Fall 2024 Open Courses

Math, Science, and Technology

Dennis Herrmann

Tuesdays; October 15 to November 19, 2024 (6 classes)

Evening; 90 minutes

Lecture and Discussion

This course will take place at the Kent County High School Planetarium. Students will learn constellations (seasonal, circumpolar, and zodiac), and learn about moon phases, eclipses, the celestial sphere, and basic motions of the heavenly bodies. The planetarium instruments will help students identify what they can see from their backyards. Telescopes will be used to view moon, planets, and stars outside, weather permitting. Students should bring a binder or folder to collect handouts and to take notes.

Dennis Herrmann has had a lifelong interest in astronomy, leading to 42 years of teaching astronomy and other sciences at the Kent County High School (KCHS). He enjoys sharing the night sky even after retirement. Dennis coached track and field and cross country at KCHS and is now a certified USA Track and Field (USATF) track official doing college and high school meets in 5 states. He is an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church/Chestertown.

This course has a limit of 30 participants.

Current Events

Mark Schulman

Fridays; October 25 to November 8, 2024 (3 classes - 2 pre-election and 1 post-election)

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Lecture and Discussion

ZOOM

Polls tell us that voters are broadly critical of both presidential candidates – Biden and Trump – and of the arcane processes by which we both nominate and elect our presidents. We will examine the path to election day including primary season, campaign strategies, issues foremost in voters’ minds, media sources, and how candidates’ very different visions of America will likely impact the country. Issues include immigration, abortion and women’s health, Gaza, climate change, Trump’s legal issues, and the impact of new media technology, among others. The final session, post-election day, will examine the root determinants of the outcome. Light online readings will be recommended. Class discussion will be encouraged. 

Mark Schulman, PhD, is an award-winning pollster and policy analyst. He has worked extensively with major news organizations tracking public opinion, political campaigns, analyzing election results, and probing policy issues. He served as Time magazine’s pollster for almost ten years. He also served on the ABC News Election Decision Desk for many years. Schulman was 2002-2003 President of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). He co-founded one the nation's largest public opinion/survey research firms, SRBI, now part of Abt Associates, a consulting and research firm aiming to improve equity and the livelihood of individuals worldwide.

Math, Science, and Technology

Jon Hanley

Thursdays; October 17 to November 7, 2024 (4 classes)

4:15-5:15 pm

Lecture and Discussion; Outdoor demonstration

This course will cover the basics of electric vehicle (EV) types, benefits, operation, and maintenance. It will review in detail the differences between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles, and discuss key operating best practices with respect to charging the battery, maintenance of the vehicle, and ownership versus leasing. The course will include hands on experience with EV's and manufacturers’ charging equipment, but will remain neutral on manufacturers’ equipment recommendations.

NOTE: There will be an outdoor demonstration of EV types on the last day of the course. You will have the opportunity to actually sit in various EVs. 

Jonathan (Jon) Hanley is a local Chestertown resident and retired cryogenic engineer. Jon has owned EVs since 2017, and currently owns two EVs. Hanley was engaged by the Town of Chestertown to develop a plan to improve the EV infrastructure in town from seven charge points to twenty-three charge points. As the co-founder of the Chestertown Earth Day Festival, we have included an EV display at The Festival in recent years.

Tom Dietz, who taught an alternative energy course for WC-ALL, will help out on the charging section of the course, and will assist with the hands-on portion of the course. Tom is a chemist who has extensive experience in the energy business and hands-on experience with various renewable energy technologies.  As a member of the Chestertown Environmental Committee and the owner of The Skipjack Art Studios, Tom is involved in efforts Chestertown to move towards implementation and adoption of clean energy technologies in the town and in his business operations.

Math, Science, and Technology

Elizabeth Peterson

Mondays; October 14 to November 18, 2024 (5 classes)

4:15-5:30 p.m.

Lecture and Discussion

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment. This course will look at classification of living things and how they fit their respective biomes; why biodiversity is so important; how humans living in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed affect its function; and how understanding biomimicry helps society live more sustainably. Finally, we will touch on the huge topic of human population growth and climate change.

Elizabeth (Liz) Peterson taught environmental biology and general biology at the community college level for more than 25 years. She worked as a park naturalist in Frederick County. Mrs. Peterson has extensive volunteer experience: Maryland's Department of Natural Resources as a TEAM (Teaching Environmental Awareness in Maryland) instructor, and the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education green school program. She is currently on the Chestertown Environmental Committee and regularly volunteers at the Farmers' Market Recycling Booth.

