THE ABCs OF CREATING AND PRESENTING A 9-WEEK STUDY GROUP

Robert Allen – Roosevelt University (Schaumburg)

Institute For Continued Learning

ICLRU

• 13 Years Old• iclru.org• Member Led• Grown to 600+ Members• Core is the 9-Week Study Groups• Also – Lectures, Trips, Lunch-TimeActivities (Plato’s Place)

9-WEEK STUDY GROUP MODEL

• Coordinator Led• Volunteers• 2 hours – once per week for 9 weeks (Summer/Winter – 5 weeks)• Coordinator picks topic and develops content• 9:30am – 11:30am ---- 1:00pm – 3:00pm – M-F• 27 last Fall

EXAMPLES OF TOPICS

• World War II• Oriental Brush Painting• Classic Films• 8 Great Sports Movies• Geology in America• Classical Music and Hymns• The Consciousness Universe Theory• The Power of Shakespeare’s Writing• The 20th Century• Secret Societies

MY TOPICS OVER THE YEARS

• History of Illinois• History of Chicago• Genealogy• Investing 101• Radio and TV Quiz Shows• Old Time Radio• The 20th Century• Secret Societies

SELECTING A TOPIC

• Feedback – tied to evals• Previous topics• Other LLL groups• Library• Interest• Information available• Entertaining• Videos

INFORMATION AVAILABLE

• Internet• Library

CREATE THE STUDY GROUP

• Outline / List of Topics• Break into 9 segments• Flesh-out some details for each week (sub-topics)• Create a detailed outline for Week 1• Create Script – Summarized Script – Create Power

point for Week 1• Timing• Create Weeks 2-9• Create “Summary Of Study Group”

SECRET SOCIETIES:

Coordinators: Jim Kacena and Bob Allen

Tuesday 9:30–11:30

We will study over 30 organizations whose activities and inner functioning are often concealed from non-members. Some are covert groups that hide their activities, but maintain a public presence. Our examination includes the conspiracies, secrets, activities, evils, rituals, membership and power of these groups. Some are no longer active (but, then again, maybe they are). A few of these are: Skull and Bones; Freemasons; Rosicrucians; Illuminati; and International Society of Idiots, as well as the Black Hand, Cosa Nostra, and Opus Dei.

DEVELOPING WEEK 1

• Overview of the 9 weeks• More detailed topical outline of week 1• Handout / Subjects• Cautions – time / content / involvement• E-mail handouts – script summary

Create Initial Script

• Use Wikipedia• Summary• Details

• Supplement with other sources• Books• Magazines• On-line resources

WIKIVERSITY

wikiversity.org

• Separate script into separate sentences• Create initial power point• Minimize words on slides• Pictures – use Goggle - Images• Add pictures to power point

HOSPITALERS

* Western Christian Military Order* Initially formed to defend an Amalfitan hospital in Jerusalem* Founded around 1023 – First Crusade* Aim was to provide care for poor/sick pilgrims* Moved to Rhodes after Islamic conquest* Next moved to Malta

IDENTIFY VIDEOS

• Prefer 3 to 8 minutes• You Tube• DVDs• Schedule tied tosubject

PARTICIPANT INVOLVEMENT

• Spaced repetition• Various methods of delivery• Verbal• Visual• Participating

QUIZ

• Questions and Answers• Create power point slides• Use custom techniques

1) Who created “Peanuts”?

a. Troy Donahueb. David Sternc. Charles Schultzd. Thelma Ritter

2) “I can’t remember if I cried; When I read about his widowed bride…”

Don McLean

“But something touched me deep inside;The day the music died.”

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF IDIOTS

Question: Can I join the Society?

Answer: Yes, if you don’t have a ~, !, @, # or? in your surname.

CREATE WEEKS 2 THRU 9

• Topics / Order / Script / PP / Video / Etc.• Review timing• Do in advance• Review / revise day before study group

MARKET STUDY GROUP

• ICL Brochure• E-mail to past participants• Word of mouth• Space issues• Stand-by / Past participants

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

• Evaluations• “It’s a Great Day for ICL”• Summarize Learnings• Activity tied to “Learnings”• Breaks• Music• Before session• During Session

SECRET SOCIETY FACTORS:

NameSecretsRitualsHand ShakePurpose/MissionMembershipLevels/Hierarchy/DegreesDress/ClothingSymbolsPledge$$$Own building / lodge / meeting placeNumbersOath