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thinking and Learning together

We are a Community of Adult Learners

thinking and Learning together

We are a Community of Adult Learners

Site Content

Who We Are

David White and Aram Terzian currently serve as founders and co-moderators for Topical Seminars. This is the ninth year for the adult discussion group at the Lewes, Delaware library. David retired from a career in theater, having served as a composer, director, producer, manager, and company leader in the Denver area. He facilitated the Lewes Library's lecture series' on Simone Weil and on Oliver Wendel Holmes, and was on the team that created and ran the "Take a Stand" series. David currently serves as the volunteer artistic director for the Lewes Public Library’s Spoken Word Society and Shakespeare Festival.

Aram Terzian D.S.W., retired from the Community College of Philadelphia where he served both as the Dean of Liberal studies and faculty member in the Behavioral Health Department. Since his retirement, he has co-led Topical Seminars with David. He is also an active member of the Coastal Camera Club.

Membership includes persons from a variety of backgrounds who are the key to the success of the seminars.

How the sessions proceed

The main purpose of the discussions is to support a culture of open and principled reflection on matters of intellectual interest to the public. Our interactions require that each of us be open to the different views of others. It is hoped that each perspective, including your own, is examined through the filter of rational inquiry. We are not here to debate or convince each other, but to learn and to be open to examining different perspectives and incorporating what we find useful into our own thinking.

Each month a member develops or finds a suitable essay and possible related materials the individual believes are of intellectual interest to others. The material collected is posted by the seminar hosts on this website, to be available for the other members.
Members who want to participate will prepare in advance by reading materials, viewing videos, and doing other activities recommended by the leader for the session.
Each member participating in the session will write a response to some aspect of the materials posted for the session. Each response will be posted on this website prior to the session, so all members have access to them for review before the date of the seminar.
To prepare for the seminar, prior to the meeting each participant will read the posted responses of others.
Participants are encouraged to question, challenge, offer feedback, and generally engage in constructive and respectful discussion related to the topic. The focus is on the merit of ideas.
Expect that others have perspectives very different from you. Rather than seeing this as an opportunity for debate, use this as a way of broadening your understanding, by trying to take their perspective and rationally examining them.
Anecdotes or personal stories are appropriate when making a specific point related to the prepared materials. Conversations that take the discussion away from the topic are strongly discouraged.
Back and forth conversation is encouraged, but moderated, to assure every participant desiring to do so, has ample opportunity to speak.
Keeping the flow of the conversation is the responsibility of the assigned moderator.
New members who have not prepared for the seminar are welcome to attend and observe.

Schedule for 2024/2025

Schedule

thinking and Learning together

thinking and Learning together

About Us

Our Mission

Site Content

Who We Are

How the sessions proceed

Schedule for 2024/2025