Click on Course for a complete description of the course. Room numbers will be available in the Rotunda the first week of class.
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SP10-01 PERSONAL NARRATIVE In the course of this program, students will be exposed to writing for themselves and writing for others. They will share their writing if they choose to do so, and will edit selected works based on feedback. We will discuss the process of writing and explore shades of meaning, theme, character, plot, setting, mood, and tone. Inexperienced writers will discover the joys of writing; experienced writers will sharpen their skills.
Course leader Evelyn Lerman is the author of Teen Moms: The Pain and the Promise and Safer Sex: The New Morality. She was a teacher, vice principal, and the Director of Personnel for Brookline Public Schools in Massa-chusetts until her retirement in 1992. In Waterville, Maine, where she summers, she teaches a writing course to seniors at the Muskie Center. She has a B.S. in journalism from Simmons College and an Ed.M. and a C.A.S. in education and language development from Harvard University.
Dates: Mar. 8th-April 12th.
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
6 weeks
SP10-43 NEW DEAL DRAMA: LANDMARK PLAYS OF THE 1930’S The course will present significant works of the major dramatists between the two world wars: the rise and fall of Harry Hopkins’s federal theatre; Clifford Odets’ dramatic landmark Awake and Sing which launched the Actors Studio; Lillian Hellman’s bombshell of sexual behavior, The Children’s Hour; Robert E. Sherwood (F.D.R.’s speech writer) warning about a coming war in Idiot’s Delight; and Thornton Wilder’s optimistic belief that somehow mankind will survive by The Skin of Our Teeth Each session will view video clips of key scenes from one of the plays; lecture, discussion, Q & A.
Course leader Dr. Arthur Leibman is an award-winning author/editor of more than a dozen books, ranging from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes. He is currently on the faculty of New York University where he teaches Humanities and World Literature. He is also a popular lecturer at the New School for Social Research. Dr. Leibman has lectured throughout the United States at colleges, libraries, community centers and aboard luxury cruise ships.
Dates: March 8-April 26th.
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
8 weeks
GL10-04 A JEWISH DOCUMENTARY FILM HISTORY Travel through time and culture as we learn about love, decency, despair, heroism and honor. 1. The Refugees: Darfurians who crossed two borders in pursuit of refuge in Israel; 2. Masada: A mountain retreat where Jews chose murder and suicide rather than submission to Rome (or did something else happen there?); 3. Joseph and Maria: The tale of an Israeli Jew and a German Catholic whose paths cross in a Jerusalem restaurant; 4. The House on August Street: A dedicated woman who risked her life transporting Jewish orphans from Germany to Palestine; 5. The Partisans of Vilna: The untold story of Jewish resistance during WWII; 6. The Forgotten Refugees: The mass exodus of Jews from Arab countries and Iran; 7. The Woman from Sarajevo: Amid religious hatred, a Muslim woman brought dramatic changes to her Jewish friends and family; 8. At Home in Utopia: Jewish activists who built a Bronx commune in the time of the Hitler-Stalin pact and WWII.
Course leader Samuel Gross, a graduate of Bowdoin College (A.B.), Amherst College (M.A.) and the University of Rochester (M.D.), finished his career as Emeritus Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Florida and then addressed his second passion, Jewish history, through the use of documentary films and related media. This continuing interest first took root during his tenure at U.N.C. and Duke with a series of lectures in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Dates: Mar. 8th-Apr. 26th
Special Time: 10:00-11:20 a.m.
8 weeks Location: Glenridge at Palmer Ranch
SP10-02 GOOGLE TIPS FOR SEARCHING THE WORLD Google is a fantastic tool for searching all types of information on the World Wide Web. It was the first search engine to provide highly relevant results to user search queries. Since then, Google has expanded its capabilities to enhance searching not only the Internet, but also many other databases, even databases in other languages. The goal of this course is to make you more effective in using the World Wide Web to find the information you want. You will learn how to: set up your Google preferences; use filtered searches to access the information you want without getting tons of useless hits; access specialized Google databases for images, news, and books; and search/translate pages in other languages to support your research queries. This course is not for computer neophytes. Participants must have an email address and be comfortable using a computer.
Course leader Currie Colket has a master’s in computer science from Ohio State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has made a career as a software engineer for the United States Navy. He has researched and published his family genealogy and is currently the Chair of the Manasota Genealogical Society Computer Special Interest Group (SIG) addressing effective ways to use the Internet.
Dates: Mar. 8th-April 12th
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
6 Weeks
SP10-03 MADNESS, SADNESS, & GLADNESS IN 3 OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS In discussions about and readings from King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, and The Tempest, the group will discover and consider the emotions cited in our course title, as well as other emotions and ideas to be found in these great dramas. It will be helpful if participants bring editions which have line indicators to each session. It is hoped that the leader and the participants will keep in mind that “The readiness is all.”
