| Hundreds of lectures. Knowledgeable instructors. Join us in-person at one of over 20 locations or participate online. Winter / Spring January – May 2025 PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE OR VIA PHONE Keep your mind active and engaged! Register for a lecture or special event with FGCU Academy! Discover Exciting Opportunities at FGCU Academy! This week at FGCU Academy, we have an exciting lineup of offerings to enrich your knowledge and spark your curiosity. Dive into the Early Islamic Art & Architecture class, where you’ll explore the intricate geometric patterns and stunning calligraphy that define this period. For those fascinated by technology, our ChatGPT session will unravel the capabilities and applications of this cutting-edge conversational AI. If you’re a fan of storytelling, don’t miss the Legends and Fairytales workshop, where we’ll delve into the timeless tales and myths from around the world. Tax season is just around the corner, so our Income Taxes seminar will provide you with the essential in- formation and strategies to navigate the complexities of tax filing. History buffs can join the discussion on Mary Magdalene, a significant figure in Christianity, and uncover the various interpretations of her role in religious history. Finally, for those who appreciate the art of floristry, our Ikebana class will teach you the Japanese art of flower arrangement, emphasizing balance, harmony, and simplic- ity. And that’s not all—we have plenty more to offer, ensuring there’s always something new and exciting to look forward to at FGCU Academy. Scroll below to view details of classes and see what interests you. Register today! VIEW WINTER/SPRING PROGRAM GUIDE HERE REGISTER FOR COURSES HERE Call our office for assistance with your registrations at 239.434.4737. View 2025 Winter / Spring Program Guide View Here Feel free to print catalog at home, or just print the specific pages that interest you. View our Chronological Calendar by date beginning on page 8. Just look for your available dates and see everything being offered that day. View our LATE EDITIONS page at back of catalog on page 67. FEATURED LECTURES Early Islamic Art & Architecture March 3 | 10 – 11:30am | Monday Naples Center / Online via Zoom Many westerners are unfamiliar with both the history of Islam and the earliest expression of Islamic culture in architecture and art. Join us for an introduction of the development of the mosque in its different regional variants, the first of which was presumab- ly derived from the plan of the Prophet’s house in Medina. The remains of magnificent palaces we examine proclaim the refined and elegant lifestyles of Islamic rulers at a time when Europe was barely emerging from the Dark Ages. Finally, we look at a variety of sumptuous manuscripts, ivory objects, glassware, tiles and car- pets, all decorated with exquisite Arabic calligraphy, intricate geo- metric and vegetal motifs and figural imagery. These were produc- ed by Islamic artisans and greatly prized by Europeans. ChatGPT: A Personal Guide to AI March 4 | 1:30 – 3pm | Tuesday FGCU Main Campus – Marieb Hall – Room 200 Unlock the potential of conversational AI with this engaging 90-minute class designed specifically for senior citizens. This session introduces ChatGPT, an advanced AI tool, and demon- strates how it can simplify daily tasks, spark creativity, and pro- vide endless learning opportunities. Whether it is drafting e- mails, answering questions, brainstorming ideas, or exploring new hobbies, this hands-on class will guide you through practi- cal applications of ChatGPT. Tailored for beginners, this ses- sion ensures a comfortable and enjoyable learning experience, empowering you to embrace AI technology confidently. Join us and discover how ChatGPT can become your everyday assistant! Legends, Fairy Tales and Superstitions March 5 | 10 – 11:30am | Wednesday Naples Center / Online via Zoom Legends, fairy tales and superstition are concepts where reality intersects with imagination. Those concepts can be so ingrain- ed in society that their boundaries become blurred. They certain- ly fill a need, which helps us remember our past and plan our fu- ture, consciously or insidiously. We will dissect each of these with plenty of examples. Income Taxes – Understanding the Necessary Evil We All Deal With March 5 | 1:30 – 3pm | Wednesday Naples Center / Online via Zoom Every year, we all have to deal with income taxes. In this lecture, we will help you understand income taxes from a different per- spective – including a brief history of taxes, why you should not always focus on your tax rate, which taxpayer group carries our national tax burden, and what happens when you mix politics and income taxes together. You will learn interesting facts to share with your friends, some of the social engineering that takes place in our tax system, why everything you hear in media regard- ing taxes is probably not correct, and what the approach the new administration may take towards our income tax system Will the Real Mary Magdalene Please Stand Up? March 6 | 10 – 11:30am | Thursday Naples Center / Online via Zoom Come along on a remarkable journey through antiquity through hidden documents, lost Gospels, and centuries of scholarly research that will reveal the true lives of Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene. Ikebana: The Art of Japanese Floral Arrangement March 6 | 1:30 – 3pm | Thursday Naples Center / Online via Zoom Ikebana represents the elements of heaven, earth and man, working in harmony. This elegant art is achieved by using flowers, branches, rocks and other natural materials to cre- ate beauty. It is a way of bringing one’s love of nature into the home. In experiencing the interrelationship between oneself and the outer world, it becomes another avenue of connecting with the beauty of nature, bringing a sense of inner peace, tranquility and serenity. Not merely flower ar- ranging, Ikebana is an art to portray the life of the universe. FEATURED SERIES LECTURES ESSAY WRITING March 4, 11, 18, 25 | 2 – 4pm | Tuesdays Naples Center / Online via Zoom Essay Writing (creative nonfiction) will focus on explor- ing topics that stir the writer and reader. Writers will not only explore topics, but also practice techniques of writ- ing – to explain, explore and enjoy a subject. Our essays will crack open the truth, expose realities, and explore experiences that evoke a response. We will share volun- tary in-class workshopping and, the instructor will give feedback online to individuals. We will “mine our life experiences” to find nuggets of truth and develop our writing to include elements of the time, the place, and the significance of our experience. Our audience will be ourselves, then family and friends, and perhaps oth- ers, through possible publication. No prior experience necessary, just the desire to write about something of interest and a willingness to do some work to accomp- lish this goal Balance University: Improve Balance, Posture and Flexibility (3-part series) March 7, 114 21 | 9-10 | Fridays Naples Center / Online via Zoom Balance University is an interactive wellness class, designed to improve balance, posture and flexibility. This program starts with basic balance exercises and progresses to more complex movements over time. Your instructor explains the “whys” and the importance of balance exercises as part of your everyday routine. Join our instructor in a safe and effective low-impact workout. Weekly Guide – March 3 – 7 Click on any class below to see more information and to register Monday March 3 – The Great Tenors – A Different Look at Florida – Artificial Intelligence (AI): Friend or Foe? – Judaism, The Bible and Math – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Major Motion Picture Industry – Art of the 19th Century French Salon and the Impressionist Movement Tuesday March 4 – How the Modern Bible Came to Be – Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: Is There Life Out There? Wednesday March 5 – iPhone-ography – iPhone/iPad Apps: Master Texting with Messages – The Rise of the “Nones”: Declining Religious Affiliation/Participation in America – Dress Like a French Woman and Other Great Organizing Tips Thursday March 6 – FGCU Academy 2025 Travel Open Houses – Positive Aging – Mindset and Strategies – Nuclear Power – The Essential Component in a Strategy to Mitigate Climate Change Friday March 7 – Introduction to Microsoft Word – The Versailles Settlement – The Second Trump Administration in a Turbulent World Day Trips and Special Events These day trips and Special Events are a fantastic way to enhance your learning journey with FGCU Academy. Be sure to register early, as spots can fill up quickly! Click Here to View all of Our Upcoming Day Trips and Special Events If you would like to discuss any of our trips, please feel free to call our office anytime as well as for assistance with your registrations at 239.434.4737. CONSIDER BECOMING A FRIEND OF THE ACADEMY WITH A $100 DONATION AS A NON-CREDIT PROGRAM WE RECEIVE NO FUNDING FROM FGCU. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE OUR IMPORTANT COMMUNITY OUTREACH MISSION. To donate, simply: 1. Visit our website at Academy | Online Giving (fgcu.edu). 2. Send a check payable to FGCU Academy with “Friend of the Academy Donation” in the memo line. 3. Or, contact us at 239-434-4737 to arrange a donation over the phone. Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to a program that celebrates lifelong growth. Together, we’re enriching lives, one class at a time. 2025 TRAVEL PROGRAMS Travel with FGCU Academy Northern Italy: From the Alps to the Adriatic Departure August 20, 2025 View Brochure Journey Through Central Europe Departure: August 30, 2025 View Brochure Insider’s Japan Departure September 8, 2025 View Brochure Paradores and Pousadas: Portugal & Spain Departure: September 15, 2025 View Brochure Machu Picchu to the Galapagos Departure October 28, 2025 View Brochure Egypt and the Eternal Nile Departure: November 17, 2025 View Brochure Moroccan Discovery: From the Imperial Cities to the Sahara Departure November 18, 2025 View Brochure Portugal and the Douro River Cruise Departure: September 17, 2025 View Brochure View Video Presentation Gems of Eastern Europe River Cruise Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Departure September 24, 2025 View Brochure View Video Presentation Travel Abroad with FGCU Academy Call our office 239.434.4737 for assistance with registration or Click to View our Website FGCU Academy FGCU ACADEMY NAPLES CENTER 704 Goodlette-Frank Rd N Suite 330 Naples, FL 34102 239.434.4737 [email protected] |
