The WEA, Worker’s Educational Association, have appointed me tutor for the Eastern Region. I am teaching two courses at present: Genealogy and Writing and History of the Universe.
The scope of Genealogy and Writing is a review of current methods and resources for family history research, together with ideas for presenting the results in an interesting way. Worked examples, including problem-solving, are given, together with some examples taken from my own writing.
More challenging, something I have been brooding over for many years, is History of the Universe. This is a presentation of how our knowledge of the world, solar-system, Galaxy and Universe has changed from the creation-myths of the Egyptians, Sumerians and the Old Testament, to the latest theories of an accelerating, expanding universe of almost unimaginable proportions. On the way the Greek astronomers and philosophers, Brahe, Kepler and Galileo, Newton, Quantum Theory and Relativity will be considered. The difficult question of God, and how He fits into it all, will also be touched upon. The latest results of measurements of the Cosmic Background Radiation fit astonishingly well with a consistent theory of the expanding universe, and it is an exciting time for anyone with an interest in Cosmology.
I will admit that History of the Universe is a very self-indulgent project. I hoped that by having to construct a number of talks on difficult aspects of it all - quantum theory, relativity, cosmology - I would improve my own understanding. I also hoped that interventions from the attendees would have the same affect. I am pleased to say that both have happened.
The scope of Genealogy and Writing is a review of current methods and resources for family history research, together with ideas for presenting the results in an interesting way. Worked examples, including problem-solving, are given, together with some examples taken from my own writing.
More challenging, something I have been brooding over for many years, is History of the Universe. This is a presentation of how our knowledge of the world, solar-system, Galaxy and Universe has changed from the creation-myths of the Egyptians, Sumerians and the Old Testament, to the latest theories of an accelerating, expanding universe of almost unimaginable proportions. On the way the Greek astronomers and philosophers, Brahe, Kepler and Galileo, Newton, Quantum Theory and Relativity will be considered. The difficult question of God, and how He fits into it all, will also be touched upon. The latest results of measurements of the Cosmic Background Radiation fit astonishingly well with a consistent theory of the expanding universe, and it is an exciting time for anyone with an interest in Cosmology.
I will admit that History of the Universe is a very self-indulgent project. I hoped that by having to construct a number of talks on difficult aspects of it all - quantum theory, relativity, cosmology - I would improve my own understanding. I also hoped that interventions from the attendees would have the same affect. I am pleased to say that both have happened.
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WEA Courses Completed
Genealogy and Writing, Three day summer school, Chelmsford, 23rd, 24th and 25th June 2014; One day course, Benfleet, Saturday 31 January 2015. History of the Universe, Halstead, Ten weeks, September - December 2014; Colchester, Ten weeks, September - December 2014; Maldon, ten weeks, January - March 2015; Billericay, eight weeks, April - June 2015; Bishop's Stortford, ten weeks, April - July 2015; Shalford, ten weeks, September - November 2015; Felsted, ten weeks, September - December 2015; Chelmsford, ten weeks, January - March 2016; Loughton & Epping, ten weeks, January - March 2016; Hoddeston, ten weeks, April - July 2016. |
WEA Courses Planned
History of the Universe, Mersea, Ten weeks, January - March 2017. |