discussed can be used in small spaces such as balconies, pocket gardens, raised beds, community spaces, or other planting alternatives. Extensive “insider” resources, tips, tricks, notes, and web links are provided to students to further enhance your own gardening experience. Outside activities are optional.
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- Gordian Knot: Individual Liberty vs The Common Good
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Item Number: W24HIST302
Dates: 2/1/2024 - 2/29/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 75
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Susan Stitham
Max Seating Capacity: 75
Seats Available: 51
In his 2016 book, “American Character,” Colin Woodard builds on his work in “American Nations” (2011) to examine the “key American political dilemma: how do we best reconcile individual liberty with the good of the community?” Tracing our struggle with this existential conflict through American history, Woodard concludes with some recommendations for moving forward together. In this discussion course, we will explore both Woodard’s descriptions and his prescriptions in the light of our post-2016 experiences.?Because the format of the course will be hybrid, with both “roomies” and “zoomies” encouraged to participate in class conversation, enrollment will be limited. Students are asked to have completed the book before the first class session.??
NOTE: There will be an optional “class zero” a week before the first class session to familiarize all of us with the technological challenges of a hybrid discussion. Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person.
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- Hanford, Oregon's Nuclear Neighbor
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Item Number: W24STEM301
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 1/25/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 3
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Jeff Wyatt
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 288
A few miles north of the central Oregon border on the Columbia River, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is home to the world’s largest and most complex environmental cleanup. This online Zoom course will trace the history of Hanford from the Manhattan Project featured in the movie “Oppenheimer,” through the expansion of plutonium production during the Cold War, and finally, to the shutdown of the nuclear reactors and the site’s transition to environmental remediation. The legacy of Hanford includes vast quantities of spent nuclear fuel, radioactive waste stored in 177 underground storage tanks, and many square miles of contaminated soil and groundwater. The course is intended for individuals intrigued by the history and science of America’s nuclear weapons program, as well as those concerned about its lasting effects on the Columbia River and the communities downstream and downwind of the world’s most costly environmental cleanup.
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- Have Fun Cooking and Sharing Recipes
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Item Number: W24REC300
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 2/13/2024
Times: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Maximum Enrollment: 24
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: John Pratt
Max Seating Capacity: 24
Seats Available: 2
Do you enjoy cooking and exploring new recipes? Do you enjoy sharing your cooking experiences with friends and learning new concepts about food preparation? This course is designed for you. Every week, we will all prepare a new recipe that we have found online or in print, one we have not tried before, and then write a short account of our experiences. We will post our recipes online and respond to each other’s accounts. Then, once a week, we will have a Zoom meeting where we will all have a chance to talk about our previous week’s experience and our plans for the next. In addition, each week the instructor will pick one scientific element of food preparation (based on the Cook’s Illustrated book, “The Science of Good Cooking”) to explain and discuss. For the last session, we will meet face to face for a potluck featuring a dish each of us has made.
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- Hot News & Cool Views
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Item Number: W24SOC140
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 3/12/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Rick Vann
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 288
Hot News & Cool Views is an open discussion opportunity to explore and discuss breaking local, national, and global news and events. All differing views and opinions are welcome, and divergent political leanings and personal backgrounds add “sizzle” to the class. The result is an entertaining and often controversial 90 minutes! An agenda with supporting news articles is sent out a couple days ahead of each class, and ideas and articles submitted by students are integrated into the agenda. Hot News & Cool Views will help you stay current on the news and well informed in an election cycle. Please join our great group for a journey around the world that is better than a strong cup of coffee to get your week going!
NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. |
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- Independent Cinema: Movies that Make Us Think
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Item Number: W24ARTS156
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 1/25/2024
Times: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 3
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Lorraine Vail
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 265
Independent filmmakers are known for their unique and inspiring stories. Their films explore complex themes, provide a more intimate look at human experiences, and offer a deeper and more immersive journey than the more conventional “This happened and then that happened” movie. The six films chosen for this course include both international and American filmmakers. The discussion will focus on the effectiveness of the film and explore the social, political, and cultural dynamics that shape the women characters. Two films will be discussed in each class, and class members will view the films at home before each session. All films are available to rent without needing a subscription service. Each week students will be emailed a PDF document with director interviews for the coming discussion. The interviews offer the directors’ perspectives on the film, what inspired them, what was challenging, and particulars about the production aspects of the film.
NOTE: Two separate sections of this course are offered: one is online, and one is held at the Campbell Center. The total cost for renting all the films should be about $25.
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- Life Happens: Now What? Life Transition Skills
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Item Number: W24LIFE304
Dates: 2/6/2024 - 2/27/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Howard Jay Rubin
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 294
Most of us spend half our adult lives going through major life transitions—like retirement, marriage, loss of a loved one, divorce, inheritance, career change, empty nest, and big health challenges—yet we have never been trained in the vital skills needed to master (or even manage) these life passages. Change happens quickly, but major life transitions can take years. The transformation that results from working through them skillfully lasts a lifetime. This course explores how you have handled these significant “life-quakes” in the past, and how you can use them now and in the future as times of reimagining and reinvention. We will explore the four phases of major life transitions, both in the research and in your own experience. These challenging passages launch your life’s next chapter and hold great potential gifts of “post-traumatic growth” while allowing you to design your own ideal next chapter. Our emphasis will be on developing the creative skills to flow through major change.
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- Making Sense of the Climate Crisis
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Item Number: W24SOC302
Dates: 1/16/2024 - 1/30/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 3
Maximum Enrollment: 25
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Anita Dygert-Gearheart, Bob Dygert-Gearheart
Max Seating Capacity: 25
Seats Available: 17
Making Sense of the Climate Crisis is for any person living on Mother Earth. It is based on the community version, not the faith-based version, of “Wake Up World,” a curriculum on the climate crisis for faith and community groups. This course will provide students with a basic understanding of what the vast majority of climate scientists agree on about the state of our ecosystem. It will also enable them to critically evaluate what they see and hear daily regarding the climate crisis. It is broad in scope and introductory in nature. It attempts to provide a structure for understanding, so we can all move from our default position of causing the problem, to making a choice to be part of the solution. No previous knowledge is necessary, only an openness to learning. NOTE: The curriculum will be available free of charge on the wakeupworld.earth website. Participants will be asked to read and review class material before class.
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- Mindful Movement: Qigong and Stretching
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Item Number: W24MOV130
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 1/30/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Nando Raynolds
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 281
This class is an introduction to Qigong and simple stretching patterns. Movements will be taught both as physical and energetic exercises and as methods for improving present moment awareness and mindfulness of subtle perceptions. No special clothing or experience is required. Come as you are, ready to have fun with others! Although Qigong can be studied for a lifetime, this brief series will give you a taste of the practices. You will learn a set of simple movements you can integrate into your daily routine. Students can access videos on my YouTube channel, and a DVD is available for purchase but is not required. The exercises will challenge and enhance your flexibility, balance, and coordination. Classes consist mostly of active movement. Students will sign a liability waiver prior to the first class.
NOTE: We will meet over Zoom and class will include social time with other students using breakout rooms. Since this is online, students must be prepared to take complete responsibility for their own physical well-being. Classes will not be recorded.
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- Moving Forward on Your Own After Losing a Partner
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Item Number: W24LIFE303
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 1/30/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Howard Jay Rubin
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 296
This course will help those affected by the death of a loved one in a relationship navigate the daily struggles of this powerful life phase and begin to take their own pivotal next steps towards emotional, mental, physical, and financial well-being. Loss is a passage with no timetable, often marked by grief and the challenge to take on new and perhaps unfamiliar skills and responsibilities. This course is a compassionate exploration of the knowledge and resources to find the support and strength you need, as well as a gentle reminder that you don’t have to go through it alone. This proven process will provide varied tools to help enrich self-understanding while building confidence, skills, and a vital community/professional support team. We will learn from the experience of others who have lost a partner and are at different points in their healing, as well as from experts in life-planning, grief recovery, and personal finance. Participation during class is encouraged yet optional.
