Browse: Home / Course Terms / Term 3, 2019

The University of the Third Age

U3A Okeover

Programme for Term 3, 2019

Term Completed

A Connecting with Purposeful Ideas and Opinions

Dates: Thursdays 29 August, 5, 12, 19, 26 September

C Linguistics

Dates: Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 October

D Vikings, Scandinavia and the Founding of Russia

Dates: Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 October

Scroll down for full details of each course.

Times: 10.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m.

Enrolments for this term closed on Thursday 17 Oct 2019.

Officers:

Chairman:Howard Harvey021 1363043
Treasurer:Colin Freeman027 2369476
Please hand your enrolment form to the treasurer at the desk.


Course A

Connecting with Purposeful Ideas and Opinions

Course organiser:Various

29 Aug:
Kathryn Jones, CEO of The Laura Fergusson Trust, on 'The Laura Fergusson Trust - 1979 -2019’Organiser: Gendy Dray.

5 Sep:
Dr. Colin Meurk, research associate at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, on 'Re-dreaming Christchurch as an Eco-city'.We are facing a biodiversity emergency globally and locally. In NZ and lowland Canterbury it is exacerbated by what is referred to as ‘extinction of experience’, a pre-cursor to extinction of species, due to loss of connectivity between people and their unique natural heritage. This loss has a significant effect on ‘sense of place’ or identity. I will present ideas on how this may be overcome in a way that celebrates the poorly known but substantial biodiversity values of the city, and why this justifies thinking of Christchurch as a ‘National Park City’ – a status that London has declared for itself already! Organiser: Chris Botur.

12 Sep:
Martin Hadlee, Chair of The Eden ProjectNZ and Fellow Chartered Accountant, on 'Eden New Zealand Aotearoa in Christchurch - a Transformation and Recovery Project for the City'.This presentation will include a short video on the creation of the Eden Project in Cornwall UK followed by a PowerPoint presentation on the concept of a world-class Eden Project in Christchurch as a major catalyst to stimulate city and regional recovery following the earthquakes. Organiser: Helena Lackie

19 Sep:
Carolyne N. Obonyo, PhD. candidate and a Research Assistant, Coll. of Educ., UC, on 'Student Teachers' Experiences with the Use of Mobile Technologies in their Training.'The use of mobile technologies to enhance learning and teaching is rapidly increasing in schools and by 2023 more than 80% of learning and teaching spaces in Christchurch will be innovative learning environments. These learning environments are characterised by flexible learning spaces, new pedagogies including ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) initiatives. The big question is, are student teachers effectively prepared for their future classrooms where mobile devices abound? Carolyne will be presenting part of her survey findings that examined preservice teachers’ views related to their preparation to integrate mobile technologies into their future classrooms. Organiser: Neil Fleming.

26 Sep:
Dr. Antony Shadbolt, Director of Landscape Ecology NZ on 'Wild Life Conservation on Sarawak.'Dr. Shadbolt will speak about his involvement in projects around wild life and conservation in Sarawak. Organiser: Ann Whitnall.


Course C

Linguistics

Course organiser:David Chapple

Presenter:Various

This course will be taken by Associate Professor Kevin Watson, Head of the Linguistics Department at the University of Canterbury and his staff.

Topics will include:
The origin and evolution of the English language;
How the Polynesian languages changed as the people spread out across the Pacific to settle in Hawai’i, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Nuie, Aotearoa;
Why and how accents and dialects emerge;
The relationship between language and culture.

This will be a course of substance backed by research and delivered by people who are experts in their field.

3 Oct:
Dr. Lynn Clark on 'History of English.'

10 Oct:
Prof. Jeanette King on 'From Pākehā to Pepeha - Te Reo in Aotearoa.'

17 Oct:
Dr. Jonathan Dunn on 'How Languages are Constructed: Language and Dialect Mapping.'

24 Oct:
Dr. Jonathan Dunn on 'Language and Society: Metaphor / Lexicalization / Stylistics.'

31 Oct:
Dr. Viktoria Papp on 'Linguistics Applied: Forensic Linguistics.'


Course D

Vikings, Scandinavia and the Founding of Russia

Course organiser:Denise Burrow

Presenter:Frieda Looser

The peoples of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden and Denmark, were mainly farmers, hunters and fishermen. However, from the eighth century some 10 per cent of the population embarked on voyages abroad as raiders, traders and colonisers, and gained a notorious reputation as Vikings. Whereas the Norse and Danish Vikings travelled westwards, raiding the coasts of Britain, Ireland, and the Frankish Empire, establishing trading networks, and founding colonies as far west as Greenland and Newfoundland, the seafarers of Sweden followed the river systems of eastern Europe as far as Constantinople and Baghdad, and known as the Rus’, from the cities of Novgorod and Kiev they founded the state of Russia.

3 Oct:
The Viking HomelandsThe series will begin with an overview of the Scandinavian lands and the geography and culture which gave rise to the Viking Age in Europe c. 790-1066.

10 Oct:
Norse VikingsThe expansion from Norway island-hopped from Shetland and Orkney, through the Hebrides, Mann and Ireland, and via the Faroes to Iceland and beyond.

17 Oct:
Danish VikingsNear neighbours to the rapidly expanding Christian empire of Frankish King Karl der Grosse (Charlemagne), the pagan Danes consolidated, constructed the defensive Dannevirke, and embarked on seaborne attacks against cities and coastal villages and monasteries around the North Sea.

24 Oct:
Swedish VikingsFacing eastwards across the Baltic Sea, Swedish Vikings took trading, raiding and colonising towards Lake Ladoga, and via the Rivers Dnieper and Volga to the Black Sea. Their cities of Novgorod and Kiev formed the heartland of Russia.

31 Oct:
Russia and The Viking LegacyThe final session will uncover the foundations of Russia and illustrate Russian pride in their Viking roots in Novgorod.