Course leader Dr. John Mellon is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a B.S. in English and history at Clarion State College. His master’s degree in literature and Ph.D. in English were completed at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Mellon has taught in colleges in Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. For twenty-seven years he held administrative positions, including Associate and Acting Dean and President of Western State College. He also served as a consultant to trustees of state colleges in Colorado. He frequently lectures and leads discussions on literary subjects and current events.
Dates: Mar. 8th-April 26th
Time: 11:30 a.m. -12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-05 INSTITUTE FOR THE SCIENTIFICALLY TIMID 2 This is the second installment of the Institute for the Scientifically Timid (IST). Join Jeff Rodgers for an in-depth look at Earth as a habitable planet, the origins of life, and our scientific search for the places in our solar system, our galaxy, and our universe where life might exist. Completion of IST1 is recommended before taking IST2, but not a requirement.
Course leader Jeff Rodgers is the Director of Education for the South Florida Museum and Director of the Bishop Planetarium. He joined the South Florida Museum in November 2004 after a nine-year stint at the American Museum of Natural History and Hayden Planetarium in New York City. A science communicator, Jeff spends the bulk of his time trying to de-mystify the universe and our place in it.
Dates: Mar. 8th-April 26th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-06 MAN BY NATURE:HIDDEN PROGRAMMING CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR Most human behavior can be explained by observing that it is typical of tribal, territorial animals: we instinctively form tribes, war with one another, are “good” toward tribe mates, and are capable of “evil” toward others. Two things keep this commonsense observation from being accepted, however: (1) we do not experience instincts affecting our behavior, (2) we fear that acknowledging human instincts would allow invoking them to excuse brute behavior and/or eugenic experimentation. The catch-22 is that if we do have instincts predisposing us to war and to contend with one another, denying them will delay understanding them, and we will continue to repeat our history despite remembering it. This presentation/discussion course will review the modern brain research that explains why we do not experience instincts, and will develop a “Tribal Programming Theory of Human Behavior.” The text, written by the instructor, is provided free of cost. This course is repeated from our Fall 2009 offerings.
Course leader Adam Leonard is a retired engineering scientist, an evolutionary philosopher, a Sarasota resident, and author of the book Man by Nature: The Hidden Programming Controlling Human Behavior. He paraphrases Mark Twain’s comment “When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained” by stating, “Once you realize Man is not rational, things begin to make sense!”
SP10-07 FROM DARWINIAN EVOLUTION TO UNIVERSAL EVOLUTION This lecture-based course supports the comment by Dobzhansky that “nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” The science of evolutionary biology reflects Dobzhansky's view. In class we will explore examples that show “why evolution is true.” Molecular biology terms and concepts such as DNA will be fully explained. The course begins with Darwin’s original idea of natural selection then expands it (universal Darwinism) to include such fields as biology, human culture, and the cognitive sciences. The course requires no prior knowledge of evolution theory. Handouts will include all the references used in the course.
Course leader Bob Kelly has a Ph.D. in statistics and an M.S. in math from the University of Maryland BC, a B.S.E.E. and an M.S. in physics from Johns Hopkins University, and an M.S.E.E. from George Washington University. He taught calculus and biological statistics for several years at the University of Maryland BC and was U.S. technical advisor at international meetings for the Federal Aviation Agency for twenty years. For the last ten years, he has taught a variety of courses at Pierian Spring Academy in Sarasota, including Darwinian Evolution, Cosmology, Molecular Biology, Quantum Field Theory, and String Theory. He has been president of Kelly Systems Engineering for eighteen years. s .
Dates: Mar. 8th-Apr. 26th2
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 week
AMI-SP01 THE WORLD IN TRANSITION: The rapid changes we are all witnessing in our lifetimes contain within them both opportunities and dangers. In this course, we will focus on transitions in human consciousness that may help in making the future of the world more sustainable and secure. We will look at environmental, spiritual, psychological, and political aspects of the world situation. The initial reading assignment will be emailed to participants by the Academy office two weeks prior to the beginning of the first class.
Course leader Peter Mermin has a B.A. in philosophy from Antioch College, a master’s in psychology from the New School for Social Research, and a Ph.D. in psychology from Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. He taught at Southampton College and Suffolk County Community College on Long Island for thirty-four years.
SP10-08 CURRENT ISSUES Current Issues is a lively discussion group in which topics are chosen by the class from a wide range of important global, domestic, local, political, and cultural issues, and discussion is facilitated by a volunteer from the group. The objective is an increased understanding of these current issues based on information, data, and appreciation of other points of view, using the Socratic method of penetrating, thoughtful questions and open, respectful discussion. A portion of each session is also reserved for discussion of important weekly headlines and media stories.
