BRAIN POWER WE
live in the golden age of lifelong learning, when we can instantly access untold riches of information without leaving home. But it’s fun to learn in the company of others, and Western Washington offers plenty of lowcost options for older adults who want to blend intellectual exploration with social interaction. Fun is a key word. Although topics can be serious—and classes are often taught by college faculty—people who sign up for courses with the University of Washington’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI-UW), Telos at Bellevue College, or similar programs aren’t seeking a degree. There are no grades or tests. People are going back to the classroom for the joy of learning. For some, it can be an opportunity to make sense of the headlines. Not surprisingly, the Osher-sponsored course Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S.: An Unlikely Troika in the 21st Century filled up long before its midwinter starting date. “We plan these six months in advance, so we don’t always know what’s going to be timely,” says OLLI-UW director Natalie Lecher. The course was requested by people who’d previously enjoyed classes given by David Fenner, a UW lecturer whose specialties include the Middle East and Muslim migration. In another case, Osher participants told Lecher they
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3rd Act magazine | spring 2020
wanted to learn about the emerging world of cryptocurrency—and after two years of searching, she found a UW undergraduate with extensive knowledge of the topic. “Senior schools seniors in Bitcoin, blockchain,” read the headline on a UWBothell website account of Zachary Nelson’s class, which he has now taught for Osher in BY JULIE FANSELOW Mukilteo and Redmond, as well as for Bellevue College’s Telos program. “Our instructors are phenomenal,” says Miste DamrillLeib, whose portfolio as community and continuing education director at Bellevue College includes the Telos program. (“Telos” is a Greek word for fulfillment or purpose.) Learning doesn’t just happen in the head, and DamrillLeib says some of the most popular Telos classes are taught by Irene Pasternack, a specialist in the Feldenkrais Method who helps people relearn how to move. “She actually has helped
How to jump-start your mind, have fun, and meet other people who love to learn
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