Montana Before History: 11,000 Years of Hunter-Gatherers in the Plains and Rockies Douglas MacDonald Fridays, 9:00 am-10:30 am, Todd Building, UM Textbook: Montana Before History by Douglas H. MacDonald
Natural & Social Sciences
*The first 20 people registered for this course will receive the textbook free of charge, courtesy of the instructor. Montana Before History will teach MOLLI students the prehistory of Montana, from 11,000 to 300 years ago. Course participants will learn about the best Native American archaeological sites in the state and learn about Native American cultures that were present in Montana long before European-Americans. Students will follow along using the companion book of the same title, as authored by the instructor, an archaeologist at The University of Montana. About the instructor: Douglas MacDonald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at UM. He holds MA and PhD degrees in Anthropology from Washington State University. Doug has conducted archaeological fieldwork across much of the United States. His current research is in Yellowstone National Park.
Activity, Vitality and Longevity Brian Sharkey Fridays, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Todd Building, UM The American Medical Association (AMA) asserts, “Exercise is medicine”. Ever wonder why regular moderate physical activity confers health benefits and how fitness training enhances those benefits? We will explore the ways aerobic and muscular training prompt specific physiological adaptations, and consider the influence of genetics. We will discuss “meaningful” activity, and the intrinsic motivation needed to keep active throughout life. Course participants will learn how attainable life span is enhanced, what research says about exercise and fitness, how to fuel the active life, and the risks of exertion. Students will also discover that it is never too late to adopt an active lifestyle. About the instructor: Professor Emeritus from The University of Montana, Brian Sharkey directed the Human Performance Laboratory, conducted research, worked with athletes, and devoted 45 years to the health, safety and performance of wildland firefighters. He authored twelve books, published numerous research papers, worked with the U.S. Ski Team, the NCAA, and the Forest Service. In addition, Brian served as president of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Language Myths Leora Bar-el Fridays, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Todd Building, UM Textbook: Language Myths by Laurie Bauer and Peter Trudgill (eds.) Are some languages more beautiful than others? Does TV make people sound the same? Do some languages have no grammar? The goal of this course is to discuss, question and challenge commonly-held ideas about language. By exploring several language myths, we will reveal the ways in which linguists’ beliefs about language differ from beliefs about language that are prevalent in the wider community. About the instructor: Leora Bar-el is an Assistant Professor of Linguistics at The University of Montana. Her research interests include the grammar of tense and aspect, linguistic field methodology, North American Indigenous languages, Montana dialects of English, and issues in language endangerment and revitalization. In April 2012, she received the UM College of Arts and Sciences Helen and Winston Cox Education Excellence Award.
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