Voyagers Study Group List

Contractor fee includes the materials fee

Fees will depend on total number of students in the class(es): Some fees based in a 14 week semester: 5 students in 1 class = $224 each. 10 students in 2 classes = $168 each Fee shown is for 5 (total) students in the 2 classes.

-- Main.MoiraTenHove - 04 Nov 2007

New students may be welcome but must contact Katherine Bradley prior to enrollment to assess need for appropriate remedial work to be completed prior to the start of the semester

I would like a co-leader or assistant (could be an older child) with either some Spanish experience or a good ear.

Ideally will include some instruction and tournament play. New participants welcome.

The purpose of this study group is to help the student attain "Cultural Literacy" in film. We will discuss and see examples of different film genres such as Comedy, Thrillers, War (and Antiwar) movies, Westerns, Romance, Science Fiction, Film Noir and Drama. Most of these films have appeared on many of the “Top 100 films” lists. We will be watching the movies and discussing them in study group time.

Considering the age of the students, I have avoided R rated films. Students and their parents can feel free to skip any movie that they are uncomfortable with.

Here are the films I am considering:

Comedy –

The General(Buster Keaton), Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Forum, City Lights, Son of Paleface (Bob Hope), Big (Tom Hanks), Duck Soup, Love and Death, The Court Jester;

Thrillers:

North by Northwest, Notorious, Rear Window, Vertigo, Witness for the Prosecution, Rebecca, Charade, Raiders of the Lost Ark;

War and antiwar movies:

Bridge Over the River Kwai, Friendly Persuasion, Das Boot, Glory, The Great Escape, Dr. Strangelove;

Westerns:

The Searchers, High Noon, Silverado;

Romance: The Philadelphia Story, Days of Heaven, Gone with the Wind, Some Like it Hot, It Happened One Night;

Science fiction:

The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2001: a Space Odyssey, Close Encounters, ET;

Film Noir:

The Big Sleep, Casablanca, Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon;

Drama:

Citizen Kane, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Seventh Seal, Lawrence of Arabia, Rain Man, The Seven Samurai, The Manchurian Candidate, All the President’s Men, Whale Rider

In this study group, we will explore many different kinds of codes, ciphers, and hidden writing. We will practice making, and breaking, each other's messages. We'll also learn a little bit about some exciting real-life codes, and code-breaking, that changed history.

We will not use a book for this class, but will rely on notes from the instructor and various online references.

Jeff Adams, the instructor, can neither confirm nor deny that he spent several years employed by the U.S. Government as a codebreaker.

NOTE: This class has mandatory participation. Students who don't participate in the exercises (either in class or out of class) will be asked to withdraw. Fortunately, participating should be a lot of fun, so we don't expect a lot of problems here. Parents, please elicit a commitment to participate from your child before signing up for this class.

Largely through building with K'NEX, straws and other household items, we will investigate and gain an intuitive understanding of many structural mechanics concepts. We will also discuss Newton's Laws of Motion, where applicable. There will be little homework. Lecture will be limited and engaging, using multi-media presentations (Powerpoint, video clips, etc.). Some classes will incorporate mini-whiteboards, where participants will record their own answer to some question/answer segments. Collection, recording, interpetation and graphing of data

By the end of this study group you will be able to identify and understand the major design criteria for Beam, Truss, Cantilever, Bascule, Arc, Suspension and Cable-stayed bridges. You will also be able to understand the use of pullies, inclined planes, levers, and gears in design. And you will have a grasp of Newton's Three Laws of Motion. Most important, you will have a greater appreciation of the physical laws which govern our world.

We will use K'NEX, spring scales, Hot Wheels, marbles, straws and more to experiment. We will review/learn the metric system, conversions, and basic algebra needed to rearrange a few equations. Some classes will incorporate mini-whiteboards, where participants will record their own answer to some question/answer segments. Lecture will be limited and hopefully engaging, using multi-media presentations (Powerpoint, video clps, etc.). We will work with formulas (e.g. F=ma; a=F/m), however Math is not a focus and we will use calculators whenever needed.

