Registration opens for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·3 min read
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College offers educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College offers educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives.

Registration is open for the 2022 fall semester at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College, which offers noncredit educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives.

The semester, which runs Sept. 28-Nov. 18, features nearly 60 courses, lectures, and special presentations covering a wide variety of topics, including arts and entertainment, history, music appreciation, health, literature, philosophy, religion, and science.

Highlights include:

• Democracy and the Electoral College: The course will objectively define democracy, review the history, operation, and effects of the electoral college in the political system of the United States and evaluate the extent to which the electoral college and American democracy are compatible. The course will be nonpartisan and encourage student participation.

• Improv Brain Games: This cognitive fitness workshop will help build a more dynamic mindset by challenging students to create characters and scenes on the spot, with exercises that will teach them to think differently while operating within a space of humor and fun. Students will learn to use their instincts, creativity, and spontaneity as they work together to create improvisational theater.

• The Aging Eye: Some changes are expected with aging and are normal, whereas others are abnormal and impact vision and quality of life. This two-session course will discuss the latter group, with the first lecture devoted to age-related macular degeneration and the second to glaucoma, cataract, and retinal vascular diseases.

• For the Love of Opera: Are you someone who likes opera, but finds it a little intimidating or confusing? This course will expand your knowledge of and appreciation for all things opera, from familiarizing you with the parts, types, structure, and styles of opera while showing you the beauty of those high notes, low notes, and everything in between.

• 50 Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone Could Do: There are dozens of features hidden in your iPhone that can make life easier and more enjoyable. The course will explore how to take advantage of these useful, entertaining, productive, and quirky abilities of the iPhone.

• Living Green and Helping the Environment (A Walking Tour): Explore some of Sarasota County’s bays, parks, ranches, and farms, and learn about energy, food, water, and nature. Find out where there are fresh and healthy local food sources that also support birds and pollinators. Plus, learn how to reduce your carbon footprint and mitigate climate change.

The second Mrs. Ringling

In addition, OLLI at Ringling College offers five lectures during the fall semester. General admission is $15 each. The lectures include “Born to Be Soldiers: Those Plucky Women of World War II” on Oct. 14 (2-3 p.m. via Zoom); "Franklin Roosevelt – Peacetime and Wartime President" on Oct. 17 (2:30-3:30 p.m.); and "The Second Mrs. Ringling" on Nov. 10 (2:30-3:30 pm).

To register or for more information about becoming an OLLI member, call 941-309-5111 or visit OLLIatRinglingCollege.org.

OLLI at Ringling College's noncredit educational opportunities for adults are taught by scholars, retired faculty members, and professional practitioners in an engaging, collaborative manner. For more information visit ringling.edu and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Submitted by Kelly Fores

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Registration opens for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling