Fernandina Observer: Center for Life Long Learning – No papers, no tests, no grades
Fernandina Observer
Submitted by Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
Wish you knew a little Italian for your future trip to Italy? Want to know more about global issues confronting the world? Well, you can satisfy any of these curiosities by taking one of the Center for Life Long Learning’s (CLL) fall courses. Best of all it provides all of the fun of school without the downside – no papers, no tests, no grades.
About 15 years ago, a small group of island residents decided it would be a good idea to offer short courses on a variety of topics. These courses were to be taught by islanders whose expertise would be interesting. Classes would meet weekly for one to two hours over 6 to 8 weeks. Still going strong after this beginning, the CLL evolved from the Nassau Institute for Continuing Education (NICE) to the present day structure.
Since its inception, CLL has been an all-volunteer organization. A curriculum committee designs curriculums for fall and spring terms and identifies locations where classes are to be offered. The committee recruits instructors, reviews course proposals, and assesses course and instructor evaluations. FSCJ provides administrative and logistical support.
Courses are offered at three venues – St. Peter’s in downtown Fernandina, the FSCJ Betty Cook Campus in Yulee, and at the Plantation. Ten classes will be held this fall, beginning September 8 with “Barrier to Success: The Geomorphology of Amelia Island,” a look at the physical processes that formed our island and that continue to affect it.
Language courses this fall include “Spanish For Busy People” and “Italian for Travelers.” American poetry and a look at the work of J. D. Salinger are offered in literature genres. Our own Ron Kurtz is offering a class looking at how plays move from printed scripts to theater performances.
One of the most popular classes is “Great Decisions,” a course that looks at key global issues of our day. Photography and technology round out the fall program. Island photographer Lea Gallardo offers classes in using a digital camera and digital editing to enhance photography results. And for everyone who is not quite sure what to do with their iPad, there’s a class addressing that as well.
It’s impossible to list all of the classes and describe them as they deserve, I realize. So go take a look at the course list provided on the FSCJ website (fscj.edu/cll). And remember – no papers, no tests, no grades, just fun.
Evelyn McDonaldEvelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. She is a chair of Arts & Culture Nassau, a city commission charged with support of the arts in Nassau County. She serves on FSCJ’s Curriculum Committee for the Center for Lifelong Learning. She is also the chair of the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.