Announcement of Courses

The Older Adults Department offers free classes at forty sites around San Francisco for anyone fifty-five years old or better. In addition to the classes listed below, we offer computer classes in collaboration with the Business Department. For further information, please call 920-6021.

NONCREDIT COURSES:

OLAD 7006. Understanding Changing Times (36 hrs)
Activities focus on personal, social, political, and wellness issues; field trips may be included.

OLAD 7205. Wellness Exercises (18 hrs)
Moderate exercises designed for either older adults with limited physical abilities or those who are re-introducing themselves into a physical fitness program. The T’ai Chi Chuan sections of this class emphasize proper body alignment, stances, and coordination, using the principles of the art to promote relaxation and health.

OLAD 7209. Mind-Body Health (36 hrs)
A discussion and practice class for improving one’s health through an understanding of the impact of thoughts, emotions, and attitudes on the body. Practice sessions involve gentle exercises based on T’ai Chi.

OLAD 7210. Medical Options for Older Adults (45 hrs)
A survey of western and alternative medical models incorporating exercises in breathing and stretching and journal keeping, as well as a peer support group. There are guest lecturers in acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, and hypnotherapy. The objective is to enable students to become more active and knowledgeable participants in their own health care.

OLAD 7211. Memory and Mental Fitness for Older Adults (36 hrs)
Older adults discover and practice memory and mental fitness techniques in practical and creative ways. Learn how memory works, and what factors affect how well our brain functions. Students discover and use their own learning style to improve their ability to retain and retrieve information.

OLAD 7212. Aging and Social Relations (36 hrs)
Research has shown that social engagement is a key to healthy aging. Learn what research and practice have uncovered about different aspects of social relations in later life, such as intergenerational/cross-generational activities, family relations, civic engagement, intimacy, care giving, and death and grieving. Discover free and low-cost opportunities for social engagement, including intellectual, social and physical activities in and around San Francisco.

OLAD 7301. Arts and Crafts for Older Adults (45 hrs)
A general survey of arts and crafts with an emphasis on exercises and experiments with methods and materials, including: painting, drawing, color theory, composition rendering, batik, tie-dye, macrame, block printing, ceramics, metal crafts, leather, and weaving.

OLAD 7303. Figure Drawing - Older Adults (54 hrs)
Studio class in drawing the human figure from a live model. For beginners to professionals. Pencil, charcoal, ink, and watercolors. Field trips will be included in the program to study and evaluate other artists’ works.

OLAD 7307. Music Appreciation for Older Adults (36 hrs)
Study of and familiarization with the music of western civilization. Students are introduced to a sampling of music from ballets, operas, and symphonies.

OLAD 7309. Theater Appreciation for Older Adults (54 hrs)
Students read plays, attend performances, and develop critical skills in review discussions. The history of theater, elements of dramatic literature, and production techniques.

OLAD 7310. Stitchery For Older Adults (45 hrs)
Patchwork, Hawaiian quilting, trapunto, cross stitch, embroidery stitches. Projects include two pillows, a small quilt, embroidering on a garment, a purse, and construction of a bound book.

OLAD 7313. Art Appreciation - Older Adults (36 hrs)
Introduction to art, painting and sculpturing from the Lascaux cave paintings to modern day artists. Topics include: biographies and personalities of various artists; different art styles; the basic elements of art; the basic periods of art history and their characteristic styles along with the reasons such styles were developed.

OLAD 7316. Life Sculpture for Older Adults (72 hrs)
Older adults learn sculpture in a supportive studio atmosphere. Students work primarily in clay from a live model.

OLAD 7401. Writers' Workshop for Older Adults (45 hrs)
Develop writing skills in a peer support group. Students may choose to work on prose and/or poetry and read their work in class. Learning how to respond to writing, guided creative exercises and assignments, sentence and story structure.

OLAD 7402. English - Women's Literature (54 hrs)
Survey of works by and about women, including novels, short stories, essays, biography, and poetry. Development of reading and critical thinking skills. Each semester focuses on either American or international authors.

OLAD 7403. Modern Literature - Older Adults (45 hrs)
Survey of modern literature, including novels, short stories, essays, biography, and poetry. Development of reading and critical thinking skills. Each semester focuses on different cultures and themes.

OLAD 7406. Intergenerational Storytelling (36 hrs)
Examine techniques of storytelling including developing original ideas and themes and enhancing presentational practice through vocal modulation, gestures, and memory exercises. Students present and rehearse different stories each week. The course encompasses mutual critiques, field trips, guest storytelling speakers, and presentations to children and older adults in community based organizations.

OLAD 7410. Life Review for Older Adults (45 hrs)
This course gives each participant an opportunity to reflect on his/her past, consider how past occurrence have influenced his/her present, and look at how the past and present might shape his/her future. It uses non-traditional approaches (i.e., thematic, rather than chronological) to reminisce and review students' own lives. Opportunities to be creative, to share, and to learn about oneself and others in a supportive environment are created.