Science, Technology, Engineering & Math   

This is a beginning course in 3D printing. Students will learn about the history of 3D printing, its uses and how it works. The many types of 3D printers and the wide range of materials that can be used for printing will be discussed. As part of the actual printing process, students will use 3D modeling software to access existing files of 3D models for printing 3D objects. Toward the end of the course, students will work on customizing and printing a 3D printed bobblehead or light box. Students will learn how to set up the 3D printer, change filaments and perform basic maintenance. No prior experience is required. Participants should be comfortable following directions to navigate computer software.

NOTE: Total cost to participate is $112 ($28 per session) and includes course materials. Payment should be made directly to Talent Maker City after registration is processed. Registration fees are nonrefundable, and a signed liability waiver is required to participate.

Artificial Intelligence is shaping how we think, write and learn. This hands-on course explores how tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini can serve as tutors, guides and personal learning companions. Participants will experiment with prompts, compare AI and Google searches, explore multiple perspectives and design a personal learning plan. Each session combines short presentations, live demonstrations and AI application exercises. Topics include how AI “learns,” effective prompt writing, creativity, research and everyday uses of AI. No experience with AI or technology is required beyond familiarity with computers — just curiosity and a willingness to explore how intelligent tools can enhance lifelong learning. 

NOTE: Students must bring a laptop or tablet computer to use during class. 

The periodic table is one of the iconic symbols of our knowledge of the world around us. This course has three very general topics: how chemists think about elements (atoms), how the periodic table came about and what it means, and what are some of the significant chemical elements and how they are involved in our lives, locally and globally. This is primarily a lecture course and may include some simple demonstrations, if possible. No prior background is required. Those with at least some high school-level chemistry will find some of this a review. The material covered in the course will come from a variety of sources, but no textbook will be required. Students will be given handouts summarizing various aspects of each lecture, which will also be available to download. 

NOTE: The course, last taught in Spring 2025, will be updated with new information and will also spend more time on the role of some elements, such as rare earth elements, in global conflicts. This course will be given at the Jacksonville Library Naverson Room, which is easily accessible with ample parking. 

Ready to feel more at home in the cloud? We will explore Google Workspace through demonstrations and hands-on activities, turning digital “how-to” into “I’ve got this.” Bring your laptop (essential) and phone. Apple, Windows and Android devices are welcome. Learn how Google applications seamlessly connect across devices. We will explore the essentials from securing your Google account and mastering Gmail to organizing your files in Drive and digital memories in Photos. We will also examine how to build clean, well-formatted documents, organize data in spreadsheets and craft engaging presentations. Our final topic includes time-management tips using Google Calendar. You are invited to explore the possibilities and gain the confidence to stay connected in today’s fast-paced digital world.

NOTE: Students must have an active, accessible Google account to participate in class. Those without an account or who cannot access their account or need assistance to ensure their account is set up properly (secure) must attend class Session 1. Those who can confidently access their Google account need not attend Session 1. Formal instruction will begin in Session 2.

The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) might be just what you have been looking for, if you appreciate looking very closely at images and sharing them with others. IIIF, a set of open standards for delivering high-quality, attributed digital objects online at scale, has been adopted by hundreds of institutions. From photos of cell structures in the Wellcome Collection to details of manuscripts in the British Library, IIIF can provide excellent zoomable images, facilitate sharing and annotating details while preserving connections to the original images. Students will explore how to access the vast variety of images accessible in IIIF, share them with viewers like Mirador, annotate them and include the results in presentations (like teaching at OLLI).

NOTE: All the materials used in the course are available at no cost online.

Memorizing long passages of verse is an ancient bardic art, engaging multiple brain processes and exercising neural circuits involved in heightened attention and cognitive flow. Introspection of thought during memory creation and recall improves memorization skill. This course explores cognitive neuroscience and metacognition of long-term memory formation via lectures and disciplined practice in memorizing verse or playscript. Students develop practice routines and record progress in journals to prepare for in-class performance of selected verse. Skilled practice integrates multiple components of memory as recitation is animated with voice, gesture, mental images, emotion, story and meaning. Lectures cover brain function and cognitive neurosciences of learning, memory and metacognition. 

NOTE: The only prerequisites are interest in neuroscience of memory and intention to develop skill in memorizing verse or playscript. The course is fundamentally participatory. Every class meeting includes memory practice activities. The course is designed for and welcomes students of all abilities and experience with memorization. The first meeting is essential orientation for work in the course. 

Word is a powerful word processing program, but many users are either unfamiliar with or reluctant to use the wide range of features it offers. The course will start with a quick review of basic features, then move on to more advanced techniques. Topics covered will be: page layouts and advanced spacing options; types of tabs and indents; bullets and numbering; footnotes, endnotes, headers/footers and page numbering; how to insert shapes, pictures and symbols; and how to create an index. Additional topics will include using find and replace; creating styles and templates; creating and using columns versus tables; and using bookmarks and splitting windows. This course is for those who already have some familiarity using the Microsoft Word program. It is not for beginners. 

NOTE: This course uses Microsoft Word for PCs. It is not for Chromebook or Apple users. Students must have a PC with Windows 11. They should be comfortable using the Windows 11 environment, including downloading and saving files from emails. Students will use a mouse during class. Those without a mouse may borrow one from the instructor. 

