CHICO – As spring approaches, adults can soon register for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute spring semester classes.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes are offered for adults 50 and older. In-person classes are taught at The Social Chico on West Third Street. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Zoom, offers outdoor and indoor classes.
Spring classes in 2022 are unique because the Chico branch has joined forces with the University of Arizona, said program director Ann Nikolai. Many classes are taught by instructors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute University of Arizona. Examples of this are Astronomy and Geosciences, taught by Guy Jett, and Mozart Goes to Paris, taught by Russell Burnham.
There are also two other new classes, Garden Conversations, taught by master gardener Lori Murphy Cole in Oregon, and Introduction to Watercolor Painting, taught by Chris Guenter.
Redding resident Shirley Martin plans to take Zoom classes for the spring. She is not able to attend classes in person, so she signs up for online classes. Martin has taken an introduction to hiking, geology, and French classes. She wants to move to Europe, so she signed up for French.
“I love that there is such a diversity of classes, from financials to book groups, to paint and art,” Martin said. “I love Zoom art classes that include artists from the Chico community. I plan to take it again.”
According to Nikolai, there are 33 individual classes and nine outdoor classes in the spring. Nikolai said that one of the silver linings for the COVID-19 pandemic is that people can take online and outdoor classes if they are uncomfortable meeting in person inside the house or if they take an in-person class. Can’t travel to Chico to pick up.
Nikolai said that the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is very health and safety conscious about the pandemic.
“We need proof of vaccination for individual classes and people have to wear masks,” she said. “People appreciate that we are following the safety protocols. We are working hard to offer learning formats that work for everyone. ,
Some instructors prefer Zoom classes because they can see everyone’s faces on the screen, and if, for example, someone is pronouncing French words incorrectly in a French class, the instructor can see it up close. If they were located at the back of the classroom, the instructor might not have noticed it. Students can also adjust the volume on the Zoom to where they are comfortable.
There are 124 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes across the United States, one in each state and several in California. That’s because founder Bernard Osher is based in San Francisco. Every program is tied to a university or college so that older adults have a sense of mingling with younger students and being part of a campus.
“They go to classes with people of similar age and have a great social experience,” Nikolai said.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute spring classes start on 7 February and continue till 29 April. Registration starts from 20th January.
Classes and membership information can be found at olli.csuchico.edu. People can also call 898-6679 for more information.
OLLI in Chico State is a learning community that includes more than 1,000 members, according to its website. Volunteers work together to help create and deliver educational, cultural and social opportunities without exams or grades. Faculty members, retired teachers and members passionate only about a subject they know well, enjoy sharing their expertise with others whose life experience and wisdom enrich the exchange of ideas does.
Virtual class preview will be offered on January 12 from 10 am to 11 am. The zoom link for this will be posted on the website.
Two in-person previews will be conducted on January 13, one at 9 am and the other at 11 am