There will be some small amount of homework for each class, which is required to help minimize the knowledge gap among the group and to prepare for the next meeting. I am hopeful we can maintain a fairly rigorous but fun class.

We will use music, games, movies and books to support our learning and make it fun. New participants welcome.

Ayurveda is a system of knowledge originating in India 5,000+ years ago. Its knowledge about health and healing pre-dates most modern approaches whether they be using food and acupressure/acupuncture or yoga or herbs, drugs, and surgery, to name a few.

This study group is now being led by Susan Levitin.

-- Main.ElizabethFox - 11 Apr 2006

The game ends when one player gains control of more than half of the continent, or by agreement among all surviving players.

The rules are convoluted. There is no luck. And, for many players, there is as much fun coming up with rationales (and story lines) for what is happening to them or because of them as there is in determining the moves themselves.

We will play the game – while trying to figure out how to play it better still. You may sign up on Wednesdays or Thursdays or both.

(First two paragraphs are quoted from Wikipedia.)

For those who have played before -- the game I'll be running will be set in a standardish D&D setting, so standard races are allowed, as well as anything with LA +0 through +2. I'm allowing core and Complete series classes, so go ahead and think about what you want to play, and a bit of backstory. This will be a Roleplay-Heavy campaign, so be ready to really play your charecter.

-- Main.GregWestland - 16 Nov 2007

This study group includes the dinner break. Participants should schedule both 4:30-5:30 and 6:00-7:00

Creepy dungeons...

Dragons and monsters...

Magic and kings...

Worlds to be saved...

Treasure to be gained...

The world of Dungeons and Dragons awaits you.

Dungeons and Dragons is a fun, interactive roleplaying game where you pretend to be a made-up character adventuring through a made-up world. But it's not all as childish as it seems - deadly monsters around every bend, and people who are not as they seem. Not intended for the faint of heart, it is a game of chance, and life and death.

Please note that if you join, you don't only come to study group when you want to. You have the first two weeks as an add/drop period. If you don't like D&D within that time, drop it by all means. But after that, you are stuck with us =K

• Short Stories by Edgar Allen Poe
• Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde/Robert Louis Stevenson
• Frankenstein
• Dracula
• Edith Wharton
• Ayn Rand (her books might be too long for us)
• The Awakening/Kate Chopin
• A Separate Peace/John Knowles
• Daisy Miller/Henry James
• Sinclair Lewis
• Return of the Native or Tess of the D'Urbervilles/Thomas Hardy
• Sister Carrie/Theodore Dreiser
• Wuthering Heights/Emily Bronte
• Cat's Cradle/Kurt Vonnegut
• Death Be Not Proud/John Gunther
• The Glass Menagerie/Tennessee Williams
• Hiroshima/John Hersey
• A Member of the Wedding/Carson McCullers
• A Room with a View/E. M. Forster

If you are currently in this group or are planning to be, please let me know your preferences. We generally discuss each book for 2 weeks, although you should be finished reading the book by the first week. Books are usually 300 pages or fewer. I will publish the exact list a couple of weeks before the term begins, although we occasionally make some adjustments during the term.

The study group will be mostly discussion and will include background information on authors. Study guides will help direct reading and discussion. Reading requirement of approximately 200 pages a week. -- Main.ElizabethFox - 16 Nov 2007 -- Main.ElizabethFox - 04 Apr 2007

PLEASE REMOVE SEAL BEFORE USING THIS PRODUCT, the sign on the box clearly read. I don't have a seal, but I'm taking no chances -- I'll toss out my walrus instead. (From "a PIZZA the size of the SUN" by Jack Prelutsky)

Let's get together and have some fun with poetry - and more! This Session I will be reading short stories, legends, myths, fables, and even some songs in addition to poetry.

We will be going over the basics of game design and game programming with Gamemaker. By the end, each student will have several Gamemaker games he/she can compile into Windows executables, and the skills to make many more.