Course leader Lou Bevilaqua is a retired General Electric senior executive who ran GE’s Small Aircraft Engine business, requiring him to travel and to develop relationships in over sixty countries. He holds engineering degrees from Cornell University and a master’s from Northeastern University. He is an avid reader and self-proclaimed history, news, public policy, and current issues junkie.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
8 weeks
SP10-09 GREAT BOOKS: GREAT CONVERSATIONS #4 Method: Shared inquiry discussion allows everyone to read and enjoy great works of literature. The effectiveness of this method comes from the egalitarian approach it takes: discussion is based on the text at hand and only that text. Material: We will be reading Great Conversations #4. The text is available through the campus bookstore. Assignments: Class participants should read assigned selections prior to each class meeting. Please read Meno by Plato for the first class meeting. Authors included this term are Plutarch, Immanuel Kant, Heinrich von Kleist, Henry David Thoreau, Matthew Arnold, William James and George Bernard Shaw.
Course leader Charles Sprandel has a B.A. in history and political science from Albion College and an M.S. in Japanese studies and comparative education from the University of Michigan. He taught English at Meisei University in Tokyo, Japan, and philosophy of education at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. His many experiences include the post of Adjunct Professor of U.S. History at Kenyon College, as well as teaching the Great Books course for five years at the Academy.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
8 weeks
SP10-10 PHOTO SAFARIS AND PICTURE IMPROVEMENT Go on photo-gathering adventures to local spots of beauty, and then learn to quickly transform your pictures into exciting and attention-getting works of art. You need only a digital camera, computer, and appropriate software (such as Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements) as a gateway to this wonderful world. Stimulate your imagination and creative skill. After enjoying gathering your images, bring them into class, and we will improve them together. Learn the easy and fast techniques to create real winners! Computer familiarity highly recommended. Class size is limited. Be aware that there may be modest entrance fees to some local attractions.
Course leader Jack Winberg played cello with the Minneapolis Symphony, then decided to attend college. He holds degrees in medicine, biochemistry, and microbiology. He was on the faculties of the University of Illinois and Northwestern colleges of Medicine, where he taught, practiced clinical psychiatry, and did research about brain metabolism. Jack is an active chamber music cellist and photographer, and has been teaching both music and digital imaging at such locations as SCTI, Johnston Photographic Institute, and The Lifelong Learning Academy.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
8 weeks
SP10-12 ***COURSE CLOSED*** LIFE IN THE CIA This course will be a general overview of CIA activities and responsibilities with special emphasis on the Middle East and terrorism. Information to be covered will include the history and organization of the CIA, operations (espionage, covert action, paramilitary, and counter terrorism) and substantial, detailed discussion of the full scope of Middle Eastern countries: Libya, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and many others.
Course leader Ralph Hughes graduated with honors from the University of Arizona and did his graduate work at the University of Chicago, with a concentration on economics and political science. He served in the CIA for twenty-seven years, during which he was the chief of station in three countries and held senior management positions at the Agency’s headquarters. He served as the Washington chief of CIA operations in the Middle East region during the Reagan years.
SP10-13 PARASITES AND PREDATORS This course is a fascinating survey of the human body’s defensive and regulatory systems and their never-ending battle to keep us alive in spite of the myriad of microbes, parasites, and changing conditions that seem out to get us. You won’t need a science degree to join this amazing exploration of human hormones, immunities, nerves, muscles and bones. Topics to be explored include: immunology (us vs. them); endocrine (minor adjustments); circulation (delivering the goods); muscular (get me outta here); skeletal (inner armor); skin (the largest organ); nervous (fast-response team); and excretion (taking out the garbage).
Course leader Joseph Kerata taught advanced biology in northeast Ohio for thirty years. He earned degrees at Ohio State University and Cleveland State University and is a Princeton University Woodrow Wilson Fellow in Bioethics. He has traveled and studied in Kenya, Peru, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands. He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including The Ohio Teacher of the Year in 1993. In addition, Joe is an accomplished actor, having appeared in over fifty stage productions.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-14 THE HISTORY OF SPANISH FLORIDATake a stroll back to when Florida was a jewel in the Spanish crown. Learn about the unique history Florida played in the shaping of American history and the 300 years this land flew under the castle and lions.
Course leader Daniel Stephens is a native Floridian and graduate of USF. He has studied Florida history and archaeology and is currently working as a Park Ranger interpreter for the National Park Service at De Soto National Memorial. Dates:
Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-15 JEWELRY DESIGN AND FABRICATION FOR ALL Everyone has a creative side, so explore yours! Learn to fabricate oneof- a-kind necklaces, bracelets, and earring creations. Go from original designs to completed projects. Explore the principles of color and design and acquire the skills to do basic stringing and closure techniques. Collect unusual beads, charms and amulets, and learn how to combine them into jewelry creations. A materials list will be supplied at the first class.
