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Workshop Objective
Nationally available courses can enhance your core curriculum. Find out
how to integrate Great Decisions, Great Books, Cyber Seniors and Point
of View (POV) into your LLI offerings.
Workshop Synopsis
Great Decisions:
• Material is prepared by the Foreign Policy Association in New
York City
• Their goal is to educate and promote citizen participation.
• Courses are designed to give students a better understanding of
world events and U.S. involvement in them.
• Students use a workbook prepared by the F.P.A.
• Each book has eight sections with a video.
• The video includes panel discussions about the content.
• The courses promote critical thinking and exercises the mind and
the brain.
• There is a wide array of available topics that require thoughtful
consideration.
• A Teacher’s Guide is available for the facilitator.
• Students should read the material ahead of time.
• Outside experts on a particular topic are also a useful addition
to the course.
• The Circle format is good for a discussion group.
• No more than 15 participants or less than 5 is ideal for a group
like this.
• A professional leader is not needed, just someone who knows something
about the topic, but is not biased, although not an “expert.”
• The class needs to keep moving and a good facilitator helps students
stay involved in and enjoying the discussion.
• For more information go to www.fpa.org
Great Books:
• Great Books was started in 1947 through the University of Chicago.
• There are more than 800 groups around the U.S. today.
• Maximum class size should be no more than 20.
• There are 15 readings over the course of a year.
• The Readers Aid has questions based on the reading to help the
leader keep class on track.
• Most leaders have special training before taking a class through
the books.
• Leaders prepare questions, but can “shift gears” as
necessary.
• All readings are “classics” and should be read through
at least twice before taking part in discussions.
• These discussion groups give students pleasure and sharpened reading
skills while their thinking abilities and memory increase, and they make
friends.
• For more information go to www.greatbooks.org
Cyber Seniors:
• This is a community outreach program around the country.
• More than 20,000 older adults, age 50-94 take part in the programs.
• To promote outreach Cyber Seniors partners with Cyber Teens and
the National Retired Teachers Association.
• It’s community-based, hands-on, basic computer training
program for seniors.
• It focuses on seniors special needs, with small classes and a
one-on-one student teacher ratio.
• Students use a workbook to get started since older adults are
used to learning from a book.
• Content is developed that is meaningful to the student.
• Senior empowerment, information, communication, recreation and
economic independence are the goals.
• Cyber Seniors along with the National Institute of Health have
developed CyberHealth to help seniors find online medical health information,
then evaluate and use it.
• They can launch a program in any community wherever there are
two or more computers connected to the Internet.
• For more information go to www.cyberseniors.org
Point of View (POV):
• POV is an independent film series on PBS TV.
• The films connect people to important educational teaching tools.
• POV is more than a TV series.
• The Talking Back” section gives viewers the opportunity
to voice their thoughts and opinions on the films that are shown.
• POV can set up special “Sneak Previews” for LLIs.
• Information about the films available for Sneak Previews can be
found on the EIN web site.
• Sneak Previews can be used in an LLI class or as a community outreach
event.
• This is a wonderful marketing tool for the LLI when the special
Sneak Preview is promoted to the surrounding community.
• Sneak Previews are wonderful educational teaching tools for LLI
members.
• For more information go to www.pbs.org/pov
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September 7, 2008
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