The saying “use it or lose it” refers to brain power and mental clarity as much as it applies to the connection between exercise and physical health.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Washington (OLLI-UW), designed for adults over 50, offers great brain-boosting opportunities at affordable prices in the close-by Trilogy community at Redmond Ridge.
A grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation enables UW to provide these stellar learning experiences. The courses, taught by current, retired and Emeritus UW faculty and community experts, cover a wide range of topics, such as global events, the arts, science and law.
Best of all, there are no tests or grades and no papers to write.
An annual membership fee of $85 covers unlimited OLLI-UW courses for a 12-month period. There is a fee of $35 per course. Participants don’t have to live in the Trilogy community. The courses are open to anyone.
Trilogy resident Helen Oppenheim commented, “I’ve taken a variety of courses over the years, ranging from ‘Politics and the Press,’ an outstanding course by David Domke of UW, on the influence of the media on political campaigns, to ‘Famous American Trials’ taught by a retired law school professor. Other engaging courses I have taken include ‘Business Ethics,’ ‘Medical Ethics,’ ‘Jane Austen Novels,’ ‘Naturopathic Medicine,’ ‘Conversational Spanish,’ ‘Italian Conversation and Cuisine,’ ‘Opera Appreciation’ and ‘The Civil War.'”
Oppeheim added, “They have enriched my life by providing an interesting, stimulating learning environment by experienced UW faculty, as well as an opportunity to meet others over 50, who share a passion for learning. We are indeed fortunate to have Redmond as the venue for the Eastside location of the UW Osher program.”
Other locations for the program are the main UW campus in Seattle, downtown Everett and elsewhere in the Seattle metropolitan area.
Osher program director Lois Lussier explained that the Trilogy development was chosen as a learning site because of its large community center and Shea Homes’ commitment to providing a wealth of activities to its residents.
“Osher students,” at Trilogy and the other locations, said Lussier, “are well-traveled, well-educated, they ask great questions. They are people who want to keep learning and they just have so much fun.”
As for the instructors, “they are approved by the deans of those schools,” Lussier emphasized. “Their syllabus and bio goes to those deans and they do this because they love to teach.”
At least a couple of the instructors are Trilogy residents as well as being UW faculty members. For them, there is added satisfaction of sharing their knowledge and passion for learning with their neighbors, said Lussier.
Some of the fall quarter OLLI-UW at Trilogy courses are already in session, but two have not yet begun.
Those are:
• “Infectious Diseases: Germs Versus Us” from 6-8 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 11, 18, and 25 and Nov. 1 and 8.
• “A 100 Year Perspective of Aircraft Design and Development” from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 4, 11 and 18 and Dec. 2.
Generally, five to seven courses are offered each quarter at Trilogy. Winter quarter begins at the end of January.
For more information about OLLI-UW, visit www.osher.washington.edu or call (206) 543-2310.
For information about Trilogy at Redmond Ridge, visit a href=”http://www.trilogylife.com/community/redmondridge”>http://www.trilogylife.com/community/redmondridge.
