Bridgewater   

Ever wonder what goes on in a biology lab? Well here is your chance to take a step into the world of biology by performing your very own biology experiments. This course will start out with a class on the basics in performing work in a biology laboratory where we will cover the use of various types of pipettes, graduated cylinders, digital balances, and more. The labs that follow will consist of determining the presence of macromolecules (carbohydrates and proteins), the effect of pH on solutions, extracting DNA from plant materials, gel electrophoresis and a visit to the new BSU maker space to see how their equipment can help with labs in biology.

J’adore Français! Welcome to the beautiful and diverse Francophone world! Designed for beginners, this course focuses on making language learning fun in a stress-free experience. Throughout the course, you will learn basic vocabulary, easy grammar, and practical conversational skills. Interactive activities, group discussions, and real-life scenarios will help you build confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Key topics include: basic greetings and introductions, everyday vocabulary (food, travel, family), simple sentence structure and grammar fundamentals and cultural insights to enrich your understanding of French-speaking countries.  No prior experience is needed—just a sense of adventure and a love for learning!  Join me for a fun-filled adventure that will leave you saying, “J’en veux savoir plus!” (I want to know more!)

Continue your Spanish language journey in this engaging second section of our Introductory Spanish course for adults!  Designed for those who have completed Section 1 or have some basic familiarity with the language, this class builds on foundational skills while emphasizing practical communication and cultural understanding. In this course, you will expand your vocabulary and add to grammar learned in Spanish I through interactive lessons and real-life scenarios. Key topics include: expanding everyday vocabulary, enhancing listening and speaking skills through conversations, and exploring culture and traditions of the diverse Spanish/Hispanic world.  Join us for a fun and friendly class as you gain confidence in your Spanish abilities and develop a deeper appreciation for the language and its cultures.

This will be a “heart full” class of stepping out of doing and into being, with an invitation to the remembrance of the innate goodness and love within each of us!  This course will feature two brief sharings from visiting speakers appropriate for this advanced meditation themed class! Our March class will reflect the renewal of hope and promise. The rest and reset after the winter pause in inner reflection. The style of meditation reflects the Jon Kabot-Zinn attentional focus guide to meditation. The foundation of self regulation through re-directing ones focus away from busy mind chattering to a chosen grounding point of focus is important to practice with awareness and kind attending will be consistently cultivated throughout these unfolding 6 classes. I look forward to a thoughtful and “heartful” sharing from each of us along this adventure!

The United States is an immigrant nation, but the role of immigrants has often been misunderstood and oversimplified. Immigrants are diverse and fundamental to the identity of our nation and functioning of our society. This Senior College course introduces us to the settlement, contributions, and challenges of our local immigrants who came from all corners of the globe.  2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Nationality and Immigration Act of 1965. Through the study and discussion of immigrant reforms, settlement patterns, community development, and personal stories, you will learn more about the world and our local communities in Boston and New England in just six weeks.

This Senior College course will examine how the United States responds to the threats associated with the major “hot spots” in the world. In particular, the course will examine United States foreign policy with respect to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and the Middle East. In each of these “ hot spots” the course will explore how the individual threat developed, define the response to the threats by key presidential administrations, and evaluate the potential for resolution of the threat or the prospect of instability and conflict.

This class will explore the obvious and the unexpected nominees and winners of the Tony Award for Best Musical from 2014-2024. Each week will include lecture, discussion, and Q&A on the history, leading artists and collaborators on those Broadway shows. Links will be shared to videos of shows and documentaries.

The Tony Awards have celebrated musical genres from pop, rock, country, hip hop, Motown, and operetta. Together we will celebrate this incredible art form which has spread joy, opened worlds, and created a community of theater fans the world over.

This course will explore the iconic Lizzie Borden murder case of 1892, one of the most sensational true crime stories in American history. To get a full picture of the events surrounding the unsolved and gruesome murders of her parents, we will use a multimedia approach. Literary texts will include Sarah Schmidt’s novel See What I Have Done (2017) and Angela Carter’s short story “Lizzie’s Tiger.”   We will also watch the film “Lizzie” (2018), a psychological thriller. Lastly, we will embark on a ghost hunt and tour of the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River as well as her final resting place at Oak Grove cemetery. Perhaps we will be the ones to finally crack the case!

This course will provide an overview of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of dementia, including the signs, symptoms, and stages of illness. We will explain how a diagnosis is made, describe current treatments, consider the impact of the disease on the family, and examine long term care options, among other issues. We will also discuss several initiatives people can take to lessen their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other serious cognitive disorders.