Classes open to those 55 and older
GALVESTON, Texas - Enrollment is open for the spring semester of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Classes are open to anyone 55 and older. Tuition is $25 per course until Feb. 1 and $30 starting Feb. 4. Membership in OLLI is required to enroll in classes. The annual fee is $25.
OLLI offers college-level courses to seniors 55 or older regardless of previous education. There are no prerequisites for most classes and no grades or tests are given. However, registration is required.
Here is the spring course schedule:
The Dead Sea Scrolls -- Wednesdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Feb. 27-April 23
Some have called discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls the greatest manuscript find of all time. Others believe the scrolls provide insights into the evolution of religions. In this course, Rabbi Jimmy Kessler will guide learners through excavation of the wealth of historic information buried within the scrolls.
Discovering the Artist Within -- Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., April 1-May 20
Galveston artist and gallery owner Sallie Anderson returns to OLLI to help you discover artistic skill within yourself. Learners will be introduced to a variety of simple, creative art forms including basic card making, origami, jewelry, fabric and papier-mâché. No art experience is necessary. Supplies are provided for an additional $10 fee).
Composers of Note(s) - Lyrics, Musicals, and Movies -- Thursdays, 10 a.m.-noon, Feb. 21-April 17 (no class March 13)
Join popular local entertainer Bonnye Karger in examining the creative processes and lives of a select number of gifted composers of music and lyrics for stage, screen and the pop charts. Learners will reflect on how these composers' music affected and influenced lives and memories. They will also explore the elements involved in creating compositions and in the development of a stage production. No musical talent or experience is required for this course. Composers not included in the previous course will be introduced so the course is open to those who have taken it before.
That's Another Story I -- Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, Feb. 12-April 1
Scientific evidence demonstrates the importance of telling and sharing life stories. The course, taught by Alison Barker, is open to learners at all levels of writing skill, including novices. In this course, learners will explore those narratives when "another story" emerged from their work in previous writing groups. Learners get a chance to develop and share their stories and give feedback on stories they hear. Only a few openings remain in this course.
That's Another Story II -- Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., April 8-May 27
Upon completion of the first section of That's Another Story, learners may enroll in a second 8-week course, also taught by Alison Barker. Learners may enroll in either That's Another Story I or That's Another Story II.
Become a Hurricane Expert -- Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., March 6-May 8 (no class April 17 and 24)
Instructor Stan Blazyk is the author of "Weather: People and the Elements on a Barrier Island." Hurricanes and tropical storms are the most fearsome and fascinating weather events facing Gulf Coast residents. Using much new material, this course will explore almost every feature of these storms, from the basic meteorological factors behind tropical weather patterns to the latest information and theories on hurricane frequency, intensity and tracking patterns. The class may include a field trip to the National Weather Service and a visiting hurricane expert. This is a new course.
Short Stories/Big Careers - Fridays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., March 7-May 2 (no class March 21)
Instructor John Gorman will lead learners as they look at short fictional works by eight American authors who have flourished since the middle of the 20th century. Learners will purchase the book "American Short Story Masterpieces," edited by Raymond Carver and Tom Jenks, available for about $8 from Dell Paperbacks. Reading selections will be determined by class members. The first reading (selected by the fall semester learners) will be Grace Paley's "The Used-Boy Raisers."
Your Dreams are a Gift - Mondays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Feb. 11 and 25, March 10 and 24, April 7 and 14, May 5 and 12
Vasiliki Eckley, an adult educator for 40 years, works with individuals on issues of relationship and lifestyle. This course will foster appreciation of dreams and the potential the dream life offers for living into a context larger than that limited by everyday issues and routines. Learners will consider theories of dreams from physiological, psychological and spiritual perspectives. Learners will discuss how to remember dreams, how to keep a dream journal and how to become more deeply and consciously related to the material of the dream.
The Possible Human - and My Life, Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Feb.13-April 2
What is possible for the enterprise of being human? How can we speak of this potential both for our collective being and for our individual or personal becoming? In this class, led by Vasiliki Eckley, learners will consider the answers given by various traditions, orientations and disciplines. This class is a continuation of the fall class with special emphasis on implications for the personal lives of the participants.
Tempest - Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon, March 4-March 27. This class meets twice a week for four weeks.
