Stony Brook’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) runs educational programs open to all retired and semi-retired people over the age of 50.

So when sweeping limitations to on-campus activities were announced in order to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, the program’s administrators had to react quickly. 

The team found creative ways of continuing  regularly scheduled workshops, committee meetings, elections, art exhibits and the like by leveraging online technologies.

Resilience is the name of the game for this program, part of the School of Professional Development, which has seen its numbers jump from 600 to 950 since June 2019.

“Many of our members have never used their webcam,” OLLI Program Manager Breanne Delligatti said. “But they are learning and even loving it. During the pandemic OLLI members, workshop leaders, advisory board members, staff and student assistants came together and bridged the gap in communications through the use of technology.” 

Delligatti and the administration focused their efforts to keep the community together and continue OLLI’s educational mission. One of the most popular new events hosted via Zoom is “Lunch, Learn and Laugh,” which meets once weekly and epitomizes the social experience.

“We have 36 workshops online now,” said Delligatti. Technology is often challenging to senior populations, and social distancing has required them to become familiar with new technologies such as Zoom.

“Our members are remaining connected as a community of retired lifelong learners through these difficult times. Members are able to interact on this digital platform without the risk of COVID-19,” she added.

“To see everyone through Zoom, to follow up through texting and chats, to have some brief semblance of normality in its newest version: I really could just cry for the gift of it,” said OLLI participant Michele McMath.

Read the full story: https://news.stonybrook.edu/homespotlight/older-learners-embrace-unfamiliar-technology-maintain-community/

As the coronavirus pandemic sent higher education into scramble mode, it was hard for Stony Brook University’s Department of Music to keep the beat.

That’s because in music, as in comedy, timing is everything.

“Music as a program of study relies on acute listening skills, nuance in gesture and sound, and an exact awareness of time. There is no program or service that allows musicians to collaborate in real-time,” said Michael Hershkowitz, Director of Community Music Programs.

Judith Lochhead, a professor of music history and theory, teaches a course titled “Perspectives on the Performance of Music Since 1945” with Contemporary Chamber Players Director Eduardo Leandro. She described the class as “very hands-on and experiential,” involving composers, performers, and music scholars.

“The pandemic required not so much a rethinking of how to teach performance practice, but rather a refocusing of content that would be useful for our seminar participants and allow us to connect up virtually with musicians around the world,” Lochhead said. “We called the whole project ‘Lemonade out of Lemons.’”

Most of all, the pandemic made all Stony Brook music-makers aware of the invaluable human connection, as best expressed by Daniel Beckwith, a professor of conducting and opera performance.

“We as humans desire contact, being in the presence of another person. I personally didn’t change anything in the curriculum to adapt to online teaching; I was able to work on vocal issues I heard in their singing as well as diction, interpretation, artistic choices, etc.,” he said. “I was a little hesitant at first because I’ve never done online teaching, but technology taught me that one can effectively communicate with students and accomplish what would otherwise have been done in person.”

Read the full story: Music Department Makes “Lemonade out of Lemons” During Pandemic 

Since 2005, Stony Brook University’s Alternative Spring Break Outreach (ASBO) has offered students a way to use their time off to come to the aid of others, such as traveling to communities ravaged by natural disaster. This year, however, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, ASBO took on a different mission: It partnered with two campus fraternities — Phi Delta Epsilon and Iota Nu Delta — to raise money for hospitals in need of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The reason was simple:

“This pandemic has made a huge impact not only on the ICU, emergency rooms, and other facilities in hospitals but also in pediatrics where many children have underlying health problems that compromise their immune systems,” said Kiran Sharma ’21, Phi Delta Epsilon secretary.

Through social media, they created a COVID-19 “This or That” Challenge Fundraiser in which participants built a castle out of cards, engaged in an ice bucket challenge, took part in a blindfolded makeup challenge, made a TikTok video, and went on an alphabet scavenger hunt.

A total of $4,500 was raised, “more than nine times our original goal of $500,” said Rhea Manjrekar, ASBO public relations coordinator, who added that Children’s Miracle Network was one of the organizations chosen because “ASBO’s values strongly align with those of that organization.

“It was amazing to see both the Stony Brook community and those outside of it come together virtually to help support a cause and make a difference! I felt a sense of solidarity, and it touched my heart,” said Michelle Hartmann ’21, ASBO fundraising chair.

“As ASBO is a service-learning organization, it is our mission not only to give back where we can but to truly understand and empathize with the communities we are working with. Devoting spring break to volunteer is truly amazing, but it is important to understand that we are privileged to even have the opportunity to do so,” said Manjrekar.

Read the full story: Student Groups Use Spring Break to Help Hospitals Get PPE | | SBU News