Near the end I hope to cover some of the hidden workings of Gamemaker and other game programming languages , including things like double buffered graphics.

Note: Gamemaker is not quite free. The basic or "Lite" version is free, but the full version is $20. I am so used to having the full version, that if a student has the "Lite" version, I may forget what he/she can't do with it, and entire class sessions that use features not in the "Lite" version may be irrelevant. Therefore, all students are required to get full version.

Be you just a beginner or an experienced player who wants to meet others, come and join us to play the game of Go. You'll learn interesting and useful tactics and get to practice them frequently. Every student will get a chance to play every class.

No previous playing experience necessary.

Ongoing Study group from Fall, Beginners welcome.

We will focus mainly on reading and discussing, with each student writing a biography paper about the the pirate of his/her choice near the end of the term.

When you buy the used text, try for a copy that states CD-Rom is included. Nice, but not essential to have CD-Rom. Please only buy the 8th edition, it will make it easier to assign homework and refer to in class, besides saving you a lot of money

* Don't bother to take this class if you won't commit to doing at least some of the homework every week. It's not worth your time or mine. *

-- Main.TrinaToups - 03 Apr 2007

Ongoing class from Fall 2007

* If you have some Latin but not enough to read original authors you should consider Beginning Latin which can be structured to address your needs. *

Fees will depend on total number of students in the class(es): Some fees based in a 14 week semester: 5 students in 1 class = $224 each. 10 students (total) in 2 classes = $168 each. Fee shown is for 5 students in 2 classes.

Ongoing class from the Fall

Topics I plan to cover include, but are not limited to: data types, objects, functions, iteration and recursion, string manipulation, graphic elements, GUI controls (menus, buttons, etc.), data models, and possibly some simple concurrent programming. Oh, yes, and debugging, since hardly anything works the first time, no matter how simple it ought to be.

We will read, enjoy, and study stories from the Junior Great Books (Series 3, Book 1, new 2006 version). See www.greatbooks.org. This anthology is diverse culturally, with folktales from Haiti, Japan, Nigeria, Korea, Ethiopia, as well as Europe. The stories are selected for their richness in ideas and language. This book is targeted for 3rd grade, but I think it would be a great introduction to the study of literature for older participants as well.

I will be following the suggested activities in the leader's book, adapting it to fit our weekly meetings. In the 1992 version of this program, the teacher's guide suggests that each story is studied intensively over 5 sessions/meetings, but I expect we will cover a story and some of the suggested activities every two weeks.

I expect to study each story on a two-week cycle. In the first week, I'll read the story aloud while the participants follow the text in their anthologies. Then the participants will discuss ideas, language, and interpretations of the story. As part of the homework that week, the participants will read the story on their own (with parental involvement). At the next meeting, they will draw or write about the story, perhaps taking notes or writing poems or essays. The focus will NOT be on polished essays but in writing to "help think about the characters and themes in the story". There may be a writing or drawing assignment as homework, before we start a new story cycle the following week.

I will ask children and parents to commit to reading the stories at home (possibly twice a week) along with thinking about take-home questions about the story. With multiple readings, the children really get to know the story and can participate more actively in the discussions when we meet.

Note: Participants are required to do the weekly homework. Parents are expected to help children with readings, questions, etc.

Parents, please make sure the reading and comprehension level is right for your child. Children should be able to read and understand the comparable stories below. Complete fluency is not required for participation. Please contact me if you have any questions.

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=lang&book=blue&story=puss

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=ransome&book=russian&story=daughter

http://hca.gilead.org.il/ugly_duc.html

[These versions/translations are very like the ones in the out-of-print 1992 edition. We won't be reading these stories in the new 2006 anthology.]

Materials for the study group:

Student Anthology, $19 ($17 + $2 toward S&H fee) - included in materials fee, non-refundable after books are ordered. Books will be ordered 2 weeks before session begins.

