Here are some resources and information of possible use to our current and prospective instructors and speakers.
- OLLI Course Proposal Form. This form is used to propose an OLLI course or special event. Please submit the form via email to our Program Associates; it will be shared with the appropriate Program Planning Group chairs.
- A Teacher’s Manual (pdf). Written by former director and instructor Debbie Halverson and updated August 2012, this manual is especially valuable if you are deciding whether or not to volunteer as a teacher.
- Instructor Information Brochure (pdf). This link is to the DocStore entry where you will find the latest version of this brochure – given to OLLI instructors and providing information about the class liaison, course materials, audiovisual equipment, GMU Library privileges, helpful hints, and staff phone numbers and email addresses.
- OLLI Document Storage (“DocStore”). DocStore contains a large number of OLLI documents for the use as desired by instructors, staff and members.
- Copyright rules. Two recommended resources are
- Mason’s Course Materials and Fair Use, and
- Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers (pdf) by techlearning.com.
- Feedback for Course Instructors (Microsoft Word document) – An optional evaluation questionnaire instructors can provide to class attendees at the end of their course.
- George Mason University Libraries materials. Available to OLLI members with a GMU ID card (note: click here for details about University benefits for OLLI members and how to obtain a GMU ID card)—
- Take out 10 books at one time.
- Books may be withdrawn for a three-week period with one renewal (instructors with a Mason affiliate or faculty ID card can check out books until the end of the Mason semester).
- Request books from other University campuses.
- Use of Arlington Law Library is excluded.
- Access to hundreds of online databases via the George Mason University Libraries Website (requires GMU email address).
- Current OLLI instructors and speakers may also borrow audiovisual materials (videos, DVDs) from the Johnson Center Media library for one week.
- Primary OLLI contacts for program matters—
- Kathryn Russell, Russell Stone, and Doris Bloch, co-chairs of the Program Committee
- List of Program Planning Group chairs
- Jennifer McMahon, Program Associate (OLLI staff), telephone 703-503-3384
- Kathryn Russell, Russell Stone, and Doris Bloch, co-chairs of the Program Committee
- Audiovisual equipment available in classrooms for use by instructors include—
- Laptop computers (Windows 10 and Microsoft Office 2013)
- DVD/CD player and VCR player
- Wireless microphone worn over ear, with battery pack (Microphone Use Policy, a Microsoft Word document)
- Docucam that can display stored digital images as slide shows, overhead transparencies and items such as maps, book pages and objects (for details, click here).
- About the “senior” OLLI audience—
- Almost all are above 50, with many in their 60s and 70s, some in their 80s, a few in their 90s.
- Some have vision problems so visual aids should be easy to read, with large fonts (e.g., black text on a white/light background is much easier to read than white text on a light gray background).
- Some have hearing problems but everyone prefers that instructors use a microphone.
- Many were experts in their field, so expect serious questions.