OLLI Outlook
OLLI @Berkeley's monthly newsletter
May 2009 |
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Bring a Friend to Last Class
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For those enrolled in the following courses, OLLI invites you to you share your OLLI experience by bringing a friend to your last class:
Cobb: "Revolutions in Astronomy"
Hurwitt: "Experiencing Bay Area Theater"
Kreisler: "Challenges Facing the Obama Presidency"
Thaler: "Wisdom and the Mind"
Poling: "Postwar Paris"
Please have your friend sign in on the guest sheet that will be next to the check-in list for the class so that we can add your guest to our contact list. If you have any questions, please call the OLLI office at 510.642.9934.
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Course Evaluations
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The Spring term ends Thursday, May 7, and May 15 for Friday courses. Links to online evaluations for Spring 2009 courses will be sent out starting the end of this week, and hard copies will be available in the classrooms. Whichever form you prefer, please be sure to give us your assessment of your class experience.
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Thanks to OLLI @Berkeely...
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The Osher Lifelong Learning
Institute is named after Bernard Osher, who has seeded OLLIs at 123 campuses
across the country. In mid-May, we are having a celebratory lunch with The
Osher Foundation and Chancellor Robert Birgeneau to talk about the future of
OLLI @Berkeley.
To recognize how important OLLI is to you, the community, and
the campus, we are compiling brief testimonials. Next week, from May 4-8,
Monday through Friday, we will have note cards at the check-in tables for you to
express your thoughts. It can be short, sweet, and spontaneous! We will add
your note to a scrapbook which we are compiling in honor of these two years to present
to Mr. Osher.
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Summer Interest Circles
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OLLI @Berkeley Summer 2009 Interest Circles
June
2 -September 10
Tuesday-Thursday
The Town Hall meeting on April 27 resulted in the following
interest circles for the summer. The groups will start meeting on June 2 and
go through September 10 at the times noted. If you would like to join a group, please
contact the Interest Circle
facilitator or the OLLI office, or simply drop in on a meeting. If an Interest Circle does not have a
facilitator yet, let the OLLI office
know if you are interested. The meeting schedules for the summer will be posted
outside the OLLI classrooms in University Hall after June 5.
NOTE: If you were
an OLLI member at any time during the 2008-09 academic year, there is no cost
to participate. All others must become a summer OLLI member to participate ($25
check made out to "UC Regents" or cash should be given to an OLLI
staff member). Summer student ID cards will be issued by request only.
Tuesdays (starting June 2)
10:00 am-12:00 noon
International Fiction
Book Club
Facilitator: Lorraine
Parmer (lorraineparmer@comcast.net; 510.233.1792)
10:00 am-12:00 noon
Energy
Facilitator: Tom Graly (tgraly@gmail.com; 510.207.2250)
1:30-3:30 pm
Sacramento Politics: The State Budget
Co-facilitators: Mary Bergan (marybergan@aol.com;
510.532.1856) and Nikki Maziasz nikmaziasz@aol.com)
First meetings: June 2, 9, 23 (meet every other week)
1:30-3:30 pm
Poetry Discussion
Facilitator: Kathleen Weaver (kathaweaver@yahoo.com)
Wednesdays (starting June 3)
10:00 am-12:00 noon
Shakespeare: Out-Loud
and Ruminated
Facilitator: Alan Bodine
(alanbodine@comcast.net; 510.845.0974)
The first play for the summer will be "Julius Caesar"
10:00 am-12:00 noon
Poetry
Interpretation/Reading
Facilitator: John Argue (jargue@pacbell.net; 510.985.2645)
1:30-3:30 pm
Learning to Learn:
How Older Adults Learn Differently
Facilitator: to be determined
1:30-3:30 pm
Shakespeare in
Transition
Facilitator: Donn Downing (donnfaber@gmail.com)
Thursdays (starting June 4)
10:00 am-12:00 noon
Memoir Writing
Facilitator: Karen Grassle (pacifikaren@yahoo.com)
10:00 am-12:00 noon
Health Care
Facilitator: open
1:30-3:30 pm
The Economy
Co-facilitator: Sandy Pyer (hikingbootgrammy@gmail.com) and Karen Wolff (karenwolff@mac.com;
510.289.0335)
1:30-3:30 pm
Using Social Media
Technology
Facilitator: open
Fridays (contact the facilitator for details)
Lunching Adventures
Facilitator: Lucille Poskanzer
(lbposkanzer@lbl.gov)
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Volunteers for OLLI Blog
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Have a blog? Love blogging? OLLI staff is exploring social media tools to help keep members connected over the summer (see Social Media Interest Circle above), so we're looking for a few good writers to help kick-start the OLLI blog. Let us know of your interest by getting in touch with our office.
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Faculty Profile: Bethany Cobb
"Revolutions in Astronomy"
Mondays, March 30 - May 4 (Spring 2009)
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
by Jim Bernard
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On a perfect New England Christmas day, an eight-year old
girl finds a telescope under the tree. Not so many years later, she is the astronomer
who teaches and inspires Berkeley OLLI members with her passionate pursuit of
greater understanding of the universe.
