Norris Workshops Offer Students Unique Learning Opportunities
Courses help students explore everything from wine appreciation to wheel throwing
Taylor Kagie, a master’s student studying Engineering Design Innovation, knew she wanted to step outside of her comfort zone and try something new when she first arrived at 台湾裸聊直播. When she stumbled upon an email advertising a Norris University Center Mini Course on singing, she seized the opportunity and decided to enroll.
“It was so much fun, and it was great to have that work-life balance,” Kagie said. “It was nice to be able to do something just for the sake of learning and not have to worry about getting a grade.”
Kagie’s positive experience motivated her to enroll in more workshops and Mini Courses including a class on hand-building ceramics. Kagie is one of many students who attended Workshop Day at Norris on Saturday, January 11, taking a one-day course on mocktail mixology.
The Norris Mini Course program, which has been around since the center’s inception, has run for over 50 years and aims to provide fun recreational activities outside of the classroom that cater to students’ diverse interests and hobbies.
Norris offers students two types of courses: one-time workshops lasting only a few hours and six-week intensive classes. Students can dive into various subjects ranging from wheel throwing to American Sign Language and even wine appreciation.
The classes offered on Workshop Day are a “teaser” to the mini courses, according to Linda Luk, assistant director for co-curricular learning and recreation.
Luk recognizes that it can be difficult for busy students to find time to get off campus and pursue their extracurricular passions. Mini Courses are designed to be easily accessible and provide students with a “stress reliever,” she said.
Lily Lee, a third year in McCormick and Bienen, chose to attend the ABC’s of Building Credit workshop hosted by U.S. Bank to learn more about her credit score. Before attending the workshop, Lee did not know much about credit, but she left with a wealth of helpful tips and valuable insights.
Lee said she particularly appreciates the “convenience” of Mini Courses.
“You can go and try to find classes off campus, but they’re probably going to be a bit more expensive and harder to find,” Lee said.
Weinberg fourth-year student Emily Jiang chose to enroll in the mocktail mixology course to learn more about non-alcoholic alternatives to cocktails. Jiang found it useful to try something new without the commitment of a six-week course.
Although the workshop had a small fee, Jiang noted that the cost of the workshop was less than the cumulative cost of the mocktail ingredients.
Students who feel the cost would pose a financial burden can apply for subsidies to get a discount on the courses. Luk estimates that 75% of courses offered are repeats, with new courses offered every quarter. In the future, Luk plans to run more life skills courses, including one on how to change a tire.
“I think the Norris Mini Courses are a great way to learn about different topics outside of our structured curriculum and meet other people as well,” said Lee. “I love learning new things.”
Students interested in taking a Mini Course this winter can register online on the Norris University Box Office website.