Artificial intelligence on the calendar

Seniors College of P.E.I. registration opens Sept. 4

Helping people to develop a compassionate disposition and explaining artificial intelligence (AI) are the goals behind two courses being offered this fall by the Seniors College of Prince Edward Island.

“I think seniors are interested in so many things and if you get a new topic out there, they will come out,” says Shirley Pierce, who returns this year as college president.

Registration for the fall, winter and spring courses all open online at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The website address is seniorscollege.ca and the tuition is $170, which entitles people to enrol in as many courses as they wish.

COMPASSION TRAINING

Provincial co-ordinator Tory Kennedy says there will be approximately 150 wideranging courses on offer.

She’s optimistic the AI seminar will help demystify the new technology. It will be conducted at Canada’s Smartest Kitchen at Holland College in Charlottetown.

Another new offering has a lengthy title, cognitively based compassion training (СВСТ), but its aim is to improve the mental wellness of people.

Andy Gallant and Michael

Gaudet, both involved in mindfulness education on P.E.I. for a number of years, will facilitate the course. They are the first in Canada to receive the Level 1 CBCT instructor certification from Emory University of Atlanta.

The course aims to help individuals develop a compassionate disposition, which the facilitators say helps prevent burnout and builds resilience for improved health, pro-social attitudes and community well-being.

The Seniors College is open to adults 50 years and over, and Kennedy feels CBCT could be particularly appealing to people in their 50s who are still working full-time and trying to balance their life and work.

COURSE SELECTION

The college’s list of upcoming course titles includes astronomy, art gallery tour and introduction to art history, classic musicals from stage and screen, climate change, craft beer appreciation, dance for fun and fitness, eight operas in eight weeks, Friday afternoon at the movies, financial wellness for seniors, identity theft and fraud protection, scarecrow hanging decoration, six weeks to better Scrabble, and tours of historic P.E.I. sites.

College vice-president Kate Gordon says it is important people prepare for registration day by paying their tuition in advance, which leaves them free to concentrate on course selections.

Pierce agrees. “While registration starts at 9 o’clock on Sept. 4, people should have their favourites listed beforehand and be ready to hit the button to register. It is important to have a strategy.”

SOCIAL COMPONENT

Kennedy has a tip for people disappointed at not getting registered for a particular course.

“I encourage members to get on the wait list, there is always openings coming up so people shouldn’t get discouraged.”

The fall semester runs in October and November, the winter one in January and February, and the spring one in April and May. Course locations vary and are offered in Summerside, Charlottetown and Montague.

In addition to gaining some new knowledge or a skill, Pierce says Seniors College has a strong social component. She knows of one couple who took approximately 30 courses.

“That’s how they met a lot of people when they came to Prince Edward Island, being involved in Seniors College and meeting people.”