Course Offerings

Friday, February 21, 2025 - 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
The Firelands Vineyards and Wineries                                                                                 

John Hildebrandt, Jim Miller, & Bob Speers – The Firelands area is an ideal place for vineyards. This class takes us on a tour of the special places where the grapes are grown, and the wine is enjoyed.

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 11am – 12pm ONLINE
Influencer Culture ONLINE…a “YOU NEED TO KNOW” TOPIC                           

Montana Miller – Who are the "influencers" in online culture/communities?  What is this trend all about, and how should I view its use and impact for me or my family?

Friday, March 7, 2025 - 10am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
Institutional Logics and Social Problems                                                            

Lisa Fisher – Using the lens of sociological social psychology, this course examines institutional logics in relation to how we understand and look to address social problems in American society. Class discussion focuses on what institutional logics are, how they come to be, why they are so powerful, and how they function to shape both of our understanding of social problems and what we view as possible and preferable means of addressing those problems. 
*This class will NOT be recorded.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - 10am – 11:30am IN PERSON ONLY
Safety and Concerns for Rural Schools in Ohio                                                             

Paul Sigsworth, Erie County Sheriff & Kyle Winebrenner, EHOVE School Resource Deputy – The Erie County Sheriff and School Resource officer will discuss some problems and solutions for smaller schools in Erie County. Questions and answers will be entertained.

Friday, March 14, 2025 - 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
It’s Spring! They’re here! INSECTS RULE                                                                      

Daniel M. Pavuk PhD – These little critters are the backbone or basis for just about everything! Critical as pollinators, predators of other insects who are pest insects, and they are FOOD, too!

Friday, March 21, 2025 - 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
GOOD TIMES the TV SITCOM                                                                                                   

Angela Nelson PhD – 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of Good Times, which aired on CBS from February 1974 to August 1979. Good Times still matters because the Evans family presented 1970s African American culture and became a standard for future Black nuclear families.

Friday, March 28, 2025 - 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
Native Groups in Northern Ohio 

John M. Mora King, PhD candidate – “King will take us on a "field trip" discovering the monument representations, and misrepresentations, of Ohio’s native peoples.”

Thursday, April 3, 2025- 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
Napoleon - Part 1                                                                                                                                                          

Jon Carver MS – While America was fighting its War of Independence, and Mozart was composing in Austria, Napoleon was rising to prominence as a military officer and statesman.

Friday, April 4, 2025- 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
Napoleon - Part 2                                                                                                                                                       

Jon Carver MS – Napoleon: His campaigns, His leadership, the ramifications of policies nationally and across the world.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 10am – 12pm IN PERSON
Queen Victoria: “Grandmother of Europe”  - Part 1

Dr. Teresa Marano – Queen Victoria is associated with Britain's great age of industrial expansion, economic progress, and, especially, the empire growth. Although unknown during her lifetime, Victoria’s political influence continued the development of a modern British constitutional monarchy. Thus, her monarchy became more symbolic than political and established the concept of the "family monarchy.” At her death, it was said, Britain was an empire on which the sun never set. 

Friday, April 11, 2025 - 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
McDonalds                                                                                                                               

Chuck Coletta PhD – From its beginnings in 1948 as a drive-in restaurant, McDonald's has grown into the world's largest fast-food chain, serving more than 400 billion hamburgers to customers around the world. In 2011, McDonald's claimed 33,000 restaurants in 119 countries, where 64 million customers were served daily, 27 million of them in the USA alone. Join us for a discussion of the history and legacy of this icon of American popular culture. You deserve a break today!

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - 10am – 12pm IN PERSON
Queen Elizabeth II: “Universal Grandmother” - Part 2

Dr. Teresa Marano – A devotion to service—which began before she ascended the throne—was the hallmark of Elizabeth II’s reign. When Elizabeth II traveled the globe, although she did not make political pronouncements, her official presence at events had the force of diplomatic statements. The longest-reigning British monarch, she transformed the monarchy and served as a symbol of stability and continuity for over six decades.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - 10am – 12pm IN PERSON
Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II:  Two Queens, Two Eras - Part 3               

Dr. Teresa Marano – As the two longest surviving monarchs of the United Kingdom, what similarities and differences can be drawn among these two queens and how much influence did Queen Victoria have over the reign of Queen Elizabeth 51 years later? Who were their female predecessors and did those predecessors influence the monarchies of these two queens? The personal stories of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II provide insight into the individuals and their monarchies.

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - 11am – 12pm IN PERSON & ONLINE
Of Hawks and Men: The Story of Ohio Raptors

John Blakeman, Licensed Master Falconer and Raptor Biologist – From tiny Kestrel falcons on up to giant Bald Eagles Ohio has a diversity of diurnal raptors. In this presentation, with informative photographs and personal experiences, former falconer and raptor biologist John Blakeman will explain the interesting biology of these regal birds, now commonly encountered in the local region.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 8:30 am
Tour of Maltz Museum FIELD TRIP 

We will take a bus tour to the Maltz Museum. The Maltz Museum hopes to build bridges of tolerance and understanding by sharing Jewish heritage. The latest exhibition, DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art features famous works by Kirchner, Kandinsky, Chagall, Grosz, Picasso, and more—all labeled as “degenerate” by the Nazi regime. Funded in part by a grant from the Ohio History Connection.  Limited to 30 people. *Additional Fees will apply
$30 Course Fee will apply + $5 cash for drive tip

ElderCollege Class Modes

IN PERSON & ONLINE - Two simultaneous sections available. One face to face and one via zoom.
IN PERSON  - Face to face section.
ONLINE - Class meets online via Zoom.
FIELD TRIP  - Class will be held at a designated location.

Please Note: IN PERSON ONLY SECTIONS - WILL NOT BE RECORDED