Tuesday Courses   

Some of the most wonderful and mysterious moments in our lives are shared with non-human creatures: our own pets, bird and wildlife watching, a visit to an aquarium, walks in nature parks. We'll be inspired by three beautiful texts: “How to be a Good Creature, a Memoir in Thirteen Animals” (by Sy Montgomery, author of “Soul of an Octopus”); “A Wolf Called Romeo” (Nick Jans); and “Planet Walker” (John Francis, PhD) The emphasis will be on discussing these books in class, and for those who wish, writing and drawing about the creatures in our own lives. This is all about exploration and enjoyment!

NOTE: These books are readily available at a reasonable price on Amazon. Copies are also available from the public library in both hard copy and e-book formats.

Worlds in our solar system and beyond almost certainly harbor life! In this fact-packed, interactive class, we explore definitions and forms of life, how life might be detected from a distance and other timely issues in the search for extraterrestrial life, as well as the creation of alien life in the lab and the feasibility of various science-fiction ideas. Approximately 4.5 billion years ago, Earth chemistry evolved into Earth life. Join us as we explore how this process might unfold on other worlds! No prior knowledge of physics, chemistry or biology required. 

This is an interactive lecture course presented from an artistic and amateur scientific point of view designed to appeal to all levels of nature, butterfly, and gardening enthusiasts. Students will learn what steps to take to create a pollinator-friendly landscape and, upon installation of those gardens, should be able to qualify for certification as monarch butterfly way stations or Rogue Valley pollinator-friendly gardens. Discussions will include habitat, soils, basic design, growing plants from seed, and best plants for sustained bloom. Other topics of interest to Rogue Valley residents 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 McKenzie’s camera. No textbook is required. The basic principles discussed can be used in small spaces such as flowerpots on balconies, small raised beds, community spaces, or other planting alternatives.

NOTE:  New for winter term will be a class on attracting and sustaining native and migratory hummingbirds. Outside classroom activities are optional, including at-home soil tests and garden design observing solar aspects and compass points.

In his dedicatory epistle to Shakespeare’s First Folio, Ben Jonson referred to the author’s “small Latin and less Greek.” Seven years later in the Second Folio, John Milton referred to Shakespeare as “Fancy's child” warbling “his native woodnotes wild.” Was Shakespeare unlearned as these contemporaries imply, or is there evidence that the Bard was influenced by both classical and vernacular literary sources, many untranslated or not published in England during Shakespeare’s lifetime? Scholars today attest to over 200 literary sources identified within the canon. This course will follow the historical perception of Shakespeare’s literary sources and explore what the documentary and literary records suggest regarding the popular consensus of our playwright and poet’s education and erudition. Stephanie Hopkins Hughes’ book, “Educating Shakespeare: What He Knew and How and Where He Learned It” (2022) will provide guidance to the discussion with an emphasis on Shakespeare's 'Greek.’

NOTE: Students are encouraged but not expected to buy the book. Much of the information will be available at Stephanie Hughes’ website, https://politicworm.com/

Understanding the life of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, is central and essential to understanding Islam. This course will present the facts as documented in the Qur'an and accounts of the life, words and actions of the Prophet and his followers. These words and actions were carefully documented by early Muslims in books, known as the Hadiths. Islam will also be explored as a religion including the Qur'an, the Sunni/Shia split, the five pillars of Islam: profession of faith, prayer, fasting, alms, and the pilgrimage to Mecca, plus a lot more. PowerPoint, videos, pictures and lecture will be used to cover the period 570 CE to 632 CE as documented by the Hadiths. It is fair to say that without knowing the history of the Prophet, it is impossible to understand the religion as it is manifested in the modern world. If you understand this, you're well on your way to understanding Islam. There will be time for questions at each class.

NOTE: Copies of the Qur’ans (Koran in the usual English transliteration) are readily available online and a few copies will be available in class.