Course leader Judith Levine attended Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, attaining a B.A. in art and art education. She earned an M.F.A. in visual arts from Montclair State University, N.J., where she was on the art education faculty. She was an art educator and district art supervisor in Parsippany, N.J., for more than thirty years and was awarded Art Educator of the Year locally and statewide. Currently, Judith is the coordinator of educational grants at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. She runs Phoenix Art Workshops, a business providing art talks and workshops. Judith was the recipient of several grants to travel, study, and photograph the art of Tibet, West Africa, Egypt, and Indonesia. She designs and creates limited edition jewelry.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 11:30a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-16 JOYS OF JOURNALING:USE YOUR JOURNAL TO WRITE A MEMOIR Discover the joys of keeping a journal. Throughout history people have recorded their lives. A journal (as differentiated from a diary) encourages the writer to explore memories and family myths, allowing the writer to jump into his/her life to recall any moment or event. Journal writers need not be concerned with telling a whole story with a beginning, middle or end. Nor do the stories need to be sequenced. Memoir is not autobiography. Course participants are encouraged to write each week and to bring a piece to share with the group. Novice writers will be provided with a toolbox of modes and techniques and jump starts.
Course leader Doris Kanter was a teacher and administrator in Westchester County, New York, for twenty years. In the Catskills, where she summers, she teaches journal writing for Writers In The Mountains. She has a B.A. from N. Y. U., a B.S. from New Haven State Teachers College, and an M. S. and Professional Diploma in Administration from SUNY, New Paltz.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-17 BANYAN 2010-A DRAMATIC JOURNEYEnhance your enjoyment of the Banyan Theater Company’s upcoming summer 2010 season with the inside story of the plays, the playwrights, the actors, and the productions. Ms. Kleinberg will discuss the plays and the process, taking you behind the scenes from auditions to final curtain of: Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen, a powerful and moving 19th-century classic that deals with surprisingly contemporary issues; The Drawer Boy, a touching and humorous story of two men, their joys and losses, and the bonds of true friendship, by Michael Healey; and Side Man by Warren Leight, an affectionate tribute to the jazz musicians who made the glorious music of the mid-twentieth century.
Course leader Carole Kleinberg, Banyan Theater Company Artistic Director, has directed over seventyfive plays in the Sarasota area and “up north.” Local audiences have seen her work at The Players, Venice heater, Lemon Bay Playhouse, and the Island Players. She is the former education director for the Asolo Rep, and was a professor of theater on Chicago’s north shore for twentyeight years. Carole holds degrees in theater arts from the University of Illinois and the University of Miami.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 13th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
6 weeks
SP10-18 ***COURSE CLOSED*** THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME There are three rapidly evolving technologies—genetics, nanotechnology and robotics—which will significantly change how energy and food are produced, how usable water is generated, how medicine is practiced, how products are manufactured, and how long people live. This course will cover the most recent developments in these areas and their implications for humanity in the very near future. No books or materials are required—just an open mind and a strong sense of curiosity. Many new videos; same old jokes though.
Course leader Rafael Haddock has a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology. He has been a consultant to major companies and government entities on human resources issuesfor the past thirty-five years. He has been on the continuing education faculty at Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University. He is not a scientist or engineer. That may be good news since the course will be presented at a level he and other nonscientists can understand.
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-19 LEARNING TO LOVE POETRYMost of us wish we understood poetry better so it could be part of our lives. This study group will focus on the work of American poets. First, a short biography of the poet will be presented. Then we will read the poems aloud. When available, recordings and videos will provide another experience. Please bring a favorite poem, perhaps one you learned as a child, to the first meeting.
Course leader Anne Arsenault, a university teacher of English for many years, has now found a better way to teach poetry, with less emphasis on analysis andmore on sound and rhythm. She teaches and writes poetry and wants everyone to love it as she does. She has the requisite B.A. from Smith College (where she studied with Sylvia Plath), an M.A. from Columbia University (on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship) and an Ed.D. from Boston University (on a Women’s Leadership Fellowship).
Dates: Mar. 9th-Apr. 27th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-20 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION The American Revolution produced a series of sentinel events which not only created the character and future course of the United States, but which also represent the first successful revolt against a colonial power. This course will follow the history of this country from the early colonial period through the adoption of our constitution. Military events will be discussed; however, battlefield tactics will not be emphasized. Rather, we will look primarily at the ideas, individuals, and events that defined this nation. The format will be lecture, followed by discussion. A suggested reading list will be provided.
Course leader Alan Grindal graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. and received his M.D. from the University of Illinois. His neurology training was completed at the Medical College of Virginia where he served as a faculty member. Dr. Grindal has been in the private practice of neurology in Sarasota, Florida, since 1978 and currently serves as a neurological consultant to the Memory Disorder Clinic at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Florida State University. He has a long -standing interest in American history and has previously taught a course on the American Indian Wars at the Academy.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 28th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
7 weeks No class April 14th
SP10-21 ***COURSE CANCELLED*** MEDICINE'S REMARKABLE ODYSSEYTravel through time and geography as we examine: the culture and evolution of trephination, amputation, and catheterization on modern surgery; the theories of werewolves and vampires and their real disease counterparts; the chance discoveries of “vital amines” and their profound roles on nation growth and human nutrition; the best and the worst genetic adaptations, parasites, viruses, and bacteria; and the beauty, efficacy and damnation of dams, rivers, and canals on human existence.
Course leader Samuel Gross, an Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, finished his career as a bone marrow transplant physician and cancer center director. He has authored or co-authored over 200 articles and 11 books on various aspects of cancer, hematology and health care issues. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College (B.A.), Amherst College (M.A.), and the University of Rochester (M.D.). He has held professorships at Case Western Reserve University, University of Florida, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 28th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
8 weeks
SP10-22 WOMEN IN HOLOCAUST FILMThis course is comprised of a series of six documentary and docudrama films examining the various roles played by women during the Holocaust. Each film will be followed by an audience discussion moderated by the presenter. Due to the differing lengths of the films, some sessions may extend beyond the allotted class time. This course is being taught for the second time at The Lifelong Learning Academy.
Course leader Irene Mirkovic is a long-term student of the Holocaust, holds a B.A. Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Florida, and has been volunteering for several years as a docent at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 14th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
6 weeks
SP10-23 FINDING HAPPINESS WHEN YOU'RE 2 YOUNG 2 RETIRE Are you within the “Red Zone”—five years before or after full-time work? The idea of retirement as our parents knew it is obsolete. We’re reinventing retirement and designing our own plans for transitioning to the “next chapter” of our lives. Do you want to stay engaged and contribute to your job and/or the world, but are not quite sure how to accomplish that goal? Come discuss the strategies of charting a new path and exploring ways to create a happy, fulfilling, and purposeful life along with other individuals and couples eager to explore these issues.
Course leader Sandra Kassalow holds a B.S. in education and an M.S. in counseling from the City College of New York and is a certified facilitator for the Too Young to Retire course. She is president o fKassalow Training and Development, a management consulting firm established in 1976, specializing in customized, skill-based experiential and interactive seminars. She has been a visiting lecturer at universities and has been interviewed for magazine articles and The New York Times. She has appeared on videos, radio and television. Her clients include many well-known national companies, as well as universities, hospitals and law firms.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 14th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
6 weeks
AMI-SP02 THE ENJOYMENT OF POETRYArchibald MacLeish, poet, writes: “A poem should not mean but be.” Too often we ask, “What does the poem mean?” instead of “What is the human experience communicated here?” In this course, we will explore a broad range of poems, both narrative and lyric, from Shakespeare to Billy Collins, in which poets capture human moments important to us all. We will discuss structure, rhythm, diction, figures of speech such as metaphor and simile, and the techniques poets use in their writing. Participants will also be invited to bring their favorite poems to class and also, if they choose, to write and present their own poems.
Course leader David Rice, a lifelong writer and teacher, has taught English and writing at independent secondary schools and public high schools, and served as an independent school headmaster and high school principal. With degrees from Yale and Wesleyan, a commission in the United States Marine Corps, and a broad range of educational experience, he makes his summer home in the mountains of Vermont, where he is active in town government. During the winter he serves at the Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez.
Dates: Wednesdays, March 10th-April 28th
Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
8 weeks (Class will be held at the Studio at Gulf and Pine)
SP10-25 THE MOUNDBUILDERS OF FLORIDA The romantic notion of Mound builders began in the 16th century with the discovery of impressive earthworks in the New World. It was difficult for people to imagine how these earthen structures that towered over the landscape could have been created. In this class we will explore the Mound building cultures that lived in Florida for thousands of years—called Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian people by archaeologists. We’ll solve the mystery of the Mound builders together as we journey back to prehistoric times in the classroom, as well as meet at several local archaeological sites.
Course leader Cassandra Rae Harper is currently the Outreach Coordinator for the West Central Regional Center of the Florida Public Archaeology Network. For the last three years, Rae has worked to highlight Florida’s cultural resources through public events and classroom work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of South Florida and is completing her master’s in applied anthropology/public archaeology.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 28th
Time: 11:30a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-26 SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTH FORUM Sarasota Memorial Hospital, in conjunction with the Lifelong Learning Academy, offers a series of eight interactive classes that address significant health issues associated with aging. Expert staff from the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, named one of the top 100 hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, will lead the discussions. Among the topics to be addressed are memory loss/dementia, heart disease, cancer, navigating the health system, and understanding the skills necessary to become an effective caregiver.