The existential crisis we face due to global climate change and the copious need for data center electricity has brought renewed interest in nuclear energy. Recent advances in fission reactor technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and in plasma and fusion reactor science (the “breakeven” experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) hold promise for achieving these needs. In this course students will learn: 1) the history and context for nuclear energy; 2) fundamental physics of radioactivity, fission and fusion; 3) how nuclear reactors work; 4) safety, risk and licensing; 5) recycling and radioactive waste disposal; 6) current developments for advanced fission and fusion systems; 7) sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues; and 8) resource and supply chain issues.

NOTE: A scientific or technical background is not required for this course. All are welcome! 

How do we know what we know about our universe with all its galaxies, stars, planets? How did it form following the Big Bang? How do all these old and new telescopes work? How do we measure time and distance? How do stars form and evolve? What are gravity waves and black holes? This course will examine these topics that have no practical use for most but are fun to learn about anyway. The course will be taught using PowerPoint presentations and other visual and audio material. As much time as necessary will be devoted to your questions. Not included in the course: space exploration, planetary geology, extraterrestrial life, astrology, constellations and star positions, or exoplanets.

The goal of this course is to foster an appreciation for the importance of plants in our daily lives. We will examine how plants contribute to our lives and well-being beyond the basics such as oxygen to breathe, food, shelter and clothing. The course will introduce some scientific concepts and terminology relating to plant structures and functions as well as economic and historical aspects of plant use. The format will be interactive lectures; plant material will be brought in periodically to demonstrate particular concepts. This course is a continuation of Plants and People, Part 1, and will cover topics not included in the first part such as medicinal and psychoactive plants, spices, fermentation and stimulating beverages. Students do not need to have taken Part 1

This course will provide an understanding of how watersheds affect our rivers and how we can restore them to help plants, animals and humans. The first three class sessions will be lectures and discussions, starting with an explanation of how watersheds affect our rivers and their water quality. This will be followed by an explanation of how streams behave and change over time and how those changes affect habitats. A focused discussion on the life cycles and needs of salmonids and other aquatic organisms will be followed by techniques for improving stream habitats. The fourth session will be an optional, but strongly encouraged, half-day field trip to Bear Creek to see restoration in action. No prior knowledge or expertise is required, and no homework is expected.

NOTE: The field trip will take four hours, including travel time and visits to two different sites to provide a unique opportunity to view stream reaches before and after restoration. Participants must provide their own transportation and may arrange to carpool. Participants need to be able to walk safely on uneven ground, for no more than a mile. Signed liability waiver required to participate.

Northern Spain is a geologic wonderland that is easily explored because of its accessible coastline and mountain exposures. This course will focus on three areas, how they formed and how to visit them: 1) Los Picos de Europa, a National Park in Cantabria Province, where limestone peaks were formed during the Paleozoic Era and uplifted during the collision between Africa and Europe that also created the Alps. This province also contains an abundance of Paleolithic rock art. 2) The Dinosaur Coast in Asturias Province, where many types of dinosaurs roamed during the Jurassic Period. 3) The Basque Geopark in the Basque Country, where 60 million years of geologic history, including the end-of-Cretaceous mass extinction, are exposed along 20 km of spectacular coastline. 

Northern Spain is a geologic wonderland that is easily explored because of its accessible coastline and mountain exposures. This course will focus on three areas, how they formed and how to visit them: 1) Los Picos de Europa, a National Park in Cantabria Province, where limestone peaks were formed during the Paleozoic Era and uplifted during the collision between Africa and Europe that also created the Alps. This province also contains an abundance of Paleolithic rock art. 2) The Dinosaur Coast in Asturias Province, where many types of dinosaurs roamed during the Jurassic Period. 3) The Basque Geopark in the Basque Country, where 60 million years of geologic history, including the end-of-Cretaceous mass extinction, are exposed along 20 km of spectacular coastline. 

This course helps participants use iCloud to sync, organize and share information across Apple devices. Students will learn the benefits of cloud-based apps, how to set up and sync applications, ways to share information while controlling access and important privacy and security practices. Apps introduced include: Mail for managing multiple email accounts, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, Photos, Find My, iCloud Drive and Files, and Passwords. We’ll also explore shared features across apps and provide a practical foundation for using them together effectively. Students should have basic familiarity with the iPhone or other Apple devices. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to plant and develop your own vineyard in the Rogue Valley? This course will give you an idea of what is involved, from the science of choosing a site and varieties to plant to the financial ramifications of the current wine market. You will hear about the heartbreak of early frost and vine viruses as well as the joys of making wine from grapes you have grown and sharing it with friends. If you enjoy wine tasting, every class will include a tasting of wine made from fruit grown in the instructor’s vineyard. The final class will involve a field trip to the vineyard.

NOTE: The field trip to the vineyard will occur during the regular class time. Students will provide their own transportation or carpool and meet at the vineyard. Those who choose to walk around in the vineyard must be able to walk safely over uneven ground. However, walking in the vineyard is not required. There is no class on Oct. 12. Signed liability waiver required to participate.