The Reel World: Great Courses & Wondrium
Every fall when school starts up again, I get an itch to head back to the college classroom. Reality sets in and I pause thinking of the cost, time and commitment. However, I still want to learn something new and the library has me covered. I go to the Movies and Music Lounge and make a beeline to the Great Course/Wondrium section. I also browse our digital service Hoopla as they have several courses available. Here are a few courses that have intrigued my inner student.
The Great Tours: Iceland
A dream of mine is to someday visit Iceland. Until that happens I can immerse myself in this course and learn all I can about this beautiful location.
Iceland's natural and cultural history is unlike any other. The Great Tours: Iceland allows armchair travelers and trip planners alike to better appreciate its many wonders. Designed by behavioral ecologist Professor Jennifer Verdolin, these 24 visually stunning lectures take you from Iceland's bustling cities to its remote towns, from the tops of its glaciers to the depths of its geothermal pools.
Great Board Games of the Ancient World
Growing up with rabbit ears on the television (no cable and three channels), playing board games with my family was our entertainment. I can’t wait to get started learning their history and maybe learning a couple new games.
Expert Tristan Donovan takes you on a journey into thousands of years of ancient cultures and intrigue as you learn about the fascinating backstories of the games we all love. He has a passion for both history and gaming. Donovan teaches you the origins of modern games and how to play (and win!) more than a dozen games in 12 fascinating lessons.
The Real History of Dracula
Yes, I have read and re-read Bram Stoker’s Dracula a few times. I love all things Dracul, and can't wait to see what this course offers to increase my insight on vampires. Side note-they don’t sparkle, they turn noodles into worms.
In the 10 episodes of The Real History of Dracula, folklorists Dr. Sara Cleto and Dr. Brittany Warman, of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, shine a light into the dark recesses of our cultural obsession with vampires. Using folklore, literature, history, television and film, Cleto and Warman show you how and why vampires are a potent metaphor for what matters most about the human condition.
True Crime Decoding the Evidence
Forensic medicine and the individual who can take evidence from death and piece together a mystery are truly fascinating. Talk about a true puzzle master.
In True Crime: Decoding the Evidence a panel of experts walk you through the evidence of nearly a dozen cold cases, including infamous serial killings, Hollywood scandals, deaths caused by everyday substances and a prehistoric murder. With their combined expertise in history, chemistry, biology and forensic anthropology, these experts show these events through the lenses of both history and contemporary science.