Student Reader's Journal (optional, NOT included in materials fee), $11 ($16 minus $5 copy fee credit). I will photocopy my copy of the Reader's Journal for activity pages as needed, but this is a great way to keep your child's work in one place. If you would like me to order a copy of the Student Reader's Journal for your child, please pay me $11 separately in advance, at least 2 weeks before the session begins, when I put in the book order.

I'll be making one order for the books from www.greatbooks.org to minimize shipping and handling fees for participants.

Please email me at c.m.chin@comcast.net if the cost the book is an issue. We can discuss possible options.

Chris

We will read, enjoy, and study stories from the Junior Great Books (Series 3, Book 1, new 2006 version). See www.greatbooks.org. This anthology is diverse culturally, with folktales from Haiti, Japan, Nigeria, Korea, Ethiopia, as well as Europe. The stories are selected for their richness in ideas and language. This book is targeted for 3rd grade, but I think it would be a great introduction to the study of literature for older participants as well.

I will be following the suggested activities in the leader's book, adapting it to fit our weekly meetings. In the 1992 version of this program, the teacher's guide suggests that each story is studied intensively over 5 sessions/meetings, but I expect we will cover a story and some of the suggested activities every two weeks.

I expect to study each story on a two-week cycle. In the first week, I'll read the story aloud while the participants follow the text in their anthologies. Then the participants will discuss ideas, language, and interpretations of the story. As part of the homework that week, the participants will read the story on their own (with parental involvement). At the next meeting, they will draw or write about the story, perhaps taking notes or writing poems or essays. The focus will NOT be on polished essays but in writing to "help think about the characters and themes in the story". There may be a writing or drawing assignment as homework, before we start a new story cycle the following week.

I will ask children and parents to commit to reading the stories at home (possibly twice a week) along with thinking about take-home questions about the story. With multiple readings, the children really get to know the story and can participate more actively in the discussions when we meet.

Note: Participants are required to do the weekly homework. Parents are expected to help children with readings, questions, etc.

Parents, please make sure the reading and comprehension level is right for your child. Children should be able to read and understand the comparable stories below. Complete fluency is not required for participation. If you have any questions, please contact me.

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=lang&book=blue&story=puss

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=ransome&book=russian&story=daughter

http://hca.gilead.org.il/ugly_duc.html

[These versions/translations are very like the ones in the out-of-print 1992 edition. We won't be reading these stories in the new 2006 anthology.]

Materials for the study group:

Student Anthology, $19 ($17 + $2 toward S&H fee) - included in materials fee, non-refundable after books are ordered. Books will be ordered 2 weeks before session begins.

Student Reader's Journal (optional, NOT included in materials fee), $11 ($16 minus $5 copy fee credit). I will photocopy my copy of the Reader's Journal for activity pages as needed, but this is a great way to keep your child's work in one place. If you would like me to order a copy of the Student Reader's Journal for your child, please pay me $11 separately in advance, at least 2 weeks before the session begins, when I put in the book order.

I'll be making one order for the books from www.greatbooks.org to minimize shipping and handling fees for participants.

Please email me at c.m.chin@comcast.net if the cost the book is an issue. We can discuss possible options.

Chris

-- Main.ErikSchmidtNielsen - 18 Nov 2007

Will not use Voyagers' wireless internet access but a separate LAN to be provided by Brent Schmidt-Nielsen.

Have you seen this?

http://www.makezine.com/

Or the magazine itself? Well, I have, and the projects are really amazing! This will be a workshop. We will make cool gizmos using pieces of stuff lying around the house and the odd item from Radio Shack. Students will need to come to group time with projects they would like to make chosen and items scavenged. I'll help with power tools (saws, soldering iron, drills, sewing machine, etc.), but can't possibly supply all the materials for everyone's projects. Participants will therefore need to figure out with their families what they want to make, and what they want to use to make their projects with, and bring that stuff with them.

Resources online for useful components, if you're having trouble finding stuff:

http://www.buy-leds-online.com/

http://www.bgmicro.com/

http://www.amazingmagnets.com/

Janet's willing to help, hurray! Let's play! Technology can be made to bow to your will!

