November 2022
Give Thanks and Celebrate
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- President's Message
- Reflections Submissions
- Coordinator Thank You
- Introducing Hybrid Classes
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- Chef for a Day
- ALL Keurig
- New Office Administrator
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PLEASE RESPECT THOSE WHO ARE WEARING MASKS |
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We are into late fall now, the trees are shedding their colorful leaves, the days are shorter, and change is everywhere.
We at ALL have weathered many changes this past year, and there will be more to come. In the spring we attended only Zoom classes; in the fall we had a choice of zoom or in-person classes; and now, we will add some hybrid class options for the spring semester. Hybrid classes will be held simultaneously in-person and on Zoom. Class members will be able to participate with each other whether in the classroom or at home. You will be able to see, hear, and interact with everyone via the 75-inch DTEN classroom screen that has great cameras and speakers. This is another positive change for ALL members so be sure to read the catalog carefully now that you will be able to choose in-person, Zoom, or hybrid classes. More details about hybrid learning are featured later in this newsletter.
On another note, this is a time of Thanksgiving: a time of feeling grateful for our friends and family. Here at ALL we are grateful to have such great coordinators and members who continue to be careful, caring, and involved in our organization. We have made many friends through this great organization.
One person for whom we are all thankful, is our office administrator, Nancy Weida. Nancy has been invaluable to our board of directors and members. Her attention to detail, knowledge of our organization, great work ethic, and cheerful demeanor has carried us through good times and tough times.
Nancy has decided it’s time to step away from her job as office administrator. We will miss her very much, and we are grateful for all she’s done for our organization. On behalf of the Board and ALL members, I wish Nancy lots of free time, great joy, good health and many of life’s simple pleasures.
Nancy, thank you for everything you have done for ALL.
Dianne Tattersall
ALL President
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Reflections 2023 Submissions |
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SUBMIT YOUR WORK NOW!
Reflections, our annual anthology of writing and art by members of ALL, seeks poetry or prose pieces as well as photographs and/or artwork for the 2023 issue, which will be published next winter.
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Submissions are open for Reflections 2023 (ALL annual anthology written by members). Please send prose, poetry, photography or art work before December 15th.
Because of space constraints try to keep prose to 1000 words or fewer, no more than 2 pages of poems, 4 or 5 photos or other art work. Include your phone number as well as your email address. A short biography would be appreciated.
You will receive a confirmation that your work has been received. If you have questions please send them to the same email address.
You may want to read last year's edition of Reflections. See the link below.
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June Calender
Editor, Reflections
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Thank you for your Spring 2023
Course Proposals
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Thank you for your Spring 2023 course proposals! |
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The Curriculum Committee is pleased to announce the ALL Spring Catalogue is being created. Course offerings include in-person, day and evening Zoom classes and Hybrid courses.
Hybrid courses allow coordinators to teach members in‑person and remotely to members at home at the same time. We hope that this new option will allow more students to access our course offerings and give our coordinators more flexibility. An article on this option can be found later in this newsletter.
We deeply appreciate the generosity of each coordinator who has offered to share their expertise with ALL of us.
The Curriculum Committee
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Butterflies And Bridge Introduce Hybrid Classes |
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ALL is introducing a third method of offering classes—a Hybrid model. Using the new technology in Room 115, Hybrid courses allow coordinators to teach members in‑person and remotely to members at home at the same time. Joe Dwelly is pictured with a projection used in his course on butterflies on Cape Cod.
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When we surveyed the membership last spring, we learned that while many of our members were looking forward to returning to in-class sessions, others had come to prefer taking classes on Zoom. The latter group included those not on the Cape during the winter, those who find the hill and steps challenging. Others did not look forward to going out in cold winter months when it snowed or simply like staying at home.
We decided that while offering both in person and zoom classes was a good idea, it could over-tax our coordinators. Using a hybrid approach would be a solution and we searched for a technology that would do that well. After exploring several systems, we found DTEN offered the most effective approach. We thank Cape Cod Five for approving a grant application and assisting ALL in paying for the system that is now in place in Room 115.
Four coordinators used the system this fall and agreed to be interviewed for this article. All reported positive experiences. Two of the coordinators used the device for projection purposes, but did not have any class members via Zoom. Joe Dwelly, who is teaching a class about butterflies on Cape Cod said, “It is easy to learn and easy to use. The butterflies showed up really well.” Another coordinator, who also used it for projection of videos, indicated it worked so well, she’d like to try offering a hybrid class next time.
Chris Senie used the technology to offer a hybrid class on intermediate bridge. When I asked him how it is going, he answered: "Using the DTEN equipment to run a hybrid class is pretty straightforward and easy. A lecture or discussion proceeds in the normal course; all can see and hear the lecturer, and if the screen is shared, for example to view Power Point slides or other text, all can clearly see the material (those in class looking up at the large screen). . . . It took me a while to balance questions and discussions involving students in class and those raising their hands on Zoom. It’s a bit of a tricky balance."
