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- A View from the Edge (Of the Road) - Expanded (NEW)
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Over the course of 357,000 miles of cycling—including 100,000 miles on tour—I’ve pedaled through 47 of the 48 continental states, as well as England and New Zealand. Along the way, I kept a nightly journal, capturing not only the miles but also the stories, encounters, and reflections that came with the journey. In this seminar, I’ll share highlights from my travels, photographs from the road, and insights on what it means to take on such adventures in my 60s. Building on last year’s seminar, this expanded version includes new stories, fresh perspectives, and more time for participant questions and conversation.
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- America in the Progressive Era, 1900-1920 (NEW)
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Fee: $0.00
Dates: 1/15/2026 - 2/19/2026
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Daniel J. Curran Place
Room:
Instructor: John Weaver
Seats Available: 1
The first two decades of the 20th century witnessed a remarkable period of social and political reform known as Progressivism. Examples included regulation of corporations and breakup of monopolies, political primaries and direct election of U.S. Senators, consumer protections, national prohibition of alcohol, and woman suffrage. We will look at the people and events of this dynamic time, including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jane Addams, Eugene Debs, Alice Paul, Robert LaFollette, and many others.
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- Decoding Cultural Differences: Big & Small (NEW)
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Do you wish you understood those from other cultures better? This seminar will introduce you to key skills to decode differences in national culture, as well as individual preferences. Both of these reduce a group's ability to live and work well together. Come ready to expand your CQ (cultural intelligence)!
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- Exploring 'Think Again' by Adam Grant (NEW)
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We live in a very complex world that changes rapidly, especially technology. People are holding on to their original beliefs. The only one who can cope with this world is someone who updates and changes his views. Adam Grant has written a book called “Think Again “ which gives a method to reinvent ourselves at a personal, interpersonal and group level. This book is written specifically for people who are interested in Lifelong Learning.
This seminar will explore key insights from Grant’s book, compare them with the Socratic method, and engage participants in interactive group discussions and activities to deepen understanding through active learning.
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- Invisible Intelligence: The Unseen Algorithms Reshaping Your Daily Life (ZOOM)
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Fee: $50.00
Dates: 1/15/2026 - 2/19/2026
Times: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online
Room:
Instructor: Eliot Bethke
Seats Available: 5
Artificial Intelligence (AI) shapes our daily lives in subtle yet powerful ways. In this non-technical course, we will explore six case studies that reveal how AI systems work, the ethics behind machine decision-making, and the impact of these technologies on our world. We will gain a deeper understanding of AI’s current influence—and the possibilities ahead.
View the Commercial -
https://vimeo.com/1084287983
Note: Osher Online courses are offered through the Osher National Resource Center (NRC). To register for these courses only, you would not need to pay the Winter 2026 term fee. You only need an active UDOLLI membership ($40).
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- John H. Patterson: Dayton's Own (NEW)
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In 1884, John H. Patterson plunked down $6,500 to acquire a maker of cash registers. His first year, he sold 300 machines. By 1910, he sold a million. He gained 94 percent of the U.S. market through superior worksmanship, generous fringe benefits, and terrorizing his competition. He was the first person sentenced to prison for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. Needing either a reversal on appeal or an act of God, he got the latter. With the 1913 Dayton flood, Patterson appointed NCR the savior of Dayton. His heroism led to his sentence being pitched out. Growth continued from there.
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- John James Audubon and the Birds of America (ZOOM)
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Fee: $50.00
Dates: 1/22/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online
Room:
Instructor: Eric Simon
Seats Available: 9
In the 1820s, John James Audubon set out to document every bird species in the US, resulting in The Birds of America, a landmark collection of 435 hand-painted prints. This course explores Audubon’s life, artistic methods, and legacy, highlighting how his work bridges art and science. We will examine selected prints and consider his lasting impact on American natural history.
Watch the Commercial -
https://vimeo.com/1088042220
Note: Osher Online courses are offered through the Osher National Resource Center (NRC). To register for these courses only, you would not need to pay the Winter 2026 term fee. You only need an active UDOLLI membership ($40).
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- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: A Comparative Exploration (ZOOM)
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Fee: $50.00
Dates: 1/29/2026 - 3/5/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online
Room:
Instructor: Jeremy Fackenthal
Seats Available: 5
Explore the rituals, beliefs, and writings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through a comparative lens. This course examines where these Abrahamic religions overlap and diverge, offering insights into their shared monotheistic roots and unique traditions. We will read key texts from each faith and gain a deeper understanding of how these religions shape meaning, practice, and identity.
View the Commercial -
https://vimeo.com/1096588292
Note: Osher Online courses are offered through the Osher National Resource Center (NRC). To register for these courses only, you would not need to pay the Winter 2026 term fee. You only need an active UDOLLI membership ($40).
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- Life as Journey in Literature
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THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
"Life is a journey” may be the most common metaphor in our language, and it applies to all of us. It has to do with physical movement or relocation and also the search for identity and meaning as we wander inwards. In this course we will use literature as a vehicle to reflect on our own odysseys by reading and discussing two related novels. Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is one of the penultimate American novels of the 19th century, first published in 1885. It chronicles Huck's voyage down the Mississippi with the enslaved Jim, told in Huck's voice. "James," by Percival Everett and published in 2024, tells the story from Jim's viewpoint, along with various twists and turns that sometimes resemble the river itself. Our reading and discussion of these books will undoubtedly help us get in touch with our transformative experiences and travels to share with one another.
