Star Trek Professor Teaches a Different Generation at OLLI
色情视频 professors have the opportunity to teach a new demographic of students.
It鈥檚 a unique course with a surprising subject matter鈥攁 melding of pop culture and American history. 色情视频 professor John Putman鈥檚 鈥淪tar Trek, Culture and History鈥� takes an interesting look at political, social, and cultural issues through the lens of the hit television show.鈥淭he students are really interested in whatever topic I鈥檓 teaching and often have something to offer that enhances the course.鈥�
The class鈥攑art of the history department curriculum since 2009鈥攈as been a hit with students of all ages, including those in 色情视频鈥檚 (OLLI) program, which offers university-quality courses for students age 50 and above.
鈥淚 thoroughly enjoyed my first class and still enjoy them to this day,鈥� said Putman. 鈥淭he students are really interested in whatever topic I鈥檓 teaching and often have something to offer that enhances the course.鈥� Although there are no tests or grades at OLLI, Putman noted that many students take notes and even ask for copies of the PowerPoint presentations they missed.
The idea for the course came to Putman during a history writing seminar for which he was a teaching assistant.
鈥淭he course spent time on American slavery, and I noticed a similarity between the pro-slavery rhetoric in the pre-Civil War era and an episode of 鈥楽tar Trek: The Next Generation,鈥� in which the android Data was on trial,鈥� said Putman. 鈥�Whoopi Goldberg was a character in that series who suggested in a conversation with the ship's captain that Data's dilemma resembled 19th-century views of slaves. I showed the episode in my class. After that I began to watch the shows differently and realized that I could construct a course using Star Trek as a vehicle to explore American history.鈥�
Putman finds that courses and lectures resonate the most with his OLLI students.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e lived through these times and have a personal connection to the issues and topics we cover,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f they don't already have a strong appreciation for history, I hope they leave a course with it, especially if it鈥檚 a topic they thought they were not sure they would like. For others, it might be that they discovered a different perspective on a particular historical topic that they didn't consider before.鈥�
Looking for other professors
Twenty-four of Putman鈥檚 fellow professors are teaching this semester at OLLI, sharing their expertise on topics ranging from chamber music, Charlie Chaplin, social media, the science of addiction, and natural disasters among others. Those interested in being guest lecturers this fall are encouraged to submit an by Monday, March 12.鈥淓very semester, the 600-plus active members of OLLI at 色情视频 come to campus in pursuit of their love of learning, and they would love to learn from our esteemed faculty,鈥� said OLLI Program Director Aimee Davis.
To his fellow professors, Putman had these words of encouragement: 鈥淵ou would not regret the opportunity to teach a course at OLLI. Not only will you have actively engaged students to teach, but also ones who always have something to add to your course.鈥�
