Workshop Description: What is it that makes a class
so well received that it fills immediately? Bring your best course ideas
to this roundtable and share with fellow members and LLI leaders how to
produce curriculum magic!
Presented by: James Dehler, Rock Valley College CLR;
Gilby Mehagan, Northern Illinois University LLI; Lana Campbell, Southern
Illinois University LLI
From Lana Campbell, Southern Illinois University LLI
Ethnic Dining – Participants join the group at
an ethnic restaurant in the area for lunch. Before the meal, a presentation
is given about the culture that is represented by this restaurant.
History – Any course on the history of southern
Illinois has been very popular. Finding and Defining the West and On the
Trail of Lewis and Clark are also popular. There are other history courses
that are popular too such as Rushing Through Russian History, SIU History
and the Morris Years (SIUC history).
Memory – Varieties of memory, how memory works,
useful strategies to help memory.
Afternoon at the Movies – Viewing a variety of
movies in the private theater of the home of one of the members. Limited
to 25 seats, but always full.
Archeology - Kincaid Mounds, local archeology.
Religion – Eastern religions, Islam, Judaism and
Buddhism.
Stage Company Theater – Group attends Sunday afternoon
matinee of plays at a local theater. Discussion is held before the performance
for some plays and the group goes to dinner and talks about the performance
and visits afterwards.
Play Reading and Analysis – Limited number of
people, but very popular. A different play is read each week.
Day Trips –
• Wildflower tours – Spring trips to see flora and fauna of
southern Illinois.
• St. Louis Symphony – Coffee concerts at Powell Hall
• Glen Poshard directed trips of Southern Illinois – Eastern
side of southern Illinois one year, western the next. Stops
at historical sites along the way with people brought onto the bus at
many sites to provide additional information.
• French Connection - Tour the area where the French settled.
From Jim Dehler, Rock Valley College CLR
Courses that have been a Hit
Introduction to Computers
Nimble Fingers (knitting)
Anderson Gardens in the Fall (Japanese Gardens)
Tour of Historic District
Understanding the Court System (A local judge is presenter)
Learning to play Cribbage
Identity Theft – U. of Illinois Extension Education Presents
10 Greatest Americans
Lesser Known Great Americans
Watercolor Painting
Drawing just for fun
Pilates – What it is & why it works
AARP Driver’s Safety Program ($10 with entire amount going to AARP)
Various Religions
Buddhist
Muslim
Mormon
Jehovah’s Witness
Backyard Astronomy
Music
From Jim Dehler, Rock Valley College CLR
SELECTING LLI CLASSES
1. Survey members on what type of classes, topics, hobbies, interests,
skills, or desires they have.
2. Form a curriculum committee and ask them to find people who have similar
interests or who can come up with ideas on their own.
3. Publicize courses in time for members to review the descriptions and
sign-up.
4. Courses that receive very large enrollments should be analyzed as to
what was their appeal.
5. Courses you thought should have been a hit but aren’t should
be analyzed as to why not and then determine if something can be done
to make them a winner.
6. If courses have a large waiting list, make sure to publicize them if
they are repeated the next semester.
7. Periodically resurvey membership as to interests, etc. New members
are constantly coming on board and interests change for current members.
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