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- Near Death Experiences
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Item Number: W24PERS301
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 2/29/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 30
Building: n/a: online course
Room: Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Alan Ackroyd
One of the many ramifications of the widespread use of the Web is introducing so-called “Near Death Experiences” to a wide audience. This course dives into both the ontology and implications of these experiences and raises questions that traditional scientific inquiry struggles to explain. Even though this phenomenon is perhaps as old as mankind itself, many experiencers have withheld their histories for fear of public skepticism and even the harsh judgment of religions. This course examines the history and content of these rather common human experiences. The primary instructional method used will be showing videos depicting various viewpoints as well as personal histories themselves. Discussion is actively encouraged. A tolerance for various interpretations from class members is the intention of the teacher and is also encouraged among class members.
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- Organizing and Sharing Digital Photos Using iCloud
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Item Number: W24STEM136
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 2/8/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 50
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Neal Strudler
Max Seating Capacity: 50
Seats Available: 29
This course is designed to help participants take, organize, store, edit, and share digital photos and videos. Emphasis will be on using Apple Photos on the iPhone, Mac, and iCloud. Participants will learn to manage iCloud settings; store and share photos and videos; perform basic edits; play and modify memories; set up albums and slideshows; search and organize photos by person, location, and activities; trim live photos, bursts, and videos; and remove duplicate photos. Privacy and security issues will also be discussed. Participants should be able to use Zoom for video conferencing and have a basic comfort taking digital photos, accessing the Web, and using online applications.
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- Physics and Animal Perception
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Item Number: W24STEM305
Dates: 2/19/2024 - 3/11/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Tom Woosnam
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 280
“The Earth teems with sights and textures, sounds and vibrations, smells and tastes, electric and magnetic fields. But every kind of animal, including humans, is enclosed within its own unique sensory bubble, perceiving but a tiny sliver of our immense world,” writes Ed Yong in “An Immense World.” We will explore parts of the bubble Dr. Yong is describing. Courting peacocks create airflow patterns they can sense with their crest feathers. Butterflies taste with their feet. The naked mole rat is insensitive to the pain of acids and capsaicin. Treehoppers communicate by sending vibrations through the plants on which they stand, which can resemble the songs of birds, monkeys, or musical instruments. Black ghost knife fish produce their own electric fields, which they use to sense the world around them. Bumble bees can sense the electric fields of flowers. This class will examine such marvels through the lens of the physics that govern them. Yong’s book is recommended, but not required.
NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. |
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- Readers Write Personal Narratives
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Item Number: W24ARTS186
Dates: 1/8/2024 - 2/19/2024
Times: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Maximum Enrollment: 23
Building: n/a: online course
Room: Online (Zoom)
Instructor: John Pratt, Linda Jaffe
This course gives students a structured opportunity to write short personal narratives. The format comes from “The Sun” literary magazine, which includes a “Readers Write” section each month. We will review samples from past issues of the “The Sun” and write our own responses to the magazine’s prompts. We will also look at upcoming topics and write essays that we may choose to submit for publication in the magazine. Students are expected to commit to writing one 400 to 600-word essay each week and share it on our interactive course website on SOU’s Moodle. When students post essays, others may respond with answers to the following questions, intended to encourage supportive feedback: What did you notice? What struck you? How did you connect personally to the story? All students are welcome, regardless of writing experience. This course has been offered previously; however, all writing prompts will be new.
Note: There will be no class meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday January 15.
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- Russian Poetry in Russian
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Item Number: W24LANG106
Dates: 1/12/2024 - 3/8/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Alice Taylor, Marcus Levitt
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 297
Anyone who knows the Cyrillic alphabet used in printed Russian can read Russian poetry. Join us in reading aloud from great poets such as Aleksander Pushkin, Daniil Xarms, and Anna Akhmatova. Those who have taken our classes before will encounter old friends as well as new poetry. Poems will be emailed before class, with stress (accents) marked. In our Zoom classes, instructors or native speakers will read the poems aloud, the instructors will translate them (touching on the grammar necessary to understand how they mean what they mean), students will read them aloud, and we will all discuss them. We even sing some of the poems that have been set to music. This is not a deep literature class. The point is to enjoy making the sounds of Russian poetry and appreciate how they interact with its meaning.
Note: There will be no class meeting on Friday, February 16.
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- Skeptical Thought: Ancient to Modern
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Item Number: W24SOC303
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 3/14/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 50
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Ean Roby
Max Seating Capacity: 50
Seats Available: 25
Western philosophy has had a troubled relationship with skeptical thinkers and their ideas. Skeptics appear from time to time, raising difficult questions about what—if anything—can be known and often frustrating efforts to answer these questions. Eventually, these skeptical ideas fade away until a new generation of skeptics appears and the process repeats itself. In this lecture course, we will trace several different skeptical challenges to philosophical knowledge. The first originates in ancient Greece and disappears centuries later. The next phase comes as ancient skepticism reappears in the 1560s and then vanishes after a century when Descartes turns skepticism against itself. Two centuries after that, David Hume reintroduces ancient skepticism and triggers off strong reactions by Kant and the German Idealists. Finally, there is the role of skepticism in philosophy since the mid-19th century. No prior knowledge of philosophy is required, and questions are always welcome.
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- Slowing Down to the Speed of Life
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Item Number: W24PERS305
Dates: 2/20/2024 - 3/12/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 30
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Dan Altman
Max Seating Capacity: 30
Seats Available: 16
In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, be more, and have more, discover the transformative power of slowing down and living from the inside-out. Drawing inspiration from the enlightening book “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life” and the teachings of visionaries like Sydney Banks, Dr. Joseph Bailey, and Richard Carlson, this course offers a fresh perspective on living a deeply meaningful, peaceful, and contented life. Joseph Campbell said that what people are really seeking is an experience of being fully alive, to feel “the rapture of being alive.” Syd Banks, during a mystical experience, discovered the keys that allows each one of us to directly experience this innate joy and inner peace. Join in thought-provoking classes that illuminate this innate wisdom that we all possess, as we watch short videos of Syd Banks, Joe Bailey and others, with time for questions and discussions.
NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person.
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- Talking About Death As If It Might Happen to Us
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Item Number: W24LIFE302
Dates: 1/23/2024 - 2/27/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Joanne Kliejunas
Max Seating Capacity: 20
Seats Available: 12
Recognizing that most of us have few (if any) opportunities to talk—really talk—about death, this class may be a remedy. Sensitive conversation will consume most of our class time together. The instructor will invite students to suggest topics of interest in the weeks before the class starts. She will then frame discussions using materials students will access to prepare for each session. Discussions are likely to examine such topics as: death’s timing, meaning and value; getting the care we prefer; aging; dementia; medical treatments; legacy; and our beliefs about death. TED Talks, articles, and books like “A Better Way of Dying” and “The Five Invitations” may be used. The instructor’s intent is to prompt us to talk freely and meaningfully about this experience, which is part of all our lives. Students interested in joining in these important, personal discussions need to commit to attend every one of our six sessions so that our conversations can deepen over our time together.
NOTE: Conversations in this class, both in-person and online, will be deeply personal and confidential. This is best achieved, and the quality and content of discussions built upon, if the participants are consistent and reliable in their attendance. Students who know they will need to miss even one class should not enroll now. This class may be offered again in the future. Two separate sections of this course are being offered on different days and times: one online and one in person.
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- The Constitution in Everyday Life
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Item Number: W24SOC102-2
Dates: 1/10/2024 - 1/31/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 30
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Betsy Massie
Max Seating Capacity: 30
Seats Available: 20
Many believe that we are experiencing challenges to our democracy that we have not had since the Civil War. These challenges, though, are coupled with the fact that many of us can no longer identify the constitutional issues that are being threatened. They are often not directly addressed by media outlets. The purpose of this class is to identify current events that are a direct challenge to our democracy and why. For example, the Supreme Court justices have a constitutional mandate to have “good behavior” while in office, yet to date that court has not developed a code of ethics which applies to them. We will identify and learn how this issue and many others apply to our democracy.
