Living a LearningLife

Tours open in late August on the St. Paul campus

For as long as people have been building homes, the sun has played a role in design and architecture. Yet even today, in our ever-growing "green conscious" society, only a fraction of buildings make use of solar energy for power needs.

Now, a team of University of Minnesota students, faculty and alumni is working to make solar technology more accessible for the average Minnesota homeowner.

They are building an entirely solar-powered house that's especially designed for the Minnesota climate, and hope that Minnesotans can take away a few tips and tricks for their own homes.

Thinking about going back to school for a graduate degree? Check out a free information session from the College of Continuing Education to discover how you can design your own master's degree through the Master of Liberal Studies program.

See the Pyramids Along the Nile (Wednesday, August 5: 2:30-9:30 p.m.)

Compleat Scholar Sampler: Get a free preview of upcoming Compleat Scholar classes (Tuesday, September 8, 6:30-8 p.m.)

Networking for Everyone (Monday, October 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.)

From Andy Gilats, LearningLife director

Adults are much more likely to act their way into a new way of thinking than to think their way into a new way of acting.

This is a short story about a small coincidence.

For at least the past several months, and probably for longer than I realize, I've found myself approaching challenges, changes, and even slight frays in my status quo in ways that run contrary to standard practice, long habit, and even, I've been thinking, to my "nature."

Can't get away this summer? This month, LearningLife travel blogger Catherine Watson muses on finding the exotic in her own backyard.

You have the power! At least in an online game. Faculty in the University's Institute of Technology, working with staff in the Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, have developed an online game that lets you simulate traffic congestion problems, and gain an appreciation for the work that traffic engineers do everyday to cut down on accidents and driver frustration.