A Lifetime of Learning

The PLATO Society Offers Palisadians a Peer-to-Peer Learning Experience

For many, the desire to learn is a lifelong endeavor. The PLATO Society allows its more than 400 members—including Palisadians—a chance to continue learning through a collaborative environment based in Westwood Village.

The PLATO—Partners in Learning Actively Teaching Ourselves—Society is a diverse group of seniors, retirees and pre-retirees from across Los Angeles with various backgrounds. Since its inception 42 years ago, members have shared a passion for learning and are motivated by their curiosity.

What makes PLATO unique from other groups is the peer-to-peer learning experience, according to Vice President Ann Beisch.

“It’s people teaching each other,” Beisch shared with the Palisadian-Post. “They are people who love to study. They love to research. They love to be able to speak about it.”

Though PLATO offers many learning opportunities for its members, the main form is through study discussion groups, which are 10- to 14-week courses. Roughly 70 courses are offered in each of the three terms.

Subjects are chosen by the members, ranging from the life of Hamilton to 1920’s Paris. Each member becomes an expert in one area and leads the discussion for a week.

“[Members] share their knowledge back and forth, and then, by the end of the term, everybody knows about everything,” Beisch said. “It’s a lot different from somebody lecturing to you taking notes. It’s active learning.”

Palisadian Rosetta Lai shared she enjoys taking history classes to stay up to date with current world events. Recently, she was part of “What Does the World Want from Beijing?”—a study discussion group focusing on U.S.-China relations. Currently, she is taking one on Cuba, which she said has taught her “fascinating history.”

For Beisch, much of the delight from study discussion groups is due to the collective eagerness for knowledge.

“The exciting part is that we never lack for comments and discussions,” she said. “Everybody will ask questions … The whole world is at your fingertips.”

Palisadian Hank Zangwill, who has been a member for nine years, said that, “active, vibrant, engaging and stimulating discussion is the key to their success.

“PLATO members all tend to be very well-educated, well-read and intellectually curious,” Zangwill continued, “ensuring engaging discussions.”

Aside from learning, Beisch also stressed the importance of the bonds PLATO has created for herself and countless others. Members can participate in a variety of activities, including brown bag lunches, which allow members who are experts in a topic to present their knowledge.

There are also day trips to local attractions, such as the Wende Museum of the Cold War, and trips abroad to countries like Greece and Croatia.

“There’s a strong sense of community,” Beisch said. “People are really there for each other.”

The relationships created in the study discussion groups often span beyond the classes themselves. Members gather in the lounge before classes begin to meet new people while enjoying drinks and snacks. After class, groups meet up for lunch or coffee in one of many locations in Westwood Village.

According to Zangwill, one of the best parts of PLATO is the new social networks that he has grown.

“PLATO has given me the pleasure of developing many close friends with whom I regularly get together for lunch or dinner,” he said. “For someone who is retired, or considering retirement, PLATO offers a unique opportunity to keep both intellectually and socially active.”

Even throughout the pandemic, connections remained strong, as discussion groups were held via Zoom, according to Beisch, who believes that PLATO provided an “essential social connection to all of us.”

“We did holidays and birthdays, trivia, games, and sing-alongs,” Beisch reminisced. “It’s incredible that our group stayed vibrant.”

Zangwill and Beisch highly recommended joining to anyone with a passion for learning. Annual membership is $540, according to the PLATO website, and includes participation in study discussion groups as well as all PLATO events.

“It isn’t just going to a class and going home,” Zangwill said. “It is going to the classes and keeping active and engaged through the multitude of other activities available, and enjoying the friendship and companionship of other PLATO members. PLATO was the perfect answer for me.”

The PLATO Society has an annual meeting slated for June 22 at the UCLA Faculty Center.

For more information, visit theplatosociety.org.