Adult learning and activities in the time of COVID-19, San Francisco Bay Area

Learning continues amid coronavirus imposed limitations with a myriad of educational and activity-based eLearning options

While formal learning venues like colleges, extended ed, and even community centers are closed and lights out that doesn't mean learning and social connections are out of reach for San Francisco residents eager to learn and pump up those skills.
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Though familiar concrete sites have disappeared for now, adult learning options are abundant in the San Francisco Bay Area with remote, digital, and virtual options for classrooms and workshops, museums, and interactive activities.  

The possibilities are as endless as your interests. Here is a partial listing of classes, and workshops, exercise, dance, exhibitions and whatnot for learning  and  fun while taking care at home.​

While distance learning lets you connect with offerings across the country and the world,  this listing highlights local, well loved venues to keep some connection with the familiar in our lives.

Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Virtual Dance Center. San Francisco's premier dance destination for dance education for more than 35 years, has been an incredible gift for adult dance students at all levels offering workshops and master class instruction by elite choreographers, artists, and companies.

• While the Dance Center is closed due to the coronavirus crisis, a wide range of virtual dance classes are offered via Zoom. Live steam a dance class, including contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, fusion and more. Prices: $8, $15, or $25 with $8 recommended; higher fees are appreciated to support the Dance Center.

Virtual Wellness and Classes at San Francisco YMCA for wellness resources including live virtual classes led by Y of SF instructors.

• Classes include Strength, Yoga, and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)

​Attention seniors: Connecting with others for both social and learning opportunities is at the core of the amazing range of classes offered at San Francisco's Community Living Campaign.

• Community Connectors have organized and created a wide range of classes, activities, and events to engage seniors, people with disabilities, and neighbors of all ages for social connections and amazing learning opportunities that are enjoyable and enriching. See the Calendar​​​ ​listings.

The San Francisco Public Library offers robust access to books and media, research and articles, SF Historical photos, and much more, plus many (but not all) eLearning resources including Lynda.com for tech learning you can access for free with your SFPL card.

Kanopy is a streaming movie site that offers thousands of films for free through our public library via your library card or university login.

• Simply by using your local library card or university login you will have access to an awesome range of films of every genre, including classics, documentaries, foreign films and a whole lot more! Don't have a library card? No problem, you can apply for one here!

California Academy of Sciences offers its Museum at Home, #MuseumFromHome, a new and connective way to tour everyone's favorite science museum and keep tabs on their favorite Academy creatures!

• It's all here to Learn and Explore and there is no ceiling to the unlimited options. Plus, Thursday NightLife, the Academy's popular adult weekly funfest hasn't gone away, but has simply morphed into a virtual event to fit into where we are now, Watch live Thursday April 2, 7 pm PDT; Check the Academy website for more details.

The Asian Art Museum welcomes you to its myriad of digital experiences "designed to help you find some inner peace." Nice, and just what you need right now. The means to this peaceful end takes you on an art-filled journey with art videos, virtual hikes, and even a creative stress-releaser with adult coloring pages that you can print out at home! Learn how at the museum website.​

• #MuseumMomentofZen, is the museum's compilation of calming moments in art and join the flow. Visit the website to see more offerings for elearning at #MuseumDifferently.

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The Museum of Modern Art has a lot to offer us "homebodies" with #MuseumFromHome, as the museum's content is now available 24/7.

• Take in the exhibits, podcasts, artist interviews, photography and so much more such as a preview of the painlessly educational "Alcatraz is Not an Island," a highly informative and engaging look into the history of our nearby neighbor across the Bay.

​The Legion of Honor and De Young Museums are worth an online visit.

• Although these San Francisco fine arts museums have not set up museums at home, but have limited-to-in depth access to museum exhibits, collections, and learning how-to resources, such as a link to Caring For Your Treasures with downloadable manuals. Visit the websites to explore more. 

The Oakland Museum of California: Stay connected with this terrific museum that highlights the best of and the real Oakland, the Bay Area, and California. Although closed, the Oakland Museum is committed to staying connected with the community.

• OMCA at Home lets you view and select a range of videos, past exhibitions, and events, including Friday Nights Online, a digital party time respite in the OMCA tradition.
• Check out the OMCA blog, and share your Oakland Story too (hint: be part of building an Atlas of Oakland via a downloadable Oakland map template)