No previous knowledge or subject matter background is required to join this class where we will discuss Wallace Stegner’s Pulitzer prize-winning novel, “Angle of Repose.” We will explore questions of narrative style, character, family, responsibility, obligation, sacrifice, creativity, aging, and the clash between cultures and generations. Much of the material is relevant to contemporary issues. The book also treats themes of regionalism, the creation and preservation of history, and its relationship to facts and to the truth. It will be conducted as a discussion group, with encouragement for all participants to share their insights, questions, and perceptions. Students can expect to come away from this class with an enriched appreciation of the history of the west after the Civil War, as well as the cultural shifts that found their birth in the 1960's of the Berkeley/San Francisco area. Please read the entire novel before the first class.

NOTE:   Any edition of the book is acceptable. New and used copies are readily available at a reasonable price.

Michel de Montaigne invented the essay in the 16th century, naming it for a French word that meant “to try,” “to test.” While the genre quickly expanded to include any short, non-fictional treatment of some subject matter, essays that retain the hallmarks of Montaigne’s—personal, exploratory and with a structure that resists outlining—tend to be the most literarily satisfying. We will read and discuss three collections: James Baldwin’s “Notes of a Native Son” (1955), Joan Didion’s “Slouching Toward Bethlehem” (1968), and Loren Eiseley’s “The Immense Journey” (1957). They are still available, and class participants should be able to acquire them all for about $35. A syllabus of weekly reading assignments will be sent before the course begins. 

Community Journalism @ Ashland.news will explore the practices of community journalism, and how it helps provide the information “oxygen” to facilitate democratic, economic and social vibrancy in a community. Students will also learn how stories and/or photos are assigned, reported, and prepared for publication. We will focus on techniques for gathering, writing, editing, photographing, and publishing factual information about the citizens, events, politics, economics, and culture of a localized area – all intended to enhance a community’s quality of life. Participants will formulate a reporting plan to supplement future editions of Ashland.news and prepare stories and/or photos for publication. Beginning the third week, students will gather news in the field, reporting or photographing, writing, and doing preliminary editing on each other’s reporting, all with an aim for publication. The reporting and editing cycle will be repeated three times.

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 time scales 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. 

Let’s explore the immune system together in a step-by-step fashion to untangle its many mysteries. This very complex, life-saving system protects us on a daily basis from a world of threats including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and toxins. How the immune system distinguishes between “self” and “non-self” is one of many fascinating aspects to be discussed. Presentations will examine innate and adaptive immunity, as well as the major organs, cells and messenger molecules involved in immune function. Knowledge is powerful, and the better we understand the workings of the immune system the better we can support its function. The topic is especially important in this time of COVID-19, with many questions surrounding vaccines and preventative measures. This introductory science-based Zoom course will incorporate easy-to-understand full color slides, lectures, a few short videos, and time for discussion with questions and answers.

Want time and space to pursue your present interests? There are 'things' you need to get back to, but haven't yet? How often have you brought new things home, and then actually removed an equal number of things from your home? Do you keep having to rearrange the excess or even move it to a storage unit? How much money does it cost you to keep holding onto all those extra things? This course creates a safe, confidential environment where mutual support means the difference between success and failure. Techniques proven to work help clear your life’s clutter. In this course you will choose another member of the class as your 'clutter coach' and exchange home visits. While this might sound frightening, the rewards are manifold. As you learn to strengthen your clutter clearing muscles, you will notice a whole new attitude. Your state of mind will change, and you and your new friends will actually have fun doing what used to be drudge work.

NOTE: If you have repeatedly tried to get rid of your excess and become overwhelmed just getting started, or if you would be embarrassed having a classmate come to your home, it’s probably best that you don't sign up.

Hot News and Cool Views is an open discussion forum to explore and discuss breaking news and events in the world.   All differing views, opinions, and knowledge are welcome and an integral part of our spirited discussion each week.   Respect and polite discourse have always been the platform for this class, and we strive to keep each class fascinating, informative, and timely.  Divergent political leanings and personal backgrounds add "sizzle" to the class, and the result is an entertaining and often controversial ninety minutes!  An agenda with supporting news articles is sent out a couple days ahead of each class for review.  Ideas and articles from the group are always welcome, and these are integrated into the agenda.  Hot News and Cool Views will help you stay current on regional, national, and global news.  Please join us for a journey around the world with our fast, fun class that is better than a strong cup of coffee to get your day going!

