Great Decisions The Great Decisions Global Affairs Education Program celebrated 50 years in 2004, and includes the annual Briefing Book, Great Decisions TV, the National Opinion Ballot Report, discussion groups across the country and the GD Online newsletter. Great Decisions sponsors discussion groups across the U.S. with the goal of educating people about global affairs. Although not limited to just older adults, Great Decision discussion groups are sure to educate and inform. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2004 and offer a wide range of other programs including publishing an annual Briefing Book, a Great Decision TV program, a National Opinion Ballot Report and the Great Decisions Online newsletter. Find them at www.greatdecisions.org.
Great Books The Great Books Foundation can offer busy, engaged adults intellectual stimulation to complement other activities they enjoy.
The Foundation was established in 1947 by Mortimer Adler, a prolific author and advocate of intellectual pleasure for nonacademic adults. His Foundation grew, spreading a vision of discussion groups in which ardent readers meet and talk about enduring issues and ideas. Today, it comprises some 800 groups meeting in homes, libraries etc., across the country. Thousands of participants help each other reveal the wealth of great written works, using their shared inquiry study method. In shared inquiry, group members help one another seek answers to questions raised by a text they have read. Participants develop their own unique views of a text, then try to build on these by exchanging ideas.
To learn more about the Foundation, its mission, method, anthologies, etc., please visit their website at http://www.greatbooks.org. To find a group near you, simply call their toll free number 800-222-5870 (8AM-4:30 PM CST, Monday to Friday) callers can follow the prompts, or press “0” as directed to reach the operator and ask about their adult programs.
The Teaching Company The Teaching Company uses DVDs and CDs to bring the best courses directly to you. They seek out the work of talented professors from top universities and colleges who then develop programs for lifelong learners of all ages. So if you prefer to learn independently, then check out what they have to offer at www.teach12.com
Senior Theatre “The smell of greasepaint, the roar of the crowd” appeal to you? If so, a whole new genre of learning has appeared on the scene–Senior Theatre. All around the world this new phenomenon is thriving. Whether senior theatres are part of lifelong learning programs, as many are, or stand-alone endeavors, they are hugely popular with older adults who love being on stage.
According to Bonnie L. Vorenberg, President of ArtAge Publications,“What was once a trend is now a movement. New books, plays, research, academic programs, funding and some healthy media coverage help expand the field. It’s challenging, rewarding and fun. With all this vibrancy, it’s a great time to be in senior theatre.”
Senior Theatre is the perfect way to let the wisdom and insight of older adults shine. Works include reminiscence, life review, dance and exploration of family and social topics. The stage is the perfect venue for a discussion of topics of concern to audience members such as health and wellness, volunteerism, women’s rights and the environment, to name just a few.
Senior Theatre–it might be just what you’ve been looking for! Find out more at www.seniortheatre.com.
Study Circles Want to start your own lifelong learning group? Study circles may be your answer. Study Circles are a simple yet powerful method for learning, relying on the skills, knowledge and experience of its members. They expand horizons by ensuring that the differing viewpoints of all members are heard. Study Circles are small-group democracy in action and as such, require a leader who can help give the group focus, while at the same time encouraging group ownership of the discussion.
There are manuals and other resources available to help get a study circle started, to train leaders and to develop curriculum. One source for these materials is the Study Circles Resource Center at www.studycircles.org.
Don’t Miss Out on This Special Opportunity for Readers of this Column A Reminder – If you want to test the waters of lifelong learning, I can’t think of a better way then by spending one day listening to award winning professors from Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, The University of Pennsylvania, Cornell and other top tier schools, who come together to offer you an elite, live classroom learning experience.
Check out www.onedayuniversity.com to learn more, and see if there’s a one-day university near you. If so, when you register, thanks to your reading of this column, you will get a 15% discount on the cost of the program. Just type in the word “LIFELONG” as your coupon code when you register at the website, or use it when calling 800-811-8821 to register. It’s that simple!
