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“^^BIOLOGY-Seniors-LuisD'Elia'sPROGRAM_plan2010.doc (Luis)

Experimenting with Plants and Exploring our kitchen Chemistry

DRAFT instructor’s Course Outline

By Luis A. D’Elia

Pedagogic fundamentals:

The silver age has been historically conceptualized in Western society as a stage in life where general human activity starts to end (citations,..). However, more than a decade ago research into elder issues has demonstrated that many activities and endeavors that are particular to other younger ages, specifically education, should be pursue by the elders in our Western society.

Introduction: A fun course designed for adults to experience--or re-experience the wonderful world of biology and natural sciences by doing simple and safe experiments and by performing ‘magic tricks’ to make all silver students feel like kids again.

Note: the vast majority of the experiments can be carried out with simple everyday house (kitchen) elements; occasionally, experiments requiring special equipment such as microscopes will be run so that arrangements with the biological sciences department to use the equipment can be discussed.

Summary:

1.  The first class we will share our (students’ and instructor’) experiences in biology/science classes that we had many years back in high school, and we will remember stories about science experiments (animal dissection is one of the experiences that tend to stick most to the alumni’s minds). We will review some basic understandings in biology, together will learn what some senior students know or remember about specific natural phenomena such as photosynthesis, sauerkraut/yogurt/wine natural production, earthquakes, acid rain, food chain, blood circulation and much more.

2.  The instructor will perform a few demonstrations of experiments and some magic tricks that are science-explained to encourage students to join in carrying out some group or individual experiments

3.  The class will start doing basic experiments and learning magic tricks that use science principles. There will be on going discussions on the phenomena being observed and on the activity itself, and importantly, on the feeling, perceptions, thoughts and reflections that golden-age students have as a result of the activity.