Math, Science, and Technology

Satinder Sidhu

Wednesdays; October 16 to November 20, 2024 (6 classes)

4:15-5:30 pm

Lecture and Discussion

The desire for preserving impressions of what our eyes see led to the development of art — sketching, drawing, painting, and sculpture. These methods of creating visual simulations of what the eye sees are not the “what this course is about.” We will be considering the multitude of techniques for producing two-dimensional depictions, both of the normally visible as well as the usually hidden. Invention of Daguerreotype early in the 19th century may be considered the onset of technical imaging. Other methods soon supplanted it, both because they were more convenient and economical, and they produced better results. Photography has been the most prominent among these, first employing photo-chemical phenomena, and then giving way to electronic techniques. The discovery of X-rays made it possible to look past the outermost surfaces to the interior structures. Further developments employing subtler properties of all forms of “light” have created techniques such as phase contrast microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, and computerized tomography— to name but a few. People are familiar, even in moderately advanced societies, with numerous acronyms of scanning and imaging techniques, especially those used in medical diagnostics (e.g. “CT scan”). We will examine as many of these as possible, considering the physical phenomena these techniques employ, and reviewing technical advances in instrumentation and computation that make them feasible.

Satinder Sidhu retired in 2015 after over a quarter century as one half of the physics department at Washington College. He had started professional life with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the pioneer campus of India’s hyper-competitive Institutes of Technology. After seven years in a multinational electronics conglomerate, he turned to physics for the greater intellectual stimulation of fundamental science. After planting a foot in each of these two closely-related disciplines with the help of a PhD in physics, he assiduously shrank from anything that felt even remotely like engineering. A five-year flirtation with particle accelerator physics at a U.S. national lab more-or-less fell into this category. Teaching across the full spectrum of undergraduate physics (plus some astronomy) helped him avoid the overspecialization he had always dreaded.

Humanities, Current Events

Mark Jolly-Van Bodegraven

Tuesdays; October 15 to November 19, 2024 (6 classes)

4:15-5:30 p.m.

Moderated Discussion

Inspired by and drawing from a book for which the course is named, this course will bring together learners interested in wrestling with the practical realities of living in a religiously diverse society. Participants in the class will develop their own understanding of how to best build and maintain a pluralistic society through consideration of case studies from around the country, class-led discussion of current events and local circumstances, and respectful and honest conversation with one another. In addition to studying particular events that illustrate the challenges of pluralism, this class will consider how diversity in religion and other elements of identity interact with civic engagement and building a society that allows everyone to maintain and grow in their personal commitments while others do the same, even if those commitments differ or conflict. The course will conclude with collective and individual reflection and discernment of next steps for each participant to take what we have discovered together and apply it to their own way of engaging with their communities. Although not required, learners may find it interesting and helpful to purchase “Pluralism in Practice” by Elinor J. Pierce, but should NOT read ahead. Students could find it helpful to read the introductory sections and Afterword prior to the first class, but should avoid reading any cases.

NOTE: This course will draw heavily from The Case Initiative of Harvard's Pluralism Project. 

Mark Jolly-Van Bodegraven serves as the director of communications for Washington College, but his personal and academic journeys have revolved around questions of how people form and act on their deepest commitments. He has a master of liberal arts from the University of Pennsylvania that drew primarily from religious studies, folklore, and anthropology. After reviewing Pluralism in Practice for Friends Journal, Mark was struck by the value that could be derived by engaging communities in conversation about issues surrounding religious diversity and civic participation.

Performing and Fine Arts

Beverly Hall Smith

Thursdays; October 17 to November 14, 2024 (5 classes)

4:15-5:30 pm

Lecture and Discussion

Sculpture, like painting, has been a part of the human creative experience since the Paleolithic Period. Sculptural figures created were integral to their belief systems and tell us what was considered most important to the time. Materials used in sculpture vary from location to location. Technique also will be discussed. Included in the discussion will be the work of such sculptors as Polyclitus, Praxiteles, Donatello, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Rodin. In the 20th Century we will look at and discuss Picasso, Russian Constructivism, Calder, Moore, Christo, Smith, and developments in the 21st Century. Some of the 20th and 21st Century sculptors respond to new materials such as plastic, some to a changing aesthetic, some to the need to preserve and protect the environment, and some just for fun. Sculpture has had many exciting twists and turns, some not well known to many viewers. No knowledge of the topic is necessary. All are invited to come and discover the wealth of sculptural works in the world at large. If there is a particular artist you are interested in, let me know when class begins.

Beverly Hall Smith was a professor of art history for forty years. Since retiring with her husband to Chestertown in 2014, she has taught art history classes for WC-ALL and the Institute of Adult Learning. Since April 2020, she has been writing weekly articles titled “Looking at the Masters” for the Chestertown SPY. She is also an artist whose work is sometimes exhibited at Chestertown River Arts, and she paints sets for the Garfield Center for the Arts.

Humanities; Math, Science, and Technology

 Warren Case

Friday, October 18-November 15, 2024 (5 classes)

4:15-5:30 p.m.

