Summer Study Groups 2008
Institute for Continued Learning

Also see: Past Study Groups

July 7th through August 8th

PL -- Denotes peer led format

M -- Denotes lecture or video format with interaction between participants and coordinator or visiting speaker

Monday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

“GREAT LONG FILMS”           -PL-  -M-               

     Jack McKee and Gordon Palmer, Coordinators

Each week we will watch, review and discuss a 3 - 4 hour movie (breaking for lunch). Our first movie will be Gone with the Wind (DVD Collector’s Edition – 3 hours, 45 minutes); the class will determine the next four movies. Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhivago are among those to be considered.

Monday 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

“THE HISTORY OF IMPRESSIONISM, PART 2”   -M-               
 Bob Masterson, Coordinator

Who were the Impressionists? Join us as we continue our journey through Impressionism. The artists covered in Part 2, will include Degas, Caillebotte, Cassatt, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec. We will also see more paintings by the artists discussed in Part 1: Manet, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Morisot, etc. Our guide will be Professor Richard Brettell of the Teaching Company.
NOTE: IF YOU DID NOT ATTEND PART 1, THAT’S OKAY. EACH SESSION STANDS ALONE.

 

Monday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

“HOW TO PLAY THE HARMONICA”           -PL-              
(Note : 4-week sesion begins July 7 and ends July 28.)

  Russ Smith, Coordinator

The harmonica is losing its popularity because most of us who appreciate the uniqueness of the instrument are getting older. I started playing the harmonica 14 years ago when I quit smoking. Another reason to play the harmonica is that “It’s Good for the Pipes.” A Honner Special 20 Key of C harmonica ($23.00) may be purchased at a music store, or you can use one that you already have.

“THE REBEL COMEDIANS OF THE ’50s AND ’60s”     -M-    

Don Demski, Coordinator

They were a new breed of comic, clearly different than the joke tellers who preceded them. They never worked vaudeville or the Catskills; they came out of radio, little clubs and even private parties. But, the biggest difference was their material: It was hip, often intellectually or socially relevant, and hilarious to young adults of the day. They had names like Sahl, Berman, Lehrer, Newhart and Cosby. In this class we’ll revisit these and other “rebel comedians” and laugh again at the classic performances that still play in our memories.

 

Tuesday 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

“CLASSIC FILMS”           -PL-  -M-               
(Note that start time for Film Study is 9:00 a.m. to allow for discussion)

     Jack McKee and Gordon Palmer, Coordinators

Each week we will see a movie and discuss it. Movies are selected by the coordinators and volunteer members of the class. Here is a chance to show the group your favorite classic movie(s). A list of movies previously shown will be distributed at our first session.

Tuesday 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

 

“BEGINNERS KNITTING CLASS”   -PL-  

 Linda Van Bladel and Vern Johnson, Coordinators

We will begin the study group by learning how to make a slip knot, cast on stitches and knit a 4 x 4 inch coaster. You will also learn how to purl, increase, decrease and bind-off. Participants will need to bring the following materials: size 8 straight knitting needles, scissors and a ball or skein of four-ply yarn (light solid color, no multi-color). The study group is intended to be a fun opportunity to try something new and make new friends. We will bring in patterns and sample projects for participants. Even as a beginner, you will be surprised by what you can knit.

For additional information about the study group, contact Linda
Van Bladel at : lvanbladel@mindspring.com

Tuesday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

“COMPUTER WORKSHOPS”  -M-

     Mike Thompson, Coordinator

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOP YOU WISH TO ATTEND

Five individual computer workshops are offered with a limit of 24 participants per workshop.  Each workshop will be a one-day-only study group and require a separate registration.

July 8, Week #1 -- PREEZO Basics
You will learn how to sign up for and use the basic features of a free online program called Preezo. The program is a simplified version of PowerPoint and can be used to make computerized slide presentations for study groups

July 15, Week #2 -- Pix and Graphics in PREEZO
You will learn how to add graphics and pictures to spice up a Preezo presentation.

July 22, Week #3 -- EMAIL
This workshop is geared to those who would like to use email, but don’t currently have an account. In this session you will learn how to sign up for free email accounts at Google.com and Yahoo.com, and to send and receive email from any computer connected to the Internet.

July 29, Week #4 -- BRAIN GAMES
This workshop will provide you an opportunity to learn about websites containing games to exercise your brain. You’ll discover how to get the most out of these sites, which will include Web Sudoku, Bubbleshooter, Scrabulous, JigZone and others

August 5, Week #5 -- PHOTOS, VIDEO AND MUSIC
You will explore photos, video and music on the Internet, and you will be given an overview of how to use these multimedia formats on your computer. (This session will be either lecture or hands-on depending on the number of participants).

If you are registering for more than one workshop, please  rank by number in order of preference (e.g., Week #3 is 1, Week #1 is 2 and so on).  A lottery will be used on any workshop with over 24 registered participants.

