Friday

#	Time	Course	Coordinator	Location
1	2:00 PM - 2:45 PM	Gentle Chair Yoga for Stress Reduction	Stephanie Steigerwaldt	Virtual

WINTER 2025 Course dESCRIPTIONS

Truth Decay 2026: The Constitution of Knowledge

Coordinator

                                                                        

Name	Email	Phone
Jack Mitchell	jwmitch1@wisc.edu	608-274-6903

Course Description

We look at truth decay from the point of view of Jonathan Rauch, a fellow at the liberal Brookings Institution whose work was supported and published by the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Even if we cannot agree on what is true, he argues, we need to agree on standards for deciding what is true. He calls them the “constitution of knowledge.”  The course discusses the Enlightenment process for finding truth through argument, debate, and the concept of objective methods. We will discuss both “woke” censors and Donald Trump who, in different ways, depart from the principles of the constitution of knowledge. Download the syllabus.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Location	Virtual
Meeting Day	Monday
Meeting Time	10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date	January 5, 2026
End Date	February 2, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size	15
# of Sessions	5
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Drawing as a Sacred Activity

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Heather C. Williams	heather@drawingtogether.com	760-213-6060

Course Description

Now is the time to silence the inner critic and release your Creative Spirit. In this class you will relax with a pencil and paper and you will open your mind as you explore simple drawing exercises that help you to observe the world around you without judgment. These drawing exercises will also help you to imagine and draw out the world within you! Drawing is more ancient than writing and today, with Artificial Intelligence, it is essential for all of us to connect with our Innate Creative Spirit. Come draw with Heather!

Location	Virtual
Meeting Day	Monday
Meeting Time	11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Start Date	January 5, 2026
End Date	February 9, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size	Unlimited
# of Sessions	6
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Women Artists from Baroque to Modern Period

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Alan Garfield	agarfield@dbq.edu	563-599-5205

Course Description

Most art history books omit significant women artists from their pages. While there are a host of reasons, what needs to be done (simply) is to show the works, examine the works, and put them in proper perspective. Who were these artists? Who were their patrons? Why are they significant? Since I have languages and have taught this on the university level, I thought this would be an exciting intro course – both in art history and womens’ studies. If you like art… if your idea of fun is going to museums to see works, I think you’ll enjoy this introduction. Download Dr. Garfield's bio.

Location	Oakwood Village University Woods Campus
Meeting Day	Monday
Meeting Time	1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Start Date	January 5, 2026
End Date	January 26, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	No reading to minimal reading
Class Size	Unlimited
# of Sessions	4
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Exploring Creativity

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Karen Wulff	wulff.karen@gmail.com	608-770-8408

Course Description

This class is an ongoing workshop where individuals work on their personal art goals in a sharing environment. Participants can exchange knowledge and offer “gentle” feedback to each other if they want to. Bring the supplies you will need for your own project. We are fortunate to use this space. Come and make a commitment to yourself to do art at least two hours per week. Join a group of people who enjoy working on their art together in a peaceful and supportive environment.

Location	Christ Presbyterian Church
Meeting Day	Monday
Meeting Time	1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date	January 5, 2026
End Date	February 9, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size	6
# of Sessions	6
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Alicia's Book Club

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Sally Porter	ssporter22@gmail.com	--

Course Description

Join us at the Alicia Book Club at Alicia Ashman Library at High Point and Old Sauk Road on the second Tuesday of January and February. Participants will receive the book list upon registration. Join us for good reading and good discussion. There is a random selection of books, one to be read each month for group discussion. The expectation that each person will be a discussion leader of a book of their choice from the list during the year. (Treat provider is up for discussion.)

Location	Alicia Ashman Library
Meeting Day	Tuesday
Meeting Time	10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Start Date	January 13, 2026
End Date	February 10, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation
Class Size	15
# of Sessions	2
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Truth Decay 2026: The Constitution of Knowledge

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Jack Mitchell	jwmitch1@wisc.edu	608-274-6903

Course Description

We look at truth decay from the point of view of Jonathan Rauch, a fellow at the liberal Brookings Institution whose work was supported and published by the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Even if we cannot agree on what is true, he argues, we need to agree on standards for deciding what is true. He calls them the “constitution of knowledge.” The course discusses the Enlightenment process for finding truth through argument, debate, and the concept of objective methods. We will discuss both “woke” censors and Donald Trump who, in different ways, depart from the principles of the constitution of knowledge. Download the syllabus.

