One of the many classes offered by the Lifelong Learning Club is a series that explores current news and issues. Conducted over seven weeks, participants meet once a week to discuss national subjects and are asked to use newspapers, magazines and websites for discussion topics, and bring some of them to share their viewpoints and sources.

Edward Moore facilitates this series, ensuring all participants are heard and all discussions are conducted with respect. The layout of the class is designed so participants face each other, with the facilitator in the center passing the microphone to each speaker.

The News and Issues class relies on participants to select the topic for each class. At the first session, participants identify the top three topics they want to discuss on a piece of paper. The facilitator then groups similar topics. All participants then vote on a specific topic for each class in the series. This semester, the discussion topics selected were media bias, Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, ageism, immigration, artificial intelligence and K-12 schools.

Once the series topics were selected, participants can volunteer to curate content. The act of curating a topic for the class consists of gathering background information and ensuring all sides of an assigned topic are considered. Participants who volunteer to curate a given topic prepare 2-4 pages summarizing the topic, with links to background information. This package is then sent to all participants to review and prepare for the upcoming topic, allowing everyone to be prepared for the discussion.

An important element of the News and Issues class is the sharing of viewpoints and sources covering the often-difficult topics selected by the classroom series. Key to this discussion group course is the ability to talk openly with fellow classmates in an environment that is respectful and safe to express opinions and feelings. Participation is key to the group’s objective of learning from each other’s information, thoughts and ideas. Many participants share personal stories of their experiences on a given topic.

New to the Lifelong Learning Club in his instructor role for News and Issues, Moore gives credit to former instructors Gary Nadeau and Russel Denison for demonstrating how to facilitate such a lively series on current events.

The Lifelong Learning Club of Sun City’s annual membership dues are $20 and there are two terms per year. The club’s mission is to provide RCSC members with educational programs at a low cost. The club welcomes new instructors and new courses to add to the curriculum.

Contact club President Michael Powell at Powell14@cox.net for more information.