Bethany Cobb is
the youngest instructor to teach an OLLI course, and one of the most
popular. Her Revolutions in Astronomy
covers everything from the Big Bang to the latest perspectives on the dark energy
which powers the accelerating expansion of the universe. Her presentation style
is engaging, articulate, and clearly communicates difficult concepts
to a diverse audience. Seamlessly incorporated into the flow are short videos,
thought experiments, and demonstrations. Even a field trip to the telescope at
Chabot Space and Science
Center is on the agenda.
Bethany was born in Vermont and grew up in New Hampshire. Her parents were both
academics involved in science and math, and were a strong influence in
fostering these interests in Bethany.
Her mother was a natural teacher, and passed these skills to her daughter.
While an undergraduate at Williams
College majoring in
astrophysics and psychology, she played a role in introducing students to telescopes and astronomy. During these years she caught the teaching bug. She moved on to Yale
University for six years
and received her Ph.D.
A National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for post-doctoral
work, which includes funding for both research and outreach, supports her
current work on gamma ray bursts at UC Berkeley. The outreach goals led to an
OLLI course proposal. She enjoys teaching for the OLLI community because "they
really want to be there" in the classroom. Where undergraduates are
sometimes just in it for a requirement or a grade, OLLI students are there to
learn. The questions flow freely and punctuate the dialogue.
Bethany
sees herself as an astronomy teacher who does research. Astronomy is a history-making career, as technology advances and there are more powerful telescopes and faster computers. She anticipates the discovery of Earth-like planets,
even life outside Earth, during her lifetime. While she
doesn't expect Einstein's theory of relativity to be proven wrong, you never know. That's part of the
fun.
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The Lunch Bunch
by Lucille Poskanzer
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Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House 1920 Shattuck Avenue, between Berkeley Way and Hearst
510.843.2739 www.triplerock.com
Hard to believe, but this place is a fine choice for lunch.
It's generally quiet at that time of the day, there are booths for cozy
seating, and the food is surprisingly good and not that expensive. There's
usually a very good soup, the sandwiches are delicious and generously
proportioned and the burgers rock. And don't forget all the beer choices, if
you can drink and still stay awake for class.
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Announcements
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Fall 2009 OLLI @Berkeley Open House
Tuesday, September 15, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Location to be announced
Classes start on Wednesday, September 30
An Evening Program on Bay Area Osher Lifelong Learning
with Dr. Robert Baron (UCSF), Susan Hoffman (UC Berkeley), and Debra Varner (SF State)
Tuesday, May 12, 7:30 pm
Swedish American Hall (at Sanchez)
2174 Market Street
San Francisco
415.861.5016
Tamim Ansary Book Release
Berkeley Arts & Letters presents Tamim Ansary (Hot Spots in Islam, OLLI @Berkeley, Winter 2009), who will discuss his newest book, Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes.
The acclaimed author of West of Kabul, East of New York brings a sweeping, narrative history illuminating how Muslims have seen the history of the world--and what western world history leaves out.
Tuesday, May 5, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
First Congregational Church of Berkeley
2345 Channing Way
Berkeley
$10 at the door ($5 students with ID)
or online at Brown Paper Tickets
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/63863
Exploring the ExploratoriumCSU-East Bay OLLI offers a science day at San Francisco's Exploratorium. In the morning, UC Berkeley's Per Peterson will discuss the promise and problems of nuclear fission and fusion sources for our future energy needs. He will also field questions on these vital topics. After the presentation and lunch, participants will have the chance to take staff-guided tours or explore exhibits on their own. Round-trip bus transportation from Walnut Creek to San Francisco and lunch are included.
Instructor: Dr. Per Peterson, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, UC Berkeley Thursday, June 18, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm The Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco
415.561.0360 Fee: $80 for OLLI members only (includes transportation)Registration required: www.ce.csueastbay.edu/courses/OLLI/register.shtmlCal Shakes Special Ticket Offer Subject to availability, OLLI students receive a $10 discount on all weeknight and Saturday matinee performances of Romeo and Juliet, dramaturgy by Philippa Kelly ("King Lear for Our Time," OLLI @Berkeley, Spring 2009).
May 27 - June 21
Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd, Orinda
Offer available by phone only, not valid with
other discounts or promotions. 4 tickets per order maximum. For tickets call
510.548.9666.www.calshakes.orgChabot Space Center Special Tuesday Openings The Chabot Space Center will be open to the public from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on these special Tuesdays: May 5 & 12. For more info please visit: www.chabotspace.orgMultiple Intelligence Test Want to know your learning style? Take the quiz. There are 24
questions, and it will take less than five minutes to complete. At the end, you'll find out more
about how you learn.
www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz
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OLLI @Berkeley Staff
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Director: Susan Hoffman Program Coordinator: Aileen Kim Program Assistant: Mark Gorney OLLI @BerkeleyUniversity of California 1925 Walnut St #1570 Berkeley, CA 94720-1570 tel. 510.642.9934 fax 510.642.2202 berkeley_olli@berkeley.edu http://olli.berkeley.edu | |
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