Pilot Sessions
OLLI at Duke offered a variety of free online learning sessions via Zoom from April through mid-May, 2020. The sessions are listed below by instructor. You can view the video of any session by clicking on its title in this complete list of Online Learning Pilot Sessions.
Alan Teasley: Sondheim at 90
In a career spanning 65 years, Sondheim has collaborated with such artists as Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, Harold Prince, and James Lapine to create such iconic works as West Side Story, Gypsy, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, and Sunday in the Park with George. In this online presentation, Alan Teasley will survey Sondheim’s career, looking both at the type of musicals he inherited from the Golden Age of the 1940s and ‘50s and at the innovations he made in subsequent decades. By the end of the session, you will understand why Lin-Manuel Miranda has called Sondheim “musical theater’s greatest lyricist, full stop”—and why Alan adds that, with the possible exception of Richard Rodgers, he’s also musical theater’s greatest composer.
In a career spanning 65 years, Sondheim has collaborated with such artists as Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, Harold Prince, and James Lapine to create such iconic works as West Side Story, Gypsy, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, and Sunday in the Park with George. In this online presentation, Alan Teasley will survey Sondheim’s career, looking both at the type of musicals he inherited from the Golden Age of the 1940s and ‘50s and at the innovations he made in subsequent decades. By the end of the session, you will understand why Lin-Manuel Miranda has called Sondheim “musical theater’s greatest lyricist, full stop”—and why Alan adds that, with the possible exception of Richard Rodgers, he’s also musical theater’s greatest composer.
Alva Horton: Revisionist Art History
Maybe you've taken at least a basic art history class, or visited various museums around the world. Why not take this down time to revisit some famous works of art with new eyes? During these sessions, you’ll experience major works of art in an interactive and engaging way. With the freedom to influence what pieces/artists are discussed, as well as ample time to ask questions during the course plus external references to explore on your own, this connection to the OLLI learning community is certainly the antidote to social isolation we're all experiencing! Botticelli, Vermeer & Picasso, we're all in this together!
Maybe you've taken at least a basic art history class, or visited various museums around the world. Why not take this down time to revisit some famous works of art with new eyes? During these sessions, you’ll experience major works of art in an interactive and engaging way. With the freedom to influence what pieces/artists are discussed, as well as ample time to ask questions during the course plus external references to explore on your own, this connection to the OLLI learning community is certainly the antidote to social isolation we're all experiencing! Botticelli, Vermeer & Picasso, we're all in this together!
Brand Fortner: Where Are They?
If humans are not the sole intelligent species in the universe, where is everyone else? In this brief discussion of the ‘Fermi paradox’, we use the Drake equation, thoughts on the Great Filter, and the statistics of German WWII tanks to show how just enumerating the possible answers to this question bring up the most profound philosophical issues that we can deal with as a species.
If humans are not the sole intelligent species in the universe, where is everyone else? In this brief discussion of the ‘Fermi paradox’, we use the Drake equation, thoughts on the Great Filter, and the statistics of German WWII tanks to show how just enumerating the possible answers to this question bring up the most profound philosophical issues that we can deal with as a species.
Carey Parker: Cybersecurity & Privacy in the Age of COVID-19
Now that many of us are spending more time at home on our computers, we’re potentially at greater risk for cyberthreats. Carey will explain in simple terms some very common threats, like coronavirus and email scams, and precautions you can take to protect against them. He’ll provide security and privacy tips for video conferencing, and also discuss contact tracing and how technology companies aim to preserve our privacy while providing an essential tool to help public health officials control the pandemic..
Now that many of us are spending more time at home on our computers, we’re potentially at greater risk for cyberthreats. Carey will explain in simple terms some very common threats, like coronavirus and email scams, and precautions you can take to protect against them. He’ll provide security and privacy tips for video conferencing, and also discuss contact tracing and how technology companies aim to preserve our privacy while providing an essential tool to help public health officials control the pandemic..
David Jarmul: Not Exactly Retired
Many OLLI members and other older Americans are rethinking what it means to be retired. They are embracing this stage of life as an opportunity to stretch themselves and look beyond the roles they established in the conventional workplace. A member of OLLI at Duke, David Jarmul exemplifies this trend and may inspire you to think about your own path.
Many OLLI members and other older Americans are rethinking what it means to be retired. They are embracing this stage of life as an opportunity to stretch themselves and look beyond the roles they established in the conventional workplace. A member of OLLI at Duke, David Jarmul exemplifies this trend and may inspire you to think about your own path.
James Steeg - Taking the Super Bowl from Ordinary to Extraordinary, an Interview
Are you a Super Bowl aficionado? Never miss the game? Well, OLLI has a treat for you. Did you know we have in our midst an OLLI member, Jim Steeg, who had a career that encompassed the planning and execution of every Super Bowl from 1979 to 2005! Join us as Jim shares some backstories of the game and its peripherals – half-time shows, the Lombardi trophy, the rings, and more.
Are you a Super Bowl aficionado? Never miss the game? Well, OLLI has a treat for you. Did you know we have in our midst an OLLI member, Jim Steeg, who had a career that encompassed the planning and execution of every Super Bowl from 1979 to 2005! Join us as Jim shares some backstories of the game and its peripherals – half-time shows, the Lombardi trophy, the rings, and more.