In these chaotic times, humanitarian work in our world carries with it many challenges as well as joys in helping to bring about comfort for our most vulnerable populations. This course will demonstrate that anyone can do anything with commitment and focus. The instructor offers first-hand personal experiences living and working with indigenous tribes in the rain forests of Madagascar with the Peace Corps and constructing hospitals with Doctors Without Borders in Afghanistan; in West Africa during the Ebola crisis; and in refugee camps, including, most recently, the Rohingya Camp of over a million in Bangladesh. The instructor will share personal stories and present techniques and lessons learned regarding handling travel, culture, and political challenges in each setting followed by open discussion and questions at the end of each class. Course content has been expanded from when it was previously offered to include additional personal stories.

Together we will unpack what race means historically and socially, and how racism functions in American society. We will establish common vocabulary to support fruitful conversations, and we will dive into the history of racism in our country, including how that history has socialized us, and where we see the impact of that history today. We will also learn about, discuss, and wrestle with topics like Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, Whiteness, IRO and IRS (how all of us internalize messages about race), and Racial Trauma. Pre-work will be assigned weekly via email, containing assignments that should be completed before the start of the class to prepare students for class teaching and discussion (about two hours each week: videos/reading/reflective writing). Classes are structured to build on the previous lessons and topics, so attendance at all six classes is expected, as is a high level of engagement. This is not a class where you will sit back and passively obtain information.

Come develop your writing style in this ten-week introduction to creative writing. No previous professional writing experience is necessary.  All you need is a love of writing and a willingness to share ideas with others.  Each class will feature an introduction to a different type of creative writing, including short story, drama, fiction, creative nonfiction, haiku, and numerous forms of poetry, followed by in-class readings. After readings, students will be invited to comment constructively on each other's work. Lectures will describe what students are to write each week and suggest reading examples, which will also be included in a list of references emailed before class.  If you have taken this class in the past, you are welcome to join us again. 

Irony and Inheritance is a close reading of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Participants will learn to detect and delight in the author’s deft use of irony as the story is told. Because we will be learning from shared reflections, it is essential to come to each class with roughly eighty pages read, starting with the first 16 chapters of Volume One. We will spend five weeks together on our voyage of discovery. Week by week we will reflect on the pages read, in a safe environment where honest reactions, objections, and insights are welcomed. Please come to class with the week’s reading FRESH in your mind.

This course 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. Over the course of the classes, you will learn a set of simple movements you can integrate into your daily routine. We will be meeting over Zoom and the class will include social time with other students.  Students will also have access to videos on YouTube and an optional DVD.

This is an active course and students need to be able to move about comfortably in a home space.  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.

The Nonfiction Writing Workshop offers practical training to enhance nonfiction writing skills. Class materials include selected readings, posted online, that demonstrate key writing techniques practiced by well-known authors. Students are required to submit four 500-1,000 word writing samples for analysis, one every other week, by midnight, Fridays (or Saturdays), using content derived from their experience. Students will read each other’s work and share constructive criticism about style and content. The instructor will also comment on each exercise. The storytelling techniques emphasized are applicable for memoir, historical articles, long-form journalism, and book-length nonfiction for print or the internet. Students should expect to spend 4-6 hours a week reading assignments and students’ work and writing. Previously taught courses have been amended annually, based on previous students' feedback.

NOTE: “Bird by Bird,” by Anne Lamott (New York: Anchor Books/Doubleday, 1994), is assigned to be read by the end of the term.

Have you ever wondered about the North Polar regions? As children we learned that Santa Claus lives there and that it’s the home of polar bears and lots of ice, but for most people that may be the limit of our knowledge. However, it is a land rich in history. This four-lecture series entitled Quest for the North Pole: Tales of Fantasy and Failure will take us north where we will join the extraordinary expeditions of William Parry in 1827, Fridtjof Nansen, Frederick Cook, RADM Robert Peary and many others who attempted to reach 90 degrees North. Baker has also brought Antarctica to OLLI as well as the Search for the Northwest Passage. The only requirements for this course are an open mind and curiosity.

