Osher Online   

Instructor: Blake Regnier

We will trace the evolution of literature specifically written for children, from its earliest forms to the modern era. We will begin with the oral traditions that underpin all storytelling, then follow the shift toward published works created specifically with young readers in mind.

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Instructor: Rafael Davis Portela

The music we stream, the photos we swipe, the real time news we consume, the books we read: all have been radically reshaped by digital technology. We will explore how media is created, stored and experienced in a digitized world and unpack fundamentals like text files, encoding and decoding, pixels, and algorithms in clear, easy-to-understand ways; no prior computer knowledge needed.

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Instructor: Alison Roberts

We will explore how the tiny nation of Portugal played an outsized role in world history. We will follow its rise as a global power, decline as rival empires overtook it, 20th-century poverty under Europe’s longest dictatorship and how its past continues to shape identity and culture in the decades since a revolution ushered in democracy.

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Instructor: Chris Baker

We will explore a wide range of horticultural practices with something to offer no matter our experience level or where we live. We will cover container gardening, aquatic gardens, ornamental and fruiting plants, bonsai, landscape design and pest management.

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Instructor: Bernie Carlson

We will trace the development of French, British and Irish canals in the 17th and 18th centuries, then turn to American canals, especially in New York and Pennsylvania. Along the way, we will explore how canals reflect the politics and aspirations of different nations and why they still matter for global shipping today.

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Instructor: Robert Thurston

Coffee will provide a lively lens on major past and present issues including climate change, social life, health, global North-South differences, social and economic justice, tourism and slavery. We will explore coffee’s global history and trace coffee from planting and processing through shipping and, ultimately, the beverage in our cups.

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Instructor: Kasey Sease

From the capital city’s planners to Union soldiers who defended Washington amid civil war, many evoked the Declaration of Independence to support their causes and shape a capital city. Spotlighting artifacts from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, we will cover the district’s early history through 1876, the nation’s first centennial celebration.

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Instructor: Matthew Cooper

We will explore key aspects of deaf culture in the United States and the factors that define the deaf community as a cultural minority. We will focus on awareness, cultural diversity and the preservation of language.

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Instructor: Dede Petri

We will examine founder George Washington's life and political leadership as well as his work as a farmer, entrepreneur and architect. We will also review the groundbreaking work of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, which has owned and managed Mount Vernon since 1858.

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Instructor: Eleanor Schrader

Often overlooked, 20th-century women designers profoundly shaped the way we perceive, experience and enjoy our built environments, interiors and decorative objects. We will explore the work, influence and social and political context of important women designers and architects.

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Instructor: Eileen Goddard

We will explore Hindu traditions, emphasizing the importance of ritual, knowledge and devotion across Hindu traditions from classical to contemporary times. We will introduce Hinduism’s South Asian roots, consider early and classical expressions of Hindu thought and religious life and see sacred space and places.

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Instructor: Emanuel Abramovits

We will explore book musicals, concept musicals and the arrival of European mega-productions late in the 20th century. We will profile some of the theater world's leading composers, lyricists, writers, choreographers, directors and performers in unforgettable shows including Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Show Boat, Guys and Dolls, Hair, Cabaret, Rent, Wicked, Hamilton and more.

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Instructor: Erin Holland

We will explore 100 years of American history through objects often taken for granted in everyday life: signs. We will examine how signs have evolved due to trends in commerce and technology and take a virtual visit to the American Sign Museum’s neon shop to see how a neon sign is made.

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Instructor: Ferdâ Asya

We will examine the cultural transformations in thinking and living that reshaped America and Western Europe between World War I and the Great Depression. We will explore the vibrant world of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein through their works and considering the legacy of the era.

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Instructor: Emanuel Abramovits

Music has long provoked debate, now revisited through modern concerns about race, consent and gender. We will also examine political correctness, cultural heritage and plagiarism through audiovisuals, anecdotes and humor.

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