Course leadership will be provided by board certified, highly skilled physicians chosen from SMH’s 700+ medical staff of experts, in collaboration with Dr. Bruce Robinson, Chief of Geriatrics and Director of Medical Education. Dr. Samuel Gross and Dr Alan Grindal will serve as course coordinators.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 28th
Time: 11:30a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-28 GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOURSELF AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS Ever wonder about yourself and what makes you tick? Do you sometimes feel troubled about your relationships and wish you could do something to make them better? This class is designed to give you insight into yourself and others. The goal is to understand who you are, what is important to you, and, as an added benefit, to enhance your relationships. Couples and partners are welcome to enroll in this course together. Classes will be workshop style, featuring exercises and experiences as well as class discussion and interaction. Necessary qualifications for class: curiosity, an interest in socializing, and a desire to enjoy yourself and your life!
Course leader Louise Gallagher is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist with over thirty years’ experience. She has had training in temperament theory and has used it extensively in her practice to assist clients with their lives and their relationships. She is also a certified life coach. As a therapist and life coach, Louise finds that motivating others to improve and enhance their lives is both enjoyable and fulfilling.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 28th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-29 YOU NOW OWN A PART OF TWO AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES It took fifty years of management mistakes, regulations of safety, air quality, fuel economy, and foreign competitors who could deliver vehicles of higher quality at a much lower cost to bankrupt America’s major auto companies. There they were, bleeding money by the day and unable to meet a Friday payroll. Ford was in slightly better financial shape because they had mortgaged their worldly assets to the limit at a brutal interest rate and wouldn’t be out of cash until around six weeks after GM or Chrysler. Politicians were suddenly aware that American automobile companies had millions of workers and retirees and that they were VOTERS! The majority of our time in this class will be spent discussing the seemingly small events that turned these Icons of Capitalism into wards of the U.S. Treasury. Later class sessions will discuss where the industry will go from here. This class was previously taught in the winter 2010 term.
Course leader H. Eugene Weiss worked for Chrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler for thirty-eight years in engineering, product planning, marketing, and the corporate archives. A lifelong interest in automotive history resulted in his book Chrysler, Ford, Durant and Sloan published by McFarland and Company, Jefferson, N.C.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 28th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-30 CHILDREN AND THEIR RESCUERS IN THE HOLOCAUST In this course we will view a series of six lesser-known documentary and narrative films examining a variety of situations encountered by children and their rescuers during and after the World War II Holocaust. Each film will be followed by an audience discussion moderated by the presenter. Due to the differing lengths of the films, some sessions may extend beyond the allotted class time.
Course leader Irene Mirkovic is a long term student of the Holocaust, holds a B.A. Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Florida, and has been volunteering for several years as a docent at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 14th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
6 weeks
SP10-31 THE SHAPE OF NUMBERS Are you illiterate? Obviously not since you are able to read this course description. But could you, to a certain degree, be innumerate? The ability to understand statistics is essential in today’s world. Without a basic understanding of numbers, you can get the wool pulled over your eyes by the news media, investment advisors, politicians, “experts,” and countless others trying to get you to buy what they are selling. Numbers are everywhere. You can’t look at a newspaper without seeing numbers on virtually every page. You can’t talk about the weather forecast without invoking numbers. And you’d better not go to a casino without understanding numbers. This course focuses on simple, basic tools of statistical reasoning, illustrated with plenty of examples from everyday events. These tools are indispensable in helping us understand the true odds when we roll the dice in the game of life.
Course leader Rafael Haddock has a Ph.D. in industrial organizational psychology. He has been a consultant to major companies and government entities on human resources issues for the past thirty-five years. He has been on the continuing education faculty at Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University. He is not a mathematician or economist. That may be good news since the course will be presented at a level he and other non-scientists can understand.
Dates: Mar. 10th-Apr. 28th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
AMI-SP03 PREVENTIVE MEDICINE This course is a seminar in evidence-based preventive medicine in which we will explore what steps can be taken to increase life expectancy. An attempt will be made to dispel certain “medical myths.” Topics to be covered will be hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. We will discuss “alternative medicine” and its role in health care. Emphasis will be on disease prevention vs. treatment. There is no required reading. Free-flowing discussion of practical applications will be encouraged.
Course leader Albert Tripodi has a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.D. from SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he was also an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine. He is certified in medicine and geriatrics and practiced internal medicine for forty years in Syracuse, N.Y., and Sarasota, Fla. He has been responsible for teaching medical students and residents, and was medical director of two nursing homes in Syracuse.
Dates: Wednesdays, March 10th-April 28th.
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks - Class will be held at the Studio at Gulf and Pine.
SP10-33 HISTORY OF SMUGGLING IN FLORIDA Smuggling is Florida’s first and foremost industry. The state was discovered by slavers (not by Ponce de Leon; he had a map), and has been at the crossroads of arms smuggling for 400 years. Three times in the twentieth century, Florida has served as the regional and national point of entry for the forbidden consumables with which Americans are obsessed. From African grey parrots to Cuban cigars to trafficked humans, something is always being smuggled into or out of Florida.
