In the eyes of many downtown residents, ASU exists for the 18-24 age demographic. However, a lifelong learning program with a new site operating out of the Downtown campus is adding to a different age group at the university.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at ASU offers a variety of classes and lectures to adults ages 50 and over. To register for classes, members pay a $15 fee per semester plus an additional $35 per four-session class or $10 per one-time lecture they wish to take.
The average class size is approximately 30 students, director Richard Knopf said. Students use an online program called Ning to connect outside of class and enhance their learning experience. Some faculty members will post supplemental videos or discussion board topics for students.
Although the Ning program is similar to Blackboard, the system ASU students use, OLLI students do not complete online homework assignments or have grades to track, Knopf said.
“We strive to offer a high-level cognitive experience that really focuses on broadening your understanding,” Knopf said. “We understand the power of keeping the mind active intellectually.”
A Taste of OLLI, the Downtown site’s hard launch event, will be held on Jan. 12 from 2-4 p.m. in the Walter Cronkite School building. The expected attendance for the event is 150-200 people, Knopf said.
Three faculty members from the OLLI program will present sample lectures about science, religion and politics. These sample lectures will mirror the variety of class and lecture topics available for students to take in the spring.
Four classes and six lectures will be offered downtown February through March, as well as one free Social Circles of Knowledge discussion.
The classes offered will be History Detectives, The Arizona Progressives: The Life and Legacy of George W.P. Hunt, Children and Adolescents within U.S. Culture and the Legal System and Introduction to Travel Writing. Lecture topics include the First 100 Years of Quantum Physics and Transformation and Culture of the Czech Republic.
Rabbi David Davis has been involved in the ASU OLLI program for approximately eight years. He will present a sample lecture on the relevancy of the Bible in the 21st century at the A Taste of OLLI event in January.
“That is a wonderful combination that the university provides: education, the love of learning and the opportunity to grow. You don’t stop learning at age 25. You can continue to learn and contribute whether you’re 78, 85 or 105,” Davis said.
In addition to the classes and lectures, OLLI offers multiple cultural activities in the community. In past semesters, students have participated in exclusive presentations and performances at locations such as the Phoenix Art Museum and Tempe Center for the Arts.
“We have to ask ourselves ‘what can we do beyond the classroom experience?’ We’re building a community of engaged learners,” Knopf said.
Knopf said the benefits of the OLLI program extend past intellectual gains. Students have more opportunities for social interactions and stand to learn a lot from each others’ various life experiences.
“There’s an intersection between lifelong learning and longevity — we’re raising the quality of life for older adults, getting them civically engaged. Let’s give them something to get excited about,” Knopf said.
Carol Scarafiotti said one of the benefits of the OLLI program is there is something for everyone. She and her husband take classes together; she estimates that she’s taken nearly 40 classes since joining three years ago.
“If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, the university-quality learning experience without the stress of homework and tests, this program is definitely for you,” Scarafiotti said. “And the more engaged you are, the more benefit it has to you.”
Contact the reporter at kimberly.koerth@asu.edu
