OLLI@DU / 2023 FALL / COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Stories of Turning Points in Human Lives

PACE 1007

Tuesday

Dates: 9/19 to 10/10 (4 weeks)

Time: 9:30–11:00 AM

Facilitator: Heidi Boerstler

Location: Online

Class Limit: Unlimited

Sponsoring Site: Central

This discussion course focuses on the stories people tell about their lives. Humans are storytellers by nature. Stories have appeared in every culture in history through folktale, legend, myth, fairy tale, music, film, and literature of every kind. We examine the history of storytelling, and why we humans tell and listen to stories. We then focus on the ways individuals become authors of their own lives, and how the stories we tell about ourselves describe who we are, preserve memories, and help us find meaning in our lives. Throughout the course, there will be opportunities for participants to explore and share experiences of story in their own lives and that of others.

Taxes & Subsidies: Directing the Economy Toward the Common

Good

PACE 1008

Wednesday

Dates: 9/20 to 11/8 (8 weeks)

Time: 1–3:30 PM

Facilitators: Ralph Hughes/Alec Tsoucatos

Location: Jefferson Unitarian Church

Class Limit: 50 Participants

Sponsoring Site: West

The U.S. federal budget is one of the most intractable issues within our politics. Every policy recommendation—from racial justice to climate change—always comes down to how much it’s going to cost and who is going to pay for it. Compounding that eternal quandary is the fact that the federal budget has been so distorted by special interests over the past 50 years that Americans no longer trust the design or motives behind the programs we now sustain and the way we raise the money to fund them. Indeed, recent polling reveals that nearly 60% of us believe Congress should completely overhaul the tax systems and less than 20% believe their tax dollars are being spent effectively. Yet, before any of us can advocate how to fix the U.S. budget, we need to know both what we want out of the system and what common mechanisms would work. These are the types of issues the discipline of economics is designed to answer, and in this course two economists will tackle these thorny questions. The course will conclude by turning to the future, compiling a list of changes informed citizens can rightly demand from their representatives. Many of the mechanisms proposed for rendering a fair and effective system for federal spending and revenue are admittedly counter intuitive, but solving age-old problems sometimes requires a good dose of unconventional thinking

TED Talks on Vital Current Issues

PACE 1016

Thursday

Dates: 9/21 to 10/12 (4 weeks)

Time: 9:30–11:30 AM

Facilitator: Gordon Appell, Diamond Facilitator

Location: 1st Universalist

Class Limit: 25 Participants

Sponsoring Site: Central

Each class will include two carefully selected TED Talks followed by lively discussion of vital current issues.

TED Talks: Opening up a Whole New World of “Ideas Worth Spreading”

PACE 1018

Thursday

Dates: 9/21 to 10/26 (6 weeks)

Time: 9:30-11:30 AM

Facilitator: Natalie Conklin, Master Facilitator

Location: Columbine United Church

Class Limit: 40 Participants

Sponsoring Site: South

The facilitator clearly has passion about the subject and numerous causes or political movements. He is very well spoken, warm and personable. I liked the way he encouraged discussion and responded to each person who spoke up with appreciation and validation. I also liked the way he wove in videos.

Ted Talks is a non-profit organization that posts talks online under the slogan “Ideas Worth Spreading.” The goal of Ted Talks is to inform and educate global audiences in an accessible way. I would add to this definition...to entertain in a stimulating and creative manner, presenting new knowledge and innovative research.

Not all speakers are world experts, but they all have focused, creative ideas. They are scientists, researchers, technologists, business leaders, psychologists, educators, artists and designers.

The talks average 18 minutes but could be as short as 5 minutes.

In each class we will watch 2-3 Ted Talks, followed by class discussion. Some popular examples are:

• “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” by author and educator Sir Ken Robinson

• “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are” by Amy Cuddy

• “We Can Make Covid the Last Pandemic” by Bill Gates

Come and be informed and entertained!