Course leader Stan Zimmerman is a reporter, writer, and author, with awards from the National Press Club, the Society for Professional Journalists, and the U.S. Naval Institute. He has a B.A. in political science and an M.A. in journalism. He is the immediate past president of the Sarasota Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, and currently is a working reporter for Pelican Press, covering Sarasota County.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 15th
Time: 9:30-10:50 p.m.
6 weeks
SP10-34 WRITER'S WORKSHOP Writer’s Workshop is for people who want to perfect their craft, sharing their writing with fellow class members who write. We present our work, whether it is poetry, fiction, short stories, plays or other literary forms, to each other. Many in the group have published, and others would like to have their work critiqued before they submit for publication. However, seeking to publish is not mandatory.
C Course co-leader Helga Harris dreamed of being a fashion designer. She graduated from Pratt Institute and worked in the fashion industry for forty years in NYC. In 1973 she moved to Miami where she had her own fashion label. Sarasota became her home in 1990. Helga designed Art-To-Wear. Now writing has become her first love. Her memoir, Dear Helga, Dear Ruth, was published, as have been numerous magazine articles. Helga has contributed to several anthologies; the most recent collection, We Were There, was published at the St. Petersburg Holocaust Museum.
Course co-leader Bill Andrews has a B.A. in English from Yale and an M.S. in education and social policy from Northwestern University. He served for thirty-two years as an independent high school teacher of English and creative writing and as an administrator in St. Louis, Chicago, and New Orleans. Bill served as the past Chair of the Lifelong Learning Academy, Inc., Curriculum Committee and currently serves on its Board of Directors. He is the editor of the Lifelong Learning Academy Newsletter.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 9:30-10:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-35 WHAT MAKES A GOOD WATER COLOR PAINTING? This class is designed for the beginning and experienced student alike. Participants will learn watercolor techniques, color theory and composition. This is a hands-on course, so everything taught will also be put into practice through a series of exercises, including wash, glaze, opaque, wet on wet, dry brush, and pen and ink over transparent backgrounds. The beginner will learn through a step-by-step process which will eventually ratchet up to finished paintings. The experienced painter will hone his or her skills from being challenged by attempting advanced compositions and techniques in both representative and abstract subjects.
Course leader Joel Tanner is an experienced professional with over forty years in the graphic arts and advertising field. He operated his own advertising agency in New York City and Connecticut for twenty-five years. He has graduate degrees in graphic and fine arts from Pratt Institute and New York University and is a graduate of the High School of Music & Art in New York. His teaching experience includes two years in the Stamford, Connecticut, public schools, a year at Ringling School of Art and Design, a year at Longboat Key Art Center, a year at the Academy for Lifelong Learning, and two years of lessons at his home community, Rosedale.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 9:30-10:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-36 ***COURSE CLOSED*** GREAT DECISIONS This is an all-new course based upon, but not limited to, the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions Briefing Book 2010. Fresh topics for this course include: Global Crime–A Growth Industry; U.S. and China–The Oddest of Couples; The Global Financial Mess, The Russian Bear’s Near Abroad; Persian Gulf’s Deadly Mix of Oil, Ambitions and Missiles, The Dark Side of Globalization, No World Peace Without New Thinking, and Caring About the Bottom Billion…or else. Purchase of Foreign Policy Briefing Book (around $18. + S&H) is optional.
Course leader Ron Wulkan was a Scripps-Howard news reporter, ad executive for three presidential primaries, chief marketing executive for Rolls-Royce Motors International, senior vice president of worldwide advertising for ITT-Avis Inc., moderator of WQED-TV World Affairs Forum, novelist, and managing partner of a marketing/publishing company with national clients. A retired Army Reserve staff officer, he is a University of Pittsburgh graduate.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 11:30a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-37 WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM ASIAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE In these times of a rising Asian world presence, Americans would be wise to learn about the history of Asian art and architecture. This course will encompass its earliest beginnings at the fantastic civilization of Mohenjo-Daro in Pakistan, to early Buddhism and Hinduism in India and Angkor Wat, to Muslim wonders from Cordoba to the Taj Mahal, to China and Japan. All preconceptions and paradigms will be examined anew. We will share and discuss our relevant travel experiences. Broad questions such as the nature of art and the reliability of accepted origins of famous buildings will be explored. No previous background courses are required. No texts. No exams. Just delight.
Course leader Marvin Mills is a nationally registered architect, an architectural historian, and a teacherwith experience at ten universities, including USF. He holds three master’s degrees from Columbia University in philosophy, architecture, and history of architecture. His recent book The Origin of the Mosque of Cordoba is notable in the field of Islamic studies.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-38 EXISTENTIALISM This course will explore the multifaceted and fascinating modern philosophy of existentialism. Course leader Axel Lohrisch describes himself as an amateur—not a professional— philosopher, with an abiding interest in and love for existentialism. We will use the text Existentialism by Robert C. Solomon, available at amazon.com and in the USF/New College bookstore. For the first class, please read the Jean-Paul Sartre extract “From Existentialism is a Humanism.” Required reading also includes—for class 7—the short novels The Stranger and The Fall by Albert Camus, available at most libraries, or in inexpensive used editions from amazon.com and other vendors.
Course leader Axel Lohrisch is a chemist by training (St. Andrews University), an international businessman by vocation (a long-term career with Procter and Gamble), and a student of philosophy, history and literature in his spare time. Axel was born in Germany, educated in Scotland, and has lived and worked in various countries across the globe.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 11:30-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-39 DRAWING IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK Drawing really is easier than you think and new students will realize it during the first session. Those who have never tried it will be amazed at what they can do, and those who have been drawing for some time will be delighted at how far they can go. This is a hands on course designed for beginners and experienced students alike. For the beginner, leaning how to use a pencil as a natural extension of the hand and arm will open up the world of drawing what is both seen and imagined. The course will cover drawing in graphite pencil and colored pencil, with exercises and finished compositions emphasizing shading with dark and light and color blending. For the more seasoned, the world of human anatomy and portrait art will be explored.
Course leader Joel Tanner is an experienced professional with over forty years in the graphic arts and advertising field. He operated his own advertising agency in New York City and Connecticut for twenty-five years. He has graduate degrees in graphic and fine arts from Pratt Institute and New York University and is a graduate of the High School of Music & Art in New York. Hisyears in the Stamford, Connecticut, public schools, a year at Ringling School of Art and Design, a year at Longboat Key Art Center, a year at the Academy for Lifelong Learning, and two years of lessons at his home community, Rosedale.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-40 LIFELONG LEARNING ACADEMY BOOK CLUB Want to have fun reading current fiction? In this study group we will read a novel every two weeks, or four a term. The first book for winter is Testimony by Anita Shreve (available locally or used online at Amazon.com). The next three books will be chosen by the group. Each book will be discussed thoroughly.
Course leader Anne Gushee Arsenault is a graduate of Smith College, with an M.A. from Columbia University (on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship) and an Ed.D. from Boston University (on a Women’s Leadership Fellowship). Her field is American literature, but her doctorate is in adult education. She taught in colleges and universities for many years and later developed programs for adults. She was one of the founders (and first Director) of the Senior Academy, now known as the Lifelong Learning Academy, Inc.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-41 PAINTING IN ACRYLICS Acrylics are the most versatile paint medium, and their vivid, fast-drying, easily correctable properties make the experience all the more rewarding. This hands-on course, designed for both beginners and intermediate students, will cover technique and color theory through exercises and finished compositions in brush and palette knife. Those students with experience will be encouraged to depart from the basic course and explore the world of advanced techniques espoused by some of the most famous schools: Renaissance, Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Modern, and Abstract.
Course leader Joel Tanner is an experienced professional with over forty years in the graphic arts and advertising field. He operated his own advertising agency in New York City and Connecticut for twenty-five years. He has graduate degrees in graphic and fine arts from Pratt Institute and New York University and is a graduate of the High School of Music & Art in New York. His teaching experience includes two years in the Stamford, Connecticut, public schools, a year at Ringling School of Art and Design, a year at Longboat Key Art Center, a year at the Academy for Lifelong Learning, and two years of lessons at his home community, Rosedale.
Date: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-42 THE WORLD IN TRANSITION The rapid changes we are all witnessing in our lifetimes contain within them both opportunities and dangers. In this course, we will focus on transitions in human consciousness that may help in making the future of the world more sustainable and secure. We will look at environmental, spiritual, psychological, and political aspects of the world situation. The initial reading assignment will be emailed to participants by the Academy office two weeks prior to the beginning of the first class.
Course leader Peter Mermin has a B.A. in philosophy from Antioch College, a master’s in psychology from the New School for Social Research, and a Ph.D. in psychology from Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. He taught at Southampton College and Suffolk County Community College on Long Island for thirty-four years.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
8 weeks
SP10-32 LEARN TO E-COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN Has trying to communicate with your grandchildren got you wondering what Facebook is?…what Twitter does?…how email works? Now you can know what your grandchildren know about getting your photos online, Googling, and surfing the Internet. Join us as we demystify and explore the avenues of communication that are a huge part of everyday life for everyone—it often seems— but us.
Course leader Bonnie Hammer has her Florida teaching certification in art, a B.F.A in graphic design, and an M.F.A in computer art. She has taught computer skills to individuals and groups of all ages, pre-K to seniors. She has worked in the fields of graphic design, web design, education, feature film effects, and video gaming.
Dates: Mar. 11th-Apr. 29th
Time: 1:30-2:50 p.m. - Please note the time
8 weeks