Courses - January 2025

[smallhobbit]

FutureLearn

Art and the Environment in South-East Asia (National Gallery Singapore) 
A really interesting short course which looked at the paintings showing the environment in both Singapore and Malaysia and other south-east nations.  While there were a number of recent ones by local artists, the course also highlighted how many of the earlier paintings were propaganda, designed to emphasis the superiority of the colonial powers.


OpenLearn

Studying Mammals: The Social Climbers
Studying Mammals: Food for Thought
The final two courses in the Studying Mammals series, looking at monkeys and then apes, including reference to human structures.  And a reminder that we have a responsibility for the planet we live on.

Surviving the Winter
Having finished the courses on mammals, I'm continuing with a number of courses covering both plants and animals.  This one, which seemed relevant for the current period, looked at the various different ways plants and animals cope with the coldest season.

Getting Started with Spanish 1 and 2
Really just revision, but keeping me in the loop in case I ever need my very limited Spanish in the future.

Unsolved Problems in Cosmology
I still have an interest in the night sky and what's there in 'Space, the final frontier', so I was interested to have a go at this new course.  It was basically above my level of understanding - I can manage Introductory Level but this was Intermediate and there were some areas which were totally beyond me and my science ability.  However, I didn't do badly at the end of course quiz, so I must have learnt something in the process.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

A nice diversity for you!

[smallhobbit]

Yes, keeps the brain active!

[debriswoman]

That’s a fascinating range:-)

[smallhobbit]

I know. I like to have a variety of odd things to learn about.

[rusty_armour]

I'm playing catch up again. All of these courses look interesting, especially Art and the Environment in South-East Asia and Unsolved Problems in Cosmology. It's great that you're keeping up with your Spanish. I've been trying to improve my French. I could really use a version of Surviving the Winter geared towards humans. *g*

[smallhobbit]

'Art and the Environment in South-East Asia' was an excellent course. I think building up body weight and then staying somewhere warmer is probably what I've learned from that! :)