Science, Technology, Engineering & Math   

Microsoft Word is a powerful word processing program, but most beginning users are either not familiar with or reluctant to use Word’s wide range of features. This is a hands-on class. The instructor will provide pre-typed documents, and students will provide their own laptops, curiosity and questions. Students will learn basic tips for inputting, formatting and editing Word documents. Some of the topics covered include shortcut keys, navigating the ribbons and dialog boxes, formatting paragraphs and adjusting layouts, creating and manipulating tables and using the quick access toolbar and features for editing and tracking changes. The pace of the class will be determined by the students. Students should know how to download, open and save their documents. They should be familiar with their own laptops and aware of where their documents are located/saved. Review exercises will be emailed after each class to practice what was learned in class. 

NOTE: This class is based on Microsoft Word for PCs. Students will need to bring in their laptops preloaded with the documents they have downloaded from my emails and saved in a familiar location for easy retrieval. 

We often take plants for granted. The goal of this course is to foster an appreciation for the importance of plants in our daily lives. We will examine how plants contribute to our lives and well-being, including such basics as oxygen to breathe, food, shelter and clothing. We will also discuss the role of plant compounds as medicines and psychoactive/stimulating agents. Using coffee as an example, we will answer such questions as: What species of coffee are grown? Where did they originate? How does caffeine work in the body? The course will introduce scientific concepts and terminology relating to plant structures and functions and economic and historical aspects of plant use. The format will be interactive lectures. Plant material will be brought in periodically to demonstrate particular concepts.  

From wolf reintroduction to controlling invasive species, wildlife has influenced our lives throughout history. This course will examine some of the world’s most challenging and often controversial historic and current wildlife management issues, and it will explore possible solutions. The instructor will start with an overview of the history of human and wildlife interactions throughout the world and look at unique aspects of wildlife management in the United States. Efforts to protect critically endangered species and to implement species recovery and reintroduction programs will be discussed. The impact of introduced species on native wildlife will be covered. Topics will include threatened salmon runs in Alaska, endangered wildlife in Africa, wolf reintroduction in Colorado, invasive pythons in Florida and much more. Classes will be discussion-based, and your input encouraged. The course is open to anyone who appreciates wildlife. No prior knowledge is necessary.

NOTE: Participants are encouraged (but not required) to read “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold prior to the first class.