message from the Director
Watch Google Video - An Introduction to Pierian Spring Academy - . Bob Carlson
Fifty Plus - 9 min - Sep 20, 2006 -
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“You can teach an old dog new tricks. ”
No, I didn't make an error in typing the prevailing myth about what we are capable or not capable of doing as we grow older. I don't know about you but I continue to be very curious about why we seem to desire to learn new ideas. I mean after all, if you have lived reasonably well for three quarters of a century, what more do you need to know. Well, I think I have a better understanding of this innate drive for new understandings. Yes, an uncertain world like we have been experiencing over the past year or so can certainly be a motivation but I think it goes beyond environmental stresses. And we don't have to look very far for an answer to this question...it is hidden from sight but very close by. It all has something to do with our brains and how our thinking and behavior are affected by this fascinating mass of gray matter. Neuroscientists continue to challenge many of the old assumptions about what happens to our brains as we grow older. Psychologists and biologists are linking with neuroscientists and are mapping our brains to better understand how behavior connects very directly with certain parts of the brain. These studies have opened new insights about how the brain evolves over time and especially as it ages.
The good news is that the older brain has many attributes that its younger counterpart maybe lacking. We are learning from all this research that older brains can process information in dramatically different ways than the younger brains. For example, older people can use both sides of the brain for tasks that leave younger people using only one side of the brain. It is becoming more evident that the brain grows stronger with greater use. The old saying, "use it or lose it", is very applicable to the maturing mind.
These new findings captured my attention and much of this summer has been devoted to reading books and articles on many of the new findings regaring our brains and especially the aging brain. There is a lot of positive information here and I intend to share this with you all at my fall lecture scheduled for October 20th at Selby Library. Also this session will provide an opportunity to meet members of the PSA faculty and to learn more about their respecitve courses.
Some other features for the coming season of courses and lectures that seem worthy of your attention include:
PSA is offering classes at Plymouth Harbor.
Plymouth Harbor, a twenty-four story premier retirement facility located on the road to and from St. Armands Circle will participate in a partnership with PSA to offer classes at their fine facility. This arrangement will not only provide a convenient location for Plymouth Harbor residents but others traveling from Longboat Key and downtown Sarasota will be able to take advantage of this new location.
New categories of courses aid in locating new and interesting choices.
Following our break with traditional categories of courses initiated last year, we have clustered our courses for 2009-2010 in more descriptive headings. As can be observed at the webpages on fall, winter and spring courses, the new categories are also accompanied with eye-catching icons. This year's categories are: Architecture, Sculptured & Landscape, Art, Earth & Beyond, Film, Government, History, Human Body & Mind, Ideas, Language, Literature, Local History, Music, People, Theatre and Writing.
Exciting new content that will challenge you in making choices of courses.
The new categories mentioned above do not represent old wine in new bottles. We are truly providing some special and new opportunities (36 to be exact) for the coming season. Some examples would include: a course on Discovering the Stars to be offered at the J. Rodgers Planetarium in Bradenton, a course on Christianity and Islam, a course on Terrorism, a course on African-American Archaeological Sites, a music course featuring Gershwin, Rodgers and Porter, a language course on Yiddish Revival...just to name a few. A careful study of these categories will reward you with many thoughtful and exciting courses.
Ability to pay on-line using Paypal or credit cards.
PSA has continued the option for on-line direct payment using Paypal or credit cards when registering. We have also added a "shopping cart" feature to further facilitate your registration process.
PSA continues to expand in both depth and variety of courses. We are hopeful these increased opportunities coupled with three venues should make taking courses with PSA a more pleasurable and rewarding experience. We are also very confident that your mind will be thoroughly exercised and will provide you with an opportunity to live more fully and to your potential. We welcome your participation.
Robert V. Carlson, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Director's bio...
Robert V. (Bob) Carlson, the director of the Pierian Spring academy, is an emeritus professor at the University of Vermont as well as president of ABC Associates, Inc., an educational consulting firm.
He has had wide experience as a teacher and educational administrator for over forty years. He was a full professor at the University of Vermont, a visiting professor at the University of Oulu in Finland, a laboratory school administrator at the University of Iowa and has also had experience as a public school administrator and an elementary classroom teacher.
Dr. Carlson is an author of three books in the educational field as well as many articles and research papers. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master's degree from S.U.N.Y. at Brockport, and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Rochester. He makes his home in Sarasota, Florida.
Enquiries please call: 941-716-2471 or e-mail: info@pierianspringacademy.org