Anyone who knows the Cyrillic alphabet can enjoy Russian poetry with us. Join us in reading aloud from great poets such as Aleksander Pushkin, Daniil Kharms and Kornei Chukovsky. 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 will sing some of the poems that have been set to music or were written as songs. This is not a deep literature class. The point is to enjoy making the sounds of Russian and appreciate how they interact with its meaning. Students who enjoyed "Fun with Russian" in Fall 2021 or "Russian Poetry in Russian" in Spring or Winter 2022 are encouraged to enroll. Poems from those classes will return, alongside new poems.

This seven-lecture course will cover this country's federal land management policies from the Revolutionary War to the present. It will review the Constitutional basis for federal land ownership and demonstrate how for the first 100 years, the divestiture of our publicly owned lands was this country's top priority. The subsequent emergence of a public land conservation movement and the creation of the National Park, Wildlife Refuge, and Forest Systems will be traced. Focus will include the management of the Wildlife Refuge and National Park Systems, including an in-depth look at the Everglades, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, with an eminent guest lecturer. The course will also focus on the establishment of more than 100 million acres of new conservation areas in Alaska and the old growth forest battles in the Northwest. There will be no assigned reading, and the course will involve a mixture of lectures and class discussions. No prior knowledge/skill sets will be required.

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 2000 years. Recently, however, biologists have been studying morality as an adaptation, attempting to discover how morality functions and how it evolved. We'll examine five 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 the trait to their offspring. Over time, both the trait and the genes producing it will increase. Seven sessions cover: 1) evolution and misconceptions; 2) genes and behavior; 3) Jonathan Haidt’s 5 dimensions of morality: conservatives and liberals; 4) kin selection and caring; 5) reciprocal altruism and fairness; 6) hierarchy, xenophobia; and 7) disgust and purity. Methods include readings, videos, lectures, group discussion.

From the 1890s through the 1950s it was common for American homes to have "a piano in the parlor." Each piano bench would be stuffed with sheet music - both the latest hits and old favorites. Many songs referenced current events, new-fangled inventions, and the latest slang. Of course, many other songs dealt with such perennial topics as home, mother, and romance. Often the performer who introduced a song was pictured on the sheet music cover. Making music at home around the piano persisted despite the advent of the phonograph, the radio, and even television. Each class will explore sheet music cover illustrations, the song titles, and the lyrics related to a multitude of topics. The themes of the music to be explored in each class will be shared with students in advance so they can recall songs they may not have thought about in years. Students will be welcome to share in class songs the instructor fails to mention.

Topics for this course include the Big Bang, energy fields, creation of the universe, supernovae, and beautiful nebulae. The video “Snowball Earth” shows when the earth froze solid at about 700 million years ago.   This video is an excellent presentation of the formation of life and the role oxygen played in the formation of collagen and the rise of multicellular life. Then comes the Cambrian Explosion and first animal life (the sponge) about 500 million years ago.  Supernovae and nebulae will be seen in new detail with videos from the James Webb telescope.  There will be Burgess and Drumheller Fossil slides from BC, Canada.  Then Darwin's "Dangerous Idea” video and his view of evolution. The class will also briefly discuss modern astrophysics, DNA manipulation, and biomedicine, all of which are important for our understanding of what the future holds for us. No formal background in science is required.

Students will explore the complexity and significance of feminism 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. Class will combine lecture, guest speakers, discussion on current events that impact Ukrainians, ritual circle sharing, readings and reflective writing.

NOTE: Required text: “Your Ad Could Go Here: Stories by Oksana Zabuzhko,” Edited by Nina Murray.  Other resources: “Mapping Difference: The Many Faces of Women in Contemporary Ukraine,” edited by Marian J Rubchak.

Math tasks for which the plan of attack is clear might be called “exercises,” while enthusiasts often save the word “problem” for situations in which the methodology is unclear. Problem solving can be thought of as the act of working toward a solution when we don’t know precisely how to reach it. It requires persistence and a shift in approach when the one we’ve tried leads to a dead end. We will examine strategies such as drawing a picture, writing an equation, working backwards, breaking a problem into parts, and looking for patterns. With practice, we can learn to recognize strategies likely to bear fruit when given a problem that challenges us. We will look at a variety of problems collected during the instructor’s 40+ years as a teacher. Here’s an example: In how many ways can ten people (all different heights) line up so that nobody is sandwiched between two taller people? All are welcome, and no prerequisite knowledge is required. Let's have fun doing math together!