I called three students in Chris’s class, one on Zoom and the other two in-person. Their first responses were,
“It’s great, pretty seamless the way it’s working.”
“Very positive. Am impressed with the technology. When Chris moves around the room, it moves. You get used to having your face on the screen along with everyone else. I hardily endorse it.”
And, from the person taking it on Zoom, “Yes, definitely, I feel included in the discussion. He does an amazing job. It has been a great thing for ALL.”
We hope that more coordinators will give the new technology a try. Training on it is available for any coordinator interested in learning.
Marilyn Nouri, Chair
Long-range Planning
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Carol Coteus Invites You To Be "Chef for a Day" |
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Prior to her teaching career, Carol spent years in the restaurant business, which piqued her interest in cooking and gave her an appreciation of the way sharing a meal brings people together. Whether exchanging recipes with others or creating new ones, Carol has a passion in the kitchen to share with others.
Upon retiring, my husband and I decided to relocate to Cape Cod where our dear friends had already moved. We immediately immersed ourselves in outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, biking, and golfing. Our social calendar was filled with dinner parties, the Cape Symphony, and Unitarian Church events.
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But the introduction to the Academy of Lifelong Learning was the real cinch that convinced us we had chosen the right place to be. With such a wide variety of stimulating classes from which to choose, we each discovered enticing academic challenges to fill our weeks.
Retirement was proving to be glorious for those six months in 2019 until Covid 19 changed the world around us. I remember feeling somewhat paralyzed with the inability to live my life as I had always known it, but we humans are a resilient and innovative species. We soon reinvented our daily lives so that we could continue in ways that would keep us safe around each other.
Zoom licenses became the rage with weekly Zoom visits with family and friends, Zoom cocktail hours, and classes via Zoom were offered by A.L.L. Instructors continued to teach, and students continued to sign up. It was an incredible life line that I will always be grateful for. It began to occur to me, though, that folks were looking for something that could help lift their spirits without the worries of the world. Yeast and flour became sparse on the grocery shelves as bread making gained popularity, on- line art classes began raging as did yoga and dance. Wine tasting, origami, and meditation all gained popularity.
It was during this time while I was preparing dinner one evening that Paul posed as the commentator of a cooking show, and I played along. A delicious plate of chicken parmigiana and a glass of Cabernet later, the class called Chef For A Day was born.
Now, I have never claimed to be a gourmet chef, but this interest in cooking and nutrition was my gift from Covid. I began scouring cooking websites, while sharing recipes with friends and family. Dishes I never imagined I would attempt to make, made their way onto the pages of my personal recipe file, but I wanted to take this class one step further by including the participants more directly. Inviting one student into our kitchen each week to share one of their favorite recipes while all others remained in their own kitchens cooking along or just watching would be participation on a new level.
Paul agreed to be the tech person behind the scenes, and actually purchased a webcam and tripod for close up shots during the preparations.
We offered the class for six weeks during this past fall semester, never dreaming we could actually pull it off. We had three visiting chefs, and three weeks where I cooked alone. My expectations were exceeded with class participation from those at home who offered advice from personal experience, alterations with ingredients, new kitchen gadgets, and just a whole lot of fun.
Not only did I learn a lot from others, but I reminded myself of the invaluable opportunities life offers by venturing outside your comfort zone.
Paul and I plan to offer the class again during the Fall 2023 semester.
Carol Coteus
ALL Coordinator
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There will soon be a Keurig machine on the counter near the sink outside Room 115. Mary Ann Donovan has graciously donated this machine to ALL. If you would like to use it you need to bring a Keurig pod for the machine and a cup to pour your coffee in.
ALL WILL NOT SUPPLY MILK, SUGAR, ETC.
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Welcome ALL's New Office Administrator |
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Welcome, Cynthia!
When you are in the office at the end of November, be sure to welcome our new office Administrator, Cynthia Jayne. Cynthia hales from Sagamore Beach and has been an office administrator, an office manager, and a project coordinator. Her experience, positive
demeanor, and variety of skills make her a welcome addition to ALL.
Dianne Tattersall & Paul Coteus
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Community College Covid Guidelines |
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Click the following link for a summary of Cape Cod Community College's Covid guidelines as they relate to ALL.
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ALLways Welcomes Comments and
Suggestions about the Newsletter
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Please address your comments or suggestions to: lifelonglearning@capecod.edu
We appreciate all our readers, with special thanks to ALL members who contribute their articles and photographs to our newsletters.
Academy for Lifelong Learning of Cape Cod, Inc.
Cape Cod Community College
2240 Iyannough Rd
West Barnstable, Massachusetts 02668
774-330-4400
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