  

“THE LIFE AND SHORT STORIES OF ALICE MUNRO” -PL-

Cathy Werner Jensen, Coordinator

Alice Munro has been hailed as one of our greatest living writers. Munro enables readers both to grasp clearly the details of daily life and to gain insight into how they fit universal themes. We will discuss a selection of stories from Carried Away, a collection of favorite stories personally selected by the author. NOTE: There is a Minimum of 10 and a Maximum of 20 in the study group. There wil be required reading. Munro ’s book may be purchased or found at local libraries.

Wednesday 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

“PICKING UP THE CHECK OR LIFE’S LITTLE PROBLEMS”  -PL-

     Chuck Simons, Coordinator

This course will be a freewheeling discussion among class participants dealing with the dynamics of family and friends encountered in our daily lives. For example: Is it fair to split the check when just one couple orders the expensive entrees and wine? When preparing a will, what is fair if one adult child has
done well and the other is a spendthrift? If I borrow my brother’s car and the muffler falls off, what is the fair thing to do? After mom’s death, who gets the silver? I loaned my college buddy $5,000, and he agreed to pay me $100 a month, but payment stopped after the fifth month. Now what do I do?

“WORLD LITERATURE”  -PL-

     Carol and Christopher Melby, Coordinators

Using the book, Literature from the Axis of Evil: Writings from Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Other Enemy Nations, we will expand our knowledge and understanding of these people and their cultures. The stories and poems have been translated into English for the first time. The book may be purchased from Amazon.com. For the first class, please read the Editors’ Note and the selections from Iran (p. 1 - 49). Class size is limited to 25.

Wednesday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

“BATTER UP ”  -PL-

     Tom Dooley, Joe Maladra and Carolyn Simons, Coordinators

“IT COULD BE … IT MIGHT BE … IT IS! AN OVER THE WALL, OUT-OF THE PARK HOME RUN!”
That’s what the participants in this study group will be shouting once our fifth season of baseball at ICL is underway. Challenging quizzes, interesting guest speakers (ex-players, managers and coaches) and engaging film clips will expose the group to numerous facts about our national pastime. You will also have the opportunity to participate in our own fantasy league; you might be on a pennant winning team and have the thrill of competing in our fantasy world series. Join the fun at our baseball study group. Bring peanuts, popcorn and Crackerjack, and you won’t care if you ever get back. Let’s play ball!

“SKIRTING THE GLOBE WITH FOREIGN FILMS”  -PL- -M-

     Anne Schneider and Harry Trumfio, Coordinators

Want to experience a film without buildings exploding, guns blazing, blood spouting or cars spinning in circles? Want a taste of life from a different point of view? Join us as we watch and discuss selected subtitled films from Europe and Asia. The coordinators will present the first two films and lead the discussion. The last three weeks group members are invited to select and discuss films of their choice. To facilitate the selection process an annotated film list will be available at the first session. Class size is limited to 25.

Thursday 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

“PHARMACEUTICALS –WHAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD KNOW”  -PL-

     Peter Marron, Coordinator

All pharmaceuticals are foreign substances to the human body. They may have either beneficial or harmful effects. Our goals for the study group are to: 1) review the history of pharmaceuticals, 2) provide suggestions that will help to maximize the benefits of prescribed and OTC drugs, and 3) provide advice to help minimize the risks of drug use due to human error. Insulin and other drugs of interest to the participants may be subjects of
discussion.

“SO MANY BOOKS, SO MANY OPTIONS”  -PL- -M-

     Audrey Beauvais and Caryn Amster, Coordinators

Cognitive neuroscientist Denise Park says: “Age-proof your brain. If you always read romance novels or mysteries, commit to a challenging biography.” And we might add, pick up and read an intriguing non-fiction book. This study group will include discussions of not only the coordinators’ favorites but also those of the group members. A guest speaker will reveal how to ferret out books based on your interests. Film clips and virtual interviews will be a part of the program. Whether your area of interest is health and wellness, popular culture or investing strategies you are sure to find some worthy new books and ideas to explore.

 

“I, CLAUDIUS – WE, AMERICA, PART 2“  -M-

     Kathleen Miller and Marjory Larson, Coordinators

We will continue our exploration of ancient Rome and its influence on our modern milieu; peer presentations and discussion of this classic BBC video series will continue. We will examine how our political, cultural and moral values compare with Roman imperial models? What can we learn from Rome’s success and eventual failure? We suggest that new participants watch (or read plot summaries of) the first nine segments of I, Claudius before the first session.

Thursday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

“DEALING WITH ANXIETY AND FEAR”  -PL-

     Kathryn Black, Coordinator

Anxiety and fear are automatic responses to many of life’s events. When and why do these occur? What are the possible reactions to them? What can we do in order to cope with these natural responses? We will consider not only the effects of fear and anxiety on our personal lives but also how they affect political action, religious beliefs and end-of-life choices.

Friday 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

 

“JESUS WAS A LIBERAL”  -PL-

     Joe Sheridan, Coordinator

This is a study group for those who want to participate in spirited lectures and debates. Joe Sheridan, author of Jesus Was a Liberal, describes himself as a social liberal and economic conservative. Each week his study group will consist of a short discourse and a long discussion on contemporary American politics. Be prepared to share your point of view. All opinions are welcome.

Revised May 16, 2008

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