Monday Session 2   

Technology's pace continues to accelerate, sometimes leaving us in the dust. The purpose of this course is to put members in a position of general understanding of five important aspects of advanced technology: the Internet and the cloud; cell phones and social media; self-driving cars and trucks; blockchain and cryptocurrency; and AI. This is an introductory course on five broad and complex subjects. No prior technical knowledge is required; however, participants should come with a curious, open mind. 

The course will examine the events leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, the three-day battle itself, and the aftermath of what many consider the high-water mark of the Confederacy. The course will discuss many of the numerous controversies generated on both sides as well as the “who, what, where, when and why” of one of the most important and studied campaigns in military history.

 

With slide images and film clips, members will explore the archaeological and historical cultures of the Inuit peoples of Greenland and Arctic Canada, the Yupik of the Bering Sea, the Tlingit of Southeast Alaska, and the peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of British Columbia. Topics will include indigenous strategies for survival, traditional life-ways, and distinctive art forms of the cultures of the north. We will also consider the impacts of contact with traders, missionaries, and governmental officials, and the environmental impacts of global warming.

While some issues about the Holocaust have been well-documented, others deserve closer examination. We will study in depth the complicated and conflicted political, social, and human issues that led to America's response to the Holocaust. We will also study a little-known event of the war years: the sinking of the "Nazi Titanic." The course will also explore the uplifting stories of altruistic diplomats and other public officials during the Holocaust who bravely risked their careers and lives to save thousands of people.

This course introduces the basics of cybersecurity with a focus on practical skills for everyday life. Members will learn how common online scams work, why they are effective, and how to protect their personal accounts, devices, and information. Topics include recognizing phishing and phone scams, creating safer passwords, using multi-factor authentication, and understanding privacy tradeoffs. Course goals are to build confidence, awareness, and simple habits that help people stay safer online.

Will the United States retain birthright citizenship? The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case Trump v. CASA, and hand down its decision in the summer of 2026. This class will look at the historical concept of citizenship, starting in the colonial era and continuing to modern times. The course will explore what it means to be a citizen at these critical points in the country's history, and what it will mean going forward in the 21st century in light of the Supreme Court's decision.

Are you curious about seeing the world in a new way or learning about what drives social change? This course explores the study of social life, ranging from social inequality to theories on the self. We will be looking at sociological ideas from past to present and discussing how the past shapes today's society. We will also be examining various fundamental institutions, including family, media, religion, education, medicine, and law.

Part 2 of this course takes members on a virtual and chronological tour of historic places in Western Pennsylvania, from the Industrial Age to the modern day. Participants will virtually visit several locations, from the Drake Oil Well in Venango County to Quecreek Mine Rescue in Somerset County. Part 1 is not a prerequisite for Part 2.