-- Main.LizAdams - edited 25 Nov 2007

Ongoing Study group from Fall -- time subject to change

-- Main.CatherineWilliams - 13 Nov 2007

Modern Dance has been around in its current form for nearly 100 years. It evolved as a reaction against the restrictive style of ballet. The early pioneers each lent their own personal flavor which allowed it to grow into distinctive branches. Participants will learn basic techniques and use them in choreography.

-- Main.AlysaDudley - 10 Apr 2007

Ongoing Study group from the Fall. New participants welcome

• Intervals
• Major and Minor scales
• Triads
• Inversions
• The Cirlce of Fifths

New material will include:

• Chord Progression
• The Function Triangle
• Dorian Modal System
• Pentatonic Modes
• Musical Forms

This semester, we will work on longer compositions. New students are welcome, as long as they have some basic knowledge of music theory (see material being reviewed for approximate skill level).

Please contact Greg Westland if you have any questions.

Participants are welcome and encouraged to bring related material to the group, and to explore other resources. Spring 2008 content will depend on who's participating: a bit of review and new material if mostly carried-over from fall, or repeating the introductory material we learned about in the fall if the participants are mostly new.

Questions: How does a neuron propagate its response to neurotransmitter? What's a neurotransmitter, anyway? What is signal transduction? Why do we care? What happens in a synapse? Oh pretty please can we do that math that's involved? What happens in Hodgkin & Huxley's model? Who are they, anyway?

Website most content is based on is at: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

Students who are interested in the subject are welcome; please disregard age/grade level designation. I do insist that students be able to participate productively in a group.

Check out "Brainbows" here: http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/node/7658

There are no particular prerequisites for this group, but we'll be reading and (I hope) arguing rationally about some fairly difficult passages from people like Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Pascal, Locke, Hume, and so forth. The exact material we discuss will depend on what the group finds interesting.

-- Main.RichardHussong - 15 Apr 2007

Ongoing Study group from Fall

-Chris Chin

All supplies for personal projects. Fabric, pattern, thread, notions.

All ability levels from beginner to advanced are welcome. Those not needing instruction are also welcome to join this group.

I envision spending the first half of the term working on costumes for the Shakespeare production and the second half of the term working on projects of each participant's choosing (with input from me based on my observations of ability; eg. more simple projects for beginners and more complicated projects for the more advanced).

There will be some generalized instruction and some individualized or small group instruction based on ability. Instructional topics will probably include choice of fabric and pattern; how to lay out and cut a pattern; and how to thread and use a sewing machine. I don't guarantee that I will know how to use your particular machine, but I haven't yet met a basic sewing machine that I couldn't figure out. However, don't expect me to know anything about fancy electronics, machine embroiderers, or sergers. Instruction will also include hand sewing and finishing techniques as needed. If there are particular things you would like to work on, please let me know and I will try to incorporate your requests.

All participants must be able to use needles, scissors, a sewing machine and an iron independently, without supervision; or must bring their own adult to supervise them. There will probably be too much going on for me to accept this responsibility.

Because of the form, I had to say class maximum size is unlimited, but in fact, class size will be limited based upon the parameters of the room assigned for the class. See room and resource requirements.

The only homework will be practicing the newly learned tricks and sleights.

Everyone taking the class must make a blood-oath to never reveal any tricks.

NOTE: THIS IS A COOPERATIVE STUDY GROUP, WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE SIGNING YOUR CHILD UP TO TAKE IT, YOU ARE EXPECTED (UNLESS ALREADY LEADING A DIFFERENT STUDY AT THAT TIME) TO DEVELOP AND LEAD OR CO-LEAD SOME SESSIONS. SUPPORT/ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU AS NEEDED. A TEACHING SCHEDULE WILL BE DETERMINED BEFORE THE START OF THE SEMESTER.

