Northwoods residents have a chance to learn more about the region’s weather patterns…thanks to an online course offered by the University of Wisconsin Madison.
It’s called a Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC, and it’s free and open to anyone. This month-long class focuses on Changing Weather and Climate in the Great Lakes Region.
As UW Madison professor of Atmospheric Sciences Steve Ackerman explains, it will examine long term trends throughout the four seasons.
“We’ll be looking at observations that have been occurring. So we’ll look at it in terms of maps, and some charts as well. But explaining what those mean – so we won’t be just popping it up and saying ‘here’s a complex map’ – we’ll be talking about what that map is telling us.”
Three local libraries will be offering weekly discussions for those who want to meet in person.
Minocqua Library Director Mary Taylor says it’s a way for people to engage with each other around the material.
“This isn’t school, like when you went to college – there’s no tests or anything and it is all free. But it’s an opportunity to learn, it’s a great way to learn.”
Ackerman says the in-person discussion component will help engage people participating in the free course.
“People have an interest in weather, and their experience with weather, and their experiences with how things are changing. So it seemed very appropriate that this MOOC type of activity would be another way for us to engage with communities – to talk about what they know, and to answer their questions.”
Ackerman says the course will probably involve about two hours a week of short videos and readings, in addition to optional discussions.
Discussions at the Minocqua library will take place on Thursdays at 6 pm.
Mercer Library discussions will be Thursdays at 2pm.
Discussions at the Crandon library will be Fridays at 2pm.
UW Madison’s Margaret Mooney from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological and Satellite Studies will facilitate.
21 libraries are participating statewide.