Margaret Brill: How to Identify Fake News
This class is not about “fake news” as a term used by politicians to describe news coverage they find disagreeable, but rather will focus on the complex phenomenon of information pollution, or people knowingly portraying false information as if it were true. The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labeled a dangerous “infodemic.” In this class you will learn how to identify fake news, and how to evaluate news stories and websites.
This class is not about “fake news” as a term used by politicians to describe news coverage they find disagreeable, but rather will focus on the complex phenomenon of information pollution, or people knowingly portraying false information as if it were true. The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labeled a dangerous “infodemic.” In this class you will learn how to identify fake news, and how to evaluate news stories and websites.
Margaret Brill: And Yet She Resisted, Queen Elizabeth I and Marriage
When Elizabeth Tudor became Queen in 1558 she was an unmarried woman of twenty-five. Everyone assumed she would marry and solve the problem of being a woman ruler by turning the governance over to her husband. Moreover, since the succession was historically a destabilizing factor in the English monarchy, she was expected to produce an heir to the throne. Join us as Margaret shares the fascinating story of how and why, despite the intense pressure to marry, she resisted, and how she reigned successfully for 45 years as an unmarried female Monarch.
When Elizabeth Tudor became Queen in 1558 she was an unmarried woman of twenty-five. Everyone assumed she would marry and solve the problem of being a woman ruler by turning the governance over to her husband. Moreover, since the succession was historically a destabilizing factor in the English monarchy, she was expected to produce an heir to the throne. Join us as Margaret shares the fascinating story of how and why, despite the intense pressure to marry, she resisted, and how she reigned successfully for 45 years as an unmarried female Monarch.
Margie Satinsky - Front Row at the Metropolitan Opera
An opera-lover since childhood, and founder of the Triangle Wagner Society, Margie offers this two-part introduction to opera appreciation. Although live performances for the remainder of the 2020-2021 opera season have been canceled, the Met is offering free streaming of outstanding performances from past years. Margie will provide in-depth background information on some of the operas that will be shown each week, focusing on the composer, the history of the opera, the story, and singers.
An opera-lover since childhood, and founder of the Triangle Wagner Society, Margie offers this two-part introduction to opera appreciation. Although live performances for the remainder of the 2020-2021 opera season have been canceled, the Met is offering free streaming of outstanding performances from past years. Margie will provide in-depth background information on some of the operas that will be shown each week, focusing on the composer, the history of the opera, the story, and singers.
Mark Hall: Incarceration
Mark recently completed a ten-year prison journey that gave him a unique perspective into the world of addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. At fifty, after a life of privilege and career status, he found himself behind prison walls. During his time of incarceration, he made many discoveries worth sharing. Mark will be interviewed by OLLI Director Chris McLeod.
Mark recently completed a ten-year prison journey that gave him a unique perspective into the world of addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. At fifty, after a life of privilege and career status, he found himself behind prison walls. During his time of incarceration, he made many discoveries worth sharing. Mark will be interviewed by OLLI Director Chris McLeod.
Paul Deblinger & Colleagues: The Covert Poets
Join us for readings of selected poems written by the OLLI students of the winter poetry writing course. Each poet will read from a selection of their work. This dynamic group stayed together, via Zoom, after the CoVID 19 shutdown. Come, listen to the stories they have to tell. If time permits we will answer questions.
Join us for readings of selected poems written by the OLLI students of the winter poetry writing course. Each poet will read from a selection of their work. This dynamic group stayed together, via Zoom, after the CoVID 19 shutdown. Come, listen to the stories they have to tell. If time permits we will answer questions.
Rob Christensen: North Carolina Politics: Past, Present and Future
Rob Christensen retired at the end of 2018 after writing about politics for The News and Observer of Raleigh for 45 years as both a reporter and columnist. He has also appeared as a political analyst on more than 600 TV and radio programs including the CBS Evening News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, ABC’s Nightline, C-Span, PBS, NPR and the BBC. In this three-part series, he'll share stories and perspectives taken from his non-fiction books about the history and politics of North Carolina and the South.
Rob Christensen retired at the end of 2018 after writing about politics for The News and Observer of Raleigh for 45 years as both a reporter and columnist. He has also appeared as a political analyst on more than 600 TV and radio programs including the CBS Evening News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, ABC’s Nightline, C-Span, PBS, NPR and the BBC. In this three-part series, he'll share stories and perspectives taken from his non-fiction books about the history and politics of North Carolina and the South.
Samantha Shad: Write Through the Crisis
Samantha will encourage you to make good use of these challenging times by sharing how journaling, gratitude lists, story writing and other methods can help create happiness and a sense of well being in these challenging times. Writing soothes the soul, enriches the heart, and engages the mind. It also lowers blood pressure, improves the immune system, and increases general health as measured by doctor and hospital visits.
Samantha will encourage you to make good use of these challenging times by sharing how journaling, gratitude lists, story writing and other methods can help create happiness and a sense of well being in these challenging times. Writing soothes the soul, enriches the heart, and engages the mind. It also lowers blood pressure, improves the immune system, and increases general health as measured by doctor and hospital visits.