Location	Virtual
Meeting Day	Tuesday
Meeting Time	1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Start Date	January 6, 2026
End Date	February 3, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size	15
# of Sessions	5
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Prose and Cons Book Discussion Group

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Barbara Drake	barbaradrake21@gmail.com	--

Course Description

This book discussion group will meet monthly throughout the year on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Book titles for each month have been selected through May, 2026, and are available from the group coordinator. Beginning in June 2026, members of the group will be included in the book selection process, and both fiction and nonfiction titles will be considered. Participants will be expected to read the book selection for each month and will be asked to lead one discussion group per year.

Location	Christ Presbyterian Church
Meeting Day	Tuesday
Meeting Time	1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date	January 27, 2026
End Date	February 24, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size	12
# of Sessions	2
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Current Events AM

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Mert Corwin	mdcorwinjr@gmail.com	608-774-3403

Course Description

This class will discuss local, national, and international events. Some topics will be hot and current and others will be ongoing issues. Topics will be determined each week at the start of the session. All viewpoints are encouraged. The format will be very casual and interactive. Participants are encouraged to share relevant links via email during the week about topics for discussion.

Location	Virtual
Meeting Day	Wednesday
Meeting Time	10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Start Date	January 7, 2026
End Date	February 11, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	Some reading/discussion expected
Class Size	20
# of Sessions	6
Registration	Please email Mert to register.

A PLATO Salon: On Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impact

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Cheryl Campbell	cheryl@hebell.net	561-403-3935

Course Description

Guided round-table debates on the societal impact of artificial intelligence will be conducted weekly. Topics will include: AI, advertising, and the race for eyeballs (monetization); AI innovations in healthcare and education; AI business models, capitalization, and wealth inequality; AI "slop", misinformation, bots and biases; AI impact on automation and the changing nature of jobs; AI influence on human cognition, social isolation, care and companion services; AI, the arts, and intellectual property; AI infrastructure, energy and water consumption. Various short readings and an avid and curious interest in the subject are required.

Location	Virtual
Meeting Day	Wednesday
Meeting Time	11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Start Date	January 7, 2026
End Date	February 18, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size	25
# of Sessions	7
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Page Turners Book Discussion Group

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Nancy Miller	nancym2079@gmail.com	608-320-0896

Course Description

This book discussion group meets on the first Wednesday of the month to discuss a novel. The book selections are determined in the spring of each year and assigned to a specific month. Group members volunteer to lead the discussion one month out of the year, and also select a month to bring treats to share with the group one month out of the year. The books selected are included on the syllabus.

Location	Monona Library
Meeting Day	Wednesday
Meeting Time	1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Start Date	January 7, 2026
End Date	February 4, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size	12
# of Sessions	2
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Fictional Detectives

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Maurice Better	mauricebetter@yahoo.com	608-255-3912

Course Description

We will read a detective novel a week prior to class and in the following order (title & author): 1/8 “Resurrection Man,” DI John Rebus; 1/15 “A Touch of Frost,” DI Jack Frost; the remaining weeks to be announced. We will watch a movie based on the assigned book at our weekly meeting. We will then discuss the investigator’s style and methods used in finding a solution to the crime(s) committed.

Location	Madison Senior Center
Meeting Day	Thursday
Meeting Time	9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date	January 8, 2026
End Date	February 5, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size	Unlimited
# of Sessions	5
Registration	No registration required

Beyond Bing and Bots: AI Fluency for Savvy Seniors

Coordinator

Name	Email	Phone
Hank Weiss	Weiss.hank@gmail.com	608-443-9177

Course Description

This course provides older adults with a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the world of Artificial Intelligence. Designed for those motivated to harness AI's benefits and avoid its pitfalls, this program will empower you to become an "AI Driver" – actively engaging with technology rather than passively receiving information. We'll demystify AI, explore its practical applications to enhance your health, finances, creativity, and social connections, and delve into the crucial skill of "epistemic fluency" to critically evaluate AI outputs and protect against scams. The course emphasizes hands-on learning, culminating in a "Show and Tell" where you can share your own innovative uses of AI, ensuring you gain confidence and maintain your digital dignity in this evolving age.

Location	Virtual
Meeting Day	Thursday
Meeting Time	10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Start Date	January 8, 2026
End Date	February 5, 2026
No Course Dates
Participation	No reading to minimal reading
Class Size	Unlimited
# of Sessions	5
Registration	Required, contact coordinator for instructions