Lecture and Discussion

Participants will learn all about space exploration — from its origins and history up to present day events and future trends. They will be introduced to the locations and roles of the NASA Centers, including practical information if they’d like to visit them in person. The course will discuss the manned space programs from Mercury to Apollo to the International Space Station. It will also cover the variety of unmanned satellites, their uses, and how they impact our daily lives and our perspective on our place in the universe. It will present space exploration’s greatest achievements and the toughest challenges encountered along the way. It will describe the challenge of space debris and chronicle the rise of space tourism (and when it will become more widely available). On a practical level, students will learn where to go see a launch closeup and when/where to look to see the International Space Station fly over Chestertown. No knowledge of technical concepts is required. No textbooks or materials are required. Participants will also be given the opportunity to tour NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on a space available basis.

Warren Case became fascinated with astronomy and space exploration after watching Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Since then, he has wished to share this excitement with others. His first job after high school was to give planetarium lectures at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, then subsequently work at the Goddard Visitor Center. He spent the bulk of his career supporting the Space Shuttle’s Spacelab missions (14 years) and the Earth Observing System missions (20+ years). In these roles, he principally served as a liaison between the Goddard operations teams and the outside interfaces (primarily the scientific community). In 2020, he transferred to NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC and began coordinating the operations of 20+ earth science missions, some of which are hosted on the International Space Station (ISS), and the others which are on free-flying satellites.

Humanities, Performing and Fine Arts

Nancy Hartman

Sundays, October 13-November 17, 2024 (six weeks)

1:30-4:30 p.m.

Moderated discussion

This course offers six foreign films.  The first four are thrillers, ranging from carefully plotted murders to a suicide mission to two about the perils of living in a controlled police state: “Diabolique,” starring Simone Signoret; “Elevator to the Gallows,” starring Jeanne Moreau; “The Wages of Fear,” starring Yves Montand; and “The Lives of Others,” which won the 2006 Oscar for Best Foreign Film. In the fifth production, Gérard Depardieu turns in a magnificent performance as the gallant but insecure hero in “Cyrano de Bergerac.”  The course ends with the unforgettable team of Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” featuring Loren’s famous striptease.  Henri-Georges Clouzot, Louis Malle, and Vittorio de Sica are some of the directors.

Within a week of each upcoming movie, informational material will be furnished to students by email or regular mail.  Additional information about each movie will be provided at the start of each class, the movie will be shown, and a brief discussion will be held afterward.

Note:  All movies have subtitles.

Nancy Hartman’s insatiable appetite for vintage movies began many years ago.  She looks forward to sharing her knowledge of these classic films with WC-ALL members.

Humanities

Donna Van Dusen

Mondays; October 14 to November 11, 2024 (5 classes)

4:15-5:30 pm

Lecture and Discussion

“But I don’t have a creative bone in my body!” Surely you don’t have a creative bone, but you do have the innate ability to tap into a fundamental aspect of being human: Creativity. Sadly, creativity too often is perceived narrowly, as a talent possessed by relatively few people rather than a process available to all people. And it’s never too late! The human brain is more open to creativity as we age. During this course you will explore ways to tap into the creative well available to all humans and enhance your creativity by challenging perceptions and taken-for-granted assumptions, expanding and deepening awareness, and addressing blocks to creative expression. The course is for both new and seasoned creators, and will offer opportunities to engage in and share your creative pursuits as well as provide your insights into the creative process as you have experienced it. A list of recommended books will be provided.

Donna Van Dusen, Professor Emerita at Regis University, retired from an academic career that involved researching creativity, incorporating that research into business courses, as well as finding creative solutions to problem in an administrative role. Since retiring, she has engaged in her life-long love of creative writing and painting. As one who has and continues to experience the blocks to creativity, she brings her own experience to the subject matter.

Social Sciences

Wendy Cronin

Wednesdays; October 16 to November 20, 2024 (6 classes)

4:15-5:30 p.m.
Lecture and Discussion
HYBRID In-Person and Zoom

Our community has many travelers with interesting tales to tell. In this course, you will hear from six of them about why they traveled, where they went, and what they found. We will explore locations on four continents using different modes of travel, and find out what motivated these six to explore quirky and unusual destinations in the first place. You will learn a little about each country, transportation, housing, and food. Most importantly, you will hear special stories that each traveler will share with you.  Perhaps you’ve wondered what truffle hunting would be like. Or maybe you are drawn remote places where the landscape is mainly ice and granite. Are you curious to learn more about a wealthy Middle Eastern country? Or perhaps you prefer to spend time in developing countries where you might find a way to have a positive impact. Maybe you have always wanted to take a bicycle tour of a foreign country. Perhaps you just want to travel off the beaten path. Whatever stirs your interest, you will likely hear about it in this course. 

Wendy Cronin, a familiar WC-ALL instructor, will coordinate this course and talk about her experience in East Greenland. You will also hear from Lynn Mitchell (Italy), Rich Gillin (Dubai), Bill and Nancy Low (Budapest to Prague), Sandra Jackson (Vietnam), and Warren Case (Canadian Rockies).