OLLI Course: CROSSWORDS and YOU

Course: Desc. (overview); Full; Practicum |
Instructor | Course Topics | Resources

Course Description

• upcoming: "Exploring Crosswords" (renamed & reorganized version of original CROSSWORDS and YOU):
  Fall 2024 (Zoom: Osher Online): Thu, 10/17 - 11/21/24; video description; find an OLLI near you to register;
  Winter 2025 (Zoom: OLLI SOU): Tue, 2/4 - 3/11/25
• previous:
  CROSSWORDS and YOU:
  (short intros: Ruch Lib.: 1/13/2024; Ashland Lib.: 7/13/2023);
  Zoom: Winter 2023; Winter 2021; Ashland: Winter 2020; Spring 2018, Spring 2016,
  Fall 2014, Spring 2013, Spring 2012, Spring 2011; Medford: Spring 2011;
  Constructing Crosswords:
  (short intro: Ashland Lib.: Intro: 8/10/2023);
  Zoom: Fall 2022, Summer 2020 (Jackson Co. Lib.), Spring 2020;
  Practicum: Zoom: Spring 2023; Fall 2020; Ashland: Fall 2016; Spring 2015; Spring 2014;
  Fall 2013; Fall 2012;
  Crosswords: Sites & Solving: Zoom: Spring 2020
• Course URL: https://communicrossings.com/crosswords
  or: https://communicrossings.com/olli-course-crosswords-and-you
  this site will continue to be available and updated
• Zoom: Use, Setup, Safety
• Why Solve Crosswords During a Pandemic?
• Several crossword-related courses share sections (see ToC):
  CROSSWORDS and YOU (the full course):
  Crosswords: Practicum (practice-only): Intro, Practice;
  Crosswords: Sites & Solving (subset): Intro, Sources, Practice, Solving
• Constructing Crosswords is a separate course.
• Table comparing topics for all crossword courses; more about Instructor

Course Description: CROSSWORDS and YOU (full course)

• Would you like to become better at enjoying, understanding and finishing crosswords
  -- and impress your friends as a "cruciverbalist"?
• We will explore benefits of solving puzzles, crossword history and culture (e.g., music),
  solving strategies, clues, themes, and tools.
• We will learn about different types of crosswords, discover online sources and applications,
  and introduce the process of constructing crosswords.
• In each session, we'll also solve and discuss crosswords as a group to improve our skills.
  Previous students are welcome to retake the entire class, or to join only for practice (2nd half of session).
• Zoom will be used for sharing lecture materials, and crossword solving, and construction apps
  
• In the final session (if added), we'll watch the movie documentary WordPlay.

Course Description: Crosswords: Practicum (practice-only)

• In this practice-only* course, we will solve crosswords together as a group on a shared screen.
• Improve your solving skills, have fun and possibly benefit memory, according to recent studies.
• All levels of ability and previous students are welcome.
• We'll select crosswords that vary by difficulty, size, theme type and web source.
• While solving, we'll discuss unusual clues and interesting themes,
  with resources provided for further practice.
• For more details about the group process, solving applications, puzzle sources,
  see CROSSWORDS and YOU: Practice
• *Practicum: [prak-ti-kuhm] n
  "the part of a [university] course consisting of practical work in a particular field";
  related to "praxis": exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill; practical application of a theory

Course Description: Crosswords: Sites & Solving (a subset of full couse)

• Crosswords: Sites & Solving is a shorter [2-session] remote version based on materials
  from this longeer [5-6 session] introductory course: CROSSWORDS and YOU.
• Would you like to find crossword puzzles that might distract, entertain or challenge you,
  and improve your solving skills?
• Discover web sites with crossword puzzles to print or solve, and applications for solving offline.
• Learn about vocabulary, themes and clues.
• Practice solving crosswords together.
• This shorter course will not discuss: benefits of solving puzzles; crossword history and culture;
  different types of crosswords; basics of constructing crosswords.

About the Instructor

Crossword Courses: Topics: Overview & Sessions

CROSSWORDS and YOU	Crosswords: Sites&Solving	Practicum	Constructing Crosswords
[5-6 sessions] Why Solve?; History and Culture; Crossword Terminology and Types Solving Strategies and Resources Puzzle Sources and Applications Construct Crosswords intro *Practice as a group, solve crosswords that vary in difficulty, source, style; usually 1/2 of each session WordPlay movie documentary; optional	[2 sessions] Sites and Applications Solving Strategies and Resources Practice*	[3 sessions] Practice* full session	[4 sessions] Why Construct? Approach; Theme Grid; Fill Clues; Publish
1. Why Solve?: Fun, Humor, Distraction, Joy, Pandemic; Challenge, Creativity, Problem Solving; Vocabulary, Language Skills; General Knowledge, Trivia; Financial; General Health, Cognitive Fitness; Relationships; Fame History and Media (fiction, film, music, TV, theater) Practice	1. Puzzle Sources: Web Sites, Applications Practice	1. Practice	1. Why Construct? Approach: audience; puzzle types; process; grid format & size; conventions; tools Theme: brainstorm & select 'lively' main entries (long words or phrases)
2. Terminology; Types of Crosswords and other Word Puzzles Solving Strategies difficulty, practice, order, vocabulary Practice	2. Solving Strategies and Resources difficulty, practice, order, vocabulary, clues, themes, tools, blogs Practice	2. ...	2. Grid: place theme entries; arrange blocks; preserve symmetry Fill: add other words -- adjust theme placement and/or grid
3. Solving Strategies and Resources clues, themes, tools, blogs Practice		3. ...	3. Clues: craft imaginative, challenging clues
4. Puzzle Sources: Web Sites, Applications Practice			4. Publish: review, revise, format, submit (and wait)
5. Authoring: Intro to Construction Process, Web Sites (free-form), Applications (symmetric) Practice
6. WordPlay movie documentary; optional

Course Resources

• Resources: where to find course materials; we'll cover Sources for Puzzles and Apps later
• Navigation: using this web site
• Handouts: how to create your own printed version of these pages