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- Make Moments Matter (NEW)
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What might happen if we were more intentional about a few more moments each day? This seminar will review concepts around being more intention in moments in order to add fulfillment to your life and the life of others. Topics include: types of moments, the three major pillars of managing moments, ideas for being more aware of moments, and the numerous ways moments can make a difference. This seminar focuses on self-determination and building more agency in life, utilizing a combination of lecture, in-class exercises, reflection, sharing of stories, and questions for great discussion.
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- Pharmaceuticals and Poisons: Chemistry at the Edge (ZOOM)
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Fee: $50.00
Dates: 1/22/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online
Room:
Instructor: Johnnie Hendrickson
Seats Available: 10
Some substances heal, others harm—and some do both. This chemistry-rich (but non-technical) course explores the fine line between pharmaceuticals and poisons. We will examine drug development, venom-inspired medicine, and the history of FDA regulation shaped by scandal and reform. From aspirin’s industrial roots to Gila monster hormones, participants will uncover the fascinating, sometimes unsettling chemistry behind what we choose to swallow.
Watch the Commercial -
https://vimeo.com/1088760825
Note: Osher Online courses are offered through the Osher National Resource Center (NRC). To register for these courses only, you would not need to pay the Winter 2026 term fee. You only need an active UDOLLI membership ($40).
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- Real News? Fake News? What is NEWS?
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THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
In a three-week seminar, we will discuss “real news” compared to “fake news,” and determine how to recognize and evaluate each. The first week’s content will introduce traditional concepts of “news” and trends in news content and delivery. In the second week, we'll examine current examples of real and fake news, and for the third-week seminar participants will be asked to submit their own examples of “real” or “fake” news for discussion. Based on the first two weeks’ observations, we’ll attempt to establish criteria so we can separate “real” from “fake” news.
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- TED Talks That Inspire, #6 (NEW, ZOOM)
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Fee: $0.00
Dates: 1/15/2026 - 2/19/2026
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Online
Room:
Instructor: Mary Riordan
Seats Available: 26
This Zoom seminar will present a different TED Talk each week and then allow for class discussion on the topic. Participants will watch the talk during class, then break into small groups to discuss. If you like to delve into new and interesting topics and share ideas with other UDOLLI members, this seminar is for you. It will offer all new TED Talks from the previous seasons and will include topics such as: Self-Aware Robots, Human Population Decline, Atheism 2.0, Talking Politics with Strangers, What Makes A Good College and others.
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- The History of Comics (NEW)
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The comics date back to the mid-19th century in the U.S. We will look at the five distinct ages each with a particular style and focus. This seminar will also cover the trend away from daily newspaper readership to the continued popularity of comic books. Digital delivery of comics has also increased readership in the 21st century. I will describe the difference between comics and cartoons.
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- The Intrinsic Joy of Woodworking (NEW)
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Fee: $0.00
Dates: 1/15/2026 - 2/19/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 6
Building: Daniel J. Curran Place
Room:
Instructor: John Malas
Seats Available: 22
Woodcraft has been part of the human story since ancient times, blending utility, creativity, and beauty. This seminar invites participants to explore the joy of working with wood while learning what different varieties offer and how they can be shaped, joined, and turned into works of art. We’ll introduce the essential tools of the trade, discuss design methods, and outline how to get started in woodworking. Throughout the seminar, local woodworking masters from the Dayton area will share their expertise, methods, and creations, offering inspiration and practical insight. As one craftsman put it, “Within every piece of wood there dwells a spirit, waiting to be released."
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- Then He Told Them Stories: Six Great Narratives from the Gospel of John (NEW)
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The author of the Fourth Gospel was a gifted writer, who proclaimed his message to others by way of his engaging stories. In this series, we will begin by discussing the role of stories in our lives: the ways that they tell us who we are as a people and shape our vision of ourselves and others. Then we will explore six of John’s stories, taking note of John’s use of literary and dramatic devices such as setting, symbolism, dual-meaning, misunderstanding leading to further explanation, and staging to communicate his unique vision of God’s Good News in Jesus. Most Christian churches – Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican - will be including these stories in their worship services on the Sundays of this coming Lent and Easter.
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- Wisdom of Warren Buffett in Investments and Life (NEW)
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Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/5/2026 - 2/19/2026
Times: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 3
Building: Daniel J. Curran Place
Room:
Instructor: Ratnam Oza
Seats Available: 15
Mr. Buffett is widely regarded as the greatest investor ever. Less known may be his business and management skills. His integrity has been stellar and wisdom in financial and Life matters profound. More than 99% of his net worth will eventually end up with charitable foundations and not with his family. His humor, clarity of thought are additional reasons why increasing tens of thousands of people make annual pilgrimage to Omaha for BRK annual meetings. Seminar hopes to bring alive these and other attributes of this fascinating man.
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- Women In Auto Racing (NEW)
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Fee: $0.00
Dates: 1/15/2026 - 1/22/2026
Times: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 2
Building: Daniel J. Curran Place
Room:
Instructor: Tom Gaudion
Seats Available: 45
It isn't a "Man's World" in racing any more. In fact, racing was never just for the guys. We'll hear about several important female drivers, both current and historic. Then, we'll spend some time via internet connection, with members of today's Arrow McLaren Indy Race Team who will give us a view of where they are making a difference in Racing.
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