Propose a Course

PLATO depends on its volunteer Course Coordinators who offer courses based on their own interests.

If you are interested in coordinating a new PLATO course, please submit a Course Proposal Form (WORD) to Curriculum Committee Chair Paul Thompson (pthompson1@outlook.com). It is not necessary to have all the details (such as location, day of the week, time, etc.) finalized before submitting a proposal. Feel free to contact Therese or Barb for help in developing your idea.

The deadlines for submitting proposals for new courses are: Fall Semester – June 1; Winter Interim and Spring Semester – October 1; and Summer Interim – March 16.

Any member can propose a course. Some Coordinators are retired educators who are willing to continue sharing their knowledge, but most are people with strong interests and enthusiasms that they wish to explore with other people.

Course format is flexible. Examples include:

• Lectures by a Coordinator or guests.
  
• Films or videos followed by discussion.
  
• Discussion of assigned readings.
  
• Presentations by course participants.
  
• Course scheduling is flexible.
  
• Fall and Spring semesters usually run 8 to 10 weeks.
  
• Winter and Summer Interim usually run 3 to 5 weeks.
  

The Curriculum Committee will:

• Help with course description.
  
• Schedule classroom space at a location that meets your needs.
  
• Assign you a Curriculum Committee member to be your liaison to help as needed with course questions.
  

Once we receive your course proposal, the Curriculum Committee will review it. Once approved, you will be asked to submit a PLATO Course Description Form, which will be the basis for what will appear in the course listing.

Course Forms

Proposal (Word)

Description (Word)