Sometimes an ill wind blows good things to those who seek them. Shakespeare's "The Tempest" shipwrecks readers to a magical island and introduces a bevy of characters, both good and evil, who entertain as they learn to live better before their rescue. Instructor Richard Peake recommends the Signet Classic version of the "The Tempest" as text. In the final session, learners will view a video version of the play.
Shall We Dance? - Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m., Feb. 13-April 2
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York found that those 75 and older who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities including ballroom dancing demonstrated reduced risk of dementias. Join Bill and Judy Biggs as they introduce participants to the waltz, foxtrot and swing, and perhaps a few other steps as well. Stay fit and flexible, keep alert and have lots of fun dancing. Only a few openings remain in this course since some learners from the fall semester signed up in advance. Those who'd like to join are advised to call the OLLI office. OLLI may be able to find partners for those who do not have one.
Migratory Birds of the Texas Gulf Coast -- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., March 4-March 27
This class meets twice a week for four weeks. On Thursday afternoons, learners will accompany ornithologist Richard Peake and other experts on birding field trips. Additional optional birding activities may be added. To participate fully, learners need binoculars and adequate mobility for outdoor activities. Also, learns should have a copy of "A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America" by Peterson and Peterson or "Golden Field Guide" by Chandler Robbins. Also recommended is "National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America," fifth edition, by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer.
Fundamentals of Ecology of the Gulf of Mexico - Mondays, 10 a.m.-noon, March 3-April 21
Learners will explore the basics of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, primarily the geographic area bordered by the Texas coastline. Participants will learn about the topography of the Gulf, including structures on the bottom and nearer the surface. Instructor Joe Kent, a coastal ecology expert, will explore marine life including plants, crustaceans and fish, and migratory patterns of fish and birds with a look at global climate change. Participants will learn about the benefits and harm of offshore exploration for minerals and learn how energy companies drill for and produce oil and gas in offshore waters. Finally, come to appreciate the variety of recreational activities offered by this vast body of water with some lessons on how to fish successfully in the Gulf.
Tai Chi - Fridays, 9:30-11 a.m., April 11-May 30
Join certified instructor Julia Barragan as she demonstrates the Yang style of Tai Chi. Sessions will concentrate on balance, flexibility, slow movement and breath control. Research has shown Tai Chi to increase balance and decrease likelihood of falls.
Gentle Tai Chi - Mondays, 9:30-11 a.m., March 31-May 19
Certified Tai Chi instructor Julia Barragan developed this special series of gentle Tai Chi to offer this art to more participants. Class size will be kept small so that she can demonstrate the exercises specifically suited to the needs of individual participants. Sessions will concentrate on balance, flexibility, slow movement and breath control. Research has shown Tai Chi to increase balance and decrease likelihood of falls.
Mah Jongg - Tuesdays, morning session 10 a.m.-noon and afternoon session 1-3 p.m., Feb. 19-April 8
Learn about current research demonstrating that this game requiring skill, strategy, intelligence, calculation and luck engages both hippocampi of the brain. Other research shows that cognitive activities such as Mah Jongg contribute to healthy aging. Instructor Antoinette Swinnea will teach participants to play this fast paced, traditional Chinese tile game. Class size is limited. (Participants who register for the morning session may attend only morning classes. Afternoon registrants may attend only afternoon sessions.)
Hellenic History and Heritage - From Alexander the Great to Today, Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., April 9-May 28
Join a group of distinguished experts on Greek culture and history on an experiential educational adventure. Participants will learn how the history of Greek-speaking people exemplifies the achievements of humankind and, at the same time, the misery of the human condition. In this course, participants will learn Greek cultural history and heritage from Alexander the Great's predecessors to contemporary Greece. Ancient Greece and Rome, the Byzantium Empire, Greek revolutions, Greece in World War II, and civil wars will come alive in interactive sessions rich with historical stories.
Payment for OLLI classes may be made by check, money order, cash or credit card. Do not send cash in the mail and do not send credit card information via e-mail. Registrants will receive letters detailing course locations and other information.
Those who plan to pay by mail, please make checks payable to UTMB with the notation "OLLI" in the memo area. Mail checks to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UTMB, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0972. Please include the ZIP+4 code.
For more information, please contact Michelle Sierpina, OLLI founding director, or Julia Barragan, OLLI coordinator, at (409) 747-4657; or send e-mail to msierpin@utmb.edu or jdbarrag@utmb.edu.