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- The Constitution in Everyday Life
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Item Number: W24SOC102
Dates: 1/10/2024 - 1/31/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 30
Building: n/a: online course
Room: Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Betsy Massie
Many believe that we are experiencing challenges to our democracy that we have not had since the Civil War. These challenges, though, are coupled with the fact that many of us can no longer identify the constitutional issues that are being threatened. They are often not directly addressed by media outlets. The purpose of this class is to identify current events that are a direct challenge to our democracy and why. For example, the Supreme Court justices have a constitutional mandate to have “good behavior” while in office, yet to date that court has not developed a code of ethics which applies to them. We will identify and learn how this issue and many others apply to our democracy.
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- The Evolutionary Psychology of Morality
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Item Number: W24STEM140
Dates: 1/9/2024 - 2/20/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 7
Maximum Enrollment: 40
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Dave Ferguson
Max Seating Capacity: 40
Seats Available: 4
Historically, morality has been studied as if it were a human invention. This has been the approach of philosophical thinking and writing in the field of ethics for over 2,000 years. Recently, however, biologists have been studying morality as an adaptation, attempting to discover how morality functions and how it evolved. We will examine six types of moral adaptation, all of which share a commonality: they enhance survivorship and reproductive success. Genetically based traits that enhance survivorship and reproduction will pass on copies of genes that produce those traits in their offspring. Over time, the traits and the suite of genes producing them will increase. Seven sessions cover 1) evolution and misconceptions, 2) genes and behavior, 3) Jonathan Haidt’s six dimensions of morality, 4) kin selection and caring, 5) reciprocal altruism and fairness, 6) xenophobia and disgust, and 7) hierarchy and liberty. Classes will include readings, videos, and lectures.
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- Transforming Your Inner Critic Into an Inner Coach
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Item Number: W24PERS121
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 2/1/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Nando Raynolds
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 290
Ever struggle from time to time with internal negativity, self-criticism, or perfectionism? Most people do. This course is an opportunity to kick habits of self-directed negativity and criticism and develop new habits of self-compassion. Understanding the dynamics of your inner critic will help you replace it with an inner coach. Warning: these changes can result in becoming happier and more productive as well as becoming a better friend, romantic partner, and parent. The classes, all held on Zoom, will utilize lecture, discussion and experiential exercises, and will make use of breakout rooms. Students will also be asked to do journaling exercises and practice activities done in class. A workbook of the same title by the instructor is optional, recommended, and available for purchase.
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- Wildfire Resistant Homes and Gardens
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Item Number: W24NAT303
Dates: 1/11/2024 - 2/1/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 30
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Charisse Sydoriak
Max Seating Capacity: 30
Seats Available: 23
Communities in the Rogue Valley rank high in assessments of state and regional wildfire risk. The 2020 Almeda Fire, which started in Ashland, burned more than 2,800 structures! This course will address mostly simple things you can do to make your home and other buildings wildfire resistant. Through a combination of lectures and discussion, we will explore construction materials and design considerations as well as landscaping best practices in an urban environment. Invited fire professionals will present on some topics. (A portion of this course was taught in the Winter 2023 course, Fire Reluctant Landscaping Best Practices.) If a student is interested in learning how to create customizable plant lists for their garden, they are encouraged to bring a PC laptop that can run an MS Excel file containing macros to the last class. If such a computer is not available, alternatives will be discussed. Don’t let this keep you from attending!
NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. |
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- Wines of the Old World
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Item Number: W24SOC304
Dates: 1/26/2024 - 3/1/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 6
Maximum Enrollment: 299
Building: n/a: online course
Room:Online (Zoom)
Instructor: Thomas Eckert
Max Seating Capacity: 299
Seats Available: 286
In Wines of the Old World, we will discover the major wine regions of the Old World. Becoming knowledgeable about wine is not difficult. If you’ve always been curious about European wine but afraid to try it, this course is for you. Conversely, if you’ve had lots of experience with European wine this course is for you, too. In addition to all of the famous regions, a few lesser known regions are included that have something special to offer. We’ll discover wines country by country over the course of the lectures, and the instructor will share tasting experiences. We’ll discuss how to read wine labels in French, German, and Italian. All wines discussed will be available either locally or through Wine.com. No reading or writing is required, just curiosity. A supplemental reading and video list will be made available for those interested. Come join in as we venture into the fascinating world of wine.
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