a- Math Tutoring -- It's a mathematical universe! Being able to handle math concepts with ease is great training for your mind! Whether you are struggling with some basics or wish to add to your skills in areas such as algebra, geometry, or probability and statistics, learning one-on-one or in a small group may work best for you.

b- English Grammar Tutoring -- can include diagramming sentences, placing the grammar part of your writing process where it belongs, reading and discussion of your current writing projects, and taking initial drafts to polished completions.

c- Research Mentor on a topic of your choice -- Is there something that captures your imagination, interest, and energies? What would you like really to "sink your teeth into" for a topic? Do you want to enhance your knowledge and expertise, tapping others who share your love and interest? A final paper or project that you can plan and complete by the end of the session would be one outcome of your efforts.

d- Business Ideas Development Mentoring - Do you dream of having your own business, perhaps some day, or even now? What kind of business would it be? What kind of business would reflect and support who you are and what you wish to accomplish in the world? How can you make the best match for who you are and are becoming with what you might choose to do? Plan to spend time each week on legwork and exploring of all kinds, reading, and journaling. Plan to identify and contact others whose experiences will enhance your vision, whether that is music and entertainment, a craft or other product, a service, or one that might need a nonprofit form.

The beauty of so many different participants is that a WUA! afghan resembles a patchwork quilt of many colors and textures, just as the participants-and recipients-represent the varied faces of America.

For this study group, we will gather to knit and crochet squares to sew together into a Voyagers donated afghan. If you are a beginner this is a good way to practice. It is also a great way to try out a new stitch. There will be lots of stitch patterns available.

As it began in Spring '07... Abigail Adams once wrote,“Please remember the ladies", and this study group will do just that! We will explore women, and girl/women issues of past and present through activities, discussion, and the arts, as group interest influences.

This past session initiated with discussions and activities relating to identity. Participants have discussed/analyzed diverse quotes, created and shared identity quote "tiles" and identity (roots) cardstock quilts. Participants synthesized reflections into individual expressive body tracings as we merged into perceptions of body image (our own and societal).

We'll see where we end this session based on the current project flow, but here's a sampling of what is to come as we wrap up body image (this fall and into the spring): we will review, discuss, and interpret a historical timeline of women's body image; we will learn about and share body image facts via the creation of tie-dyed awareness tee-shirts; we will sink into media literacy, ad analysis, and discuss allied activism as a vehicle for postive change; we will reflect on videos and song lyrics; we may touch on other existing BI projects and share resources (books, websites, etc.); we will culminate with the creation of an amateur collaborative video/documentary (incorporating interviews).

Current participant interest suggests that we then dabble in as much of the following as we can: recitation of famous speeches (or the creation of bold originals); poetry reflection; viewing/discussion of film/documentaries; drama/script; speaker panels (interview diverse women in varying fields); girlosophy; herstory (biographical) chats; notable quotables; the creation of a mural representing women.

We may incorporate these activities/interests via a "Respect"ful artistic/musical romp through women's history (focusing on the 20th century) and layer current events and connections with women's issues today. If there's interest, we may even create a performance for the Voyagers Cocoa House during Women's History Month (March).

As extensions, we may particpate in a community service effort or explore off--site places together such as: The Orchard House, The Emily Dickenson Museum, The Harriet Beecher Stowe House, The Boston Women's Herritage Trail (or maybe even a road trip to The Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls?).

As suggested, group interest will flexibly frame class direction (which will be confirmed at the onset of the session). Hopefully you will discover (or rediscover) many famous—and maybe not so-famous—heroines while exploring the evolving unsung heroine (or hero) in yourself! Boys welcome!

-- Midge -

Ongoing study group from Fall

[Replace this text with your class description!]

During the last module of the study group the students will take on a local issue to research, and take action to address.

Zam's Quest is a third-party curriculum which encourages research, discussion and role playing to address current ecological and conservation issues. The students research, discuss and present data regarding a particular environmental or conservation issue. After a session(s) of discussion and research presentation, the students take on a stakeholder and role play to come up with possible solutions that meet the needs of the parties, through some measure of compromise.