Modern & Contemporary American Poetry
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Course Details
Cost
FREE
Upcoming Schedule
- On demand
Course Provider
Coursera online courses
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professor and author Peggy Mason from the University of Chicago, and computer
science professor and Folding@Home director Vijay Pande - will supplement your
knowledge through video lectures. They will also provide challenging
assessments, interactive exercises during each lesson, and the opportunity to
use a mobile app to keep up with yo...
Coursera's online classes are designed to help students achieve mastery over
course material. Some of the best professors in the world - like neurobiology
professor and author Peggy Mason from the University of Chicago, and computer
science professor and Folding@Home director Vijay Pande - will supplement your
knowledge through video lectures. They will also provide challenging
assessments, interactive exercises during each lesson, and the opportunity to
use a mobile app to keep up with your coursework. Coursera also partners with
the US State Department to create “learning hubs” around the world. Students
can get internet access, take courses, and participate in weekly in-person
study groups to make learning even more collaborative. Begin your journey into
the mysteries of the human brain by taking courses in neuroscience. Learn how
to navigate the data infrastructures that multinational corporations use when
you discover the world of data analysis. Follow one of Coursera’s “Skill
Tracks”. Or try any one of its more than 560 available courses to help you
achieve your academic and professional goals.
Provider Subject Specialization
Humanities
Sciences & Technology
Course Description
ModPo is a fast-paced introduction to modern and contemporary U.S. poetry, with an emphasis on experimental verse, from Dickinson and Whitman to the present. Participants (who need no prior experience with poetry) will learn how to read poems that are supposedly "difficult."
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- 1 review
- 1 completed
7 years, 4 months ago
It's been almost 20 years since I graduated from college, and I signed up for
Al Filreis' Modern & Contemporary American Poetry course not really knowing
what to expect. I originally signed up for the class because as a copywriter,
I felt like my brain was stale and my creativity had fizzled. We are in the
midst of Week #7 and I can't believe it's gone by so fast! I am absolutely
amazed and energized by this class. It gives me hope that we still have
educators in this world like Al Filreis who is not only passionate about
teaching poetry to his 30,000 students across the globe, but he truly cares
about us as human beings. We aren't just a number to Al and he is very
interactive in the forums and discussions. I don't know when he sleeps! With
the support of his wonderful TAs, Al's class is very organized and I have
learned so much about modern poetry in the past six weeks. In our class, there
are never any stupid questions - he encour...
It's been almost 20 years since I graduated from college, and I signed up for
Al Filreis' Modern & Contemporary American Poetry course not really knowing
what to expect. I originally signed up for the class because as a copywriter,
I felt like my brain was stale and my creativity had fizzled. We are in the
midst of Week #7 and I can't believe it's gone by so fast! I am absolutely
amazed and energized by this class. It gives me hope that we still have
educators in this world like Al Filreis who is not only passionate about
teaching poetry to his 30,000 students across the globe, but he truly cares
about us as human beings. We aren't just a number to Al and he is very
interactive in the forums and discussions. I don't know when he sleeps! With
the support of his wonderful TAs, Al's class is very organized and I have
learned so much about modern poetry in the past six weeks. In our class, there
are never any stupid questions - he encourages questions and lively
discussions. I love the video close reading discussions of the poems and our
live webcasts. Al makes us all feel very connected to each other, despite the
fact that it's an online class and we are in a virtual classroom. My fellow
students are some of the loveliest and most talented people I've met. We all
come from different professions, ages, and cultural backgrounds which only
enriches the hands-on experience. Our "ModPo" class has truly created a
diverse poetry salon community filled with amazing individuals - including a
lovely 81 year old Greek gentlemen who has touched our hearts with his
beautiful essays about Emily Dickinson. I have always loved learning and
education, and while I enjoyed my collegiate experience this class even
outshines some of my best college classes. I'm blown away every day - it far
exceeds my expectations and then some. I highly recommend this class,
especially to those who have always longed to learn more about poetry but were
too timid to jump outside the box and take a poetry class - this class is for
everyone. You don't need to know about poetry before you take the class. A
truly amazing class led by a caring, supportive teacher, Al Filreis and his
awesome TAs: Julia, Dave, Amaris, Emily, Anna, Kristin, Ally, Molly, Max,
Lily, Steve, Jason...and his awesome tech crew (and everyone at Penn and the
Kelly Writers House who supports the class).
Bob Brightt
10/10 starsCompleted
7 months, 2 weeks ago
The course surpassed every expectation I had - by far. I am an educator myself, but if I even began to approach in my own teaching the quality of experience, in terms of deepening an understanding of the subject in my students and promoting values of openness and community among them that I found here I would be overjoyed. Al Filries and the teaching assistants, Mentors and poets of ModPo are wonders.
- 2 reviews
- 0 completed
4 years, 1 month ago
Overall, an excellent course with a very lively instructor, and guest speakers who provide additional insights into the poems discussed. An interesting way to teach using a roundtable discussion format. But you need to be ready to spend time to work through the course.
- 1 review
- 0 completed
4 years, 8 months ago
I have taken more than a dozen courses via EdX or Coursers. Mod Po is by far the best organized. The syllabus is extensive, the videos excellent and the instructor the best teacher I've ever known ((I was a college instructor myself for 15 years). They keep us coming by for more by adding content and hosting the weekly live web chats. I am currently taking the coursr for the second time and I will enroll again in 2016.
- 7 reviews
- 6 completed
4 years, 8 months ago
A truly inspiring course. The Professor and course team appear to work 24/7. Every single student appears to receive support. I would recommend this course to anybody wanting to learn through the platform of a mooc. I cannot find any negatives with regard to this course.
- 1 review
- 0 completed
4 years, 10 months ago
ModPo quite literally changed my life. From the community that Al Filreis and Julia Bloch have created I have experienced my first true Socratic dialogues since college not only with the instructors but also their brilliant TAs and the thousands of participants from every corner of the globe. And, oh yes, the poetry is wonderful, too!
- 1 review
- 1 completed
5 years, 7 months ago
I expected to learn more than I already knew about Modern, Post-Modern and
Contemporary American Poetry. I knew that that would be easy, because I knew
practically nothing about these subjects. I had been an avid student of
English Literature for my entire life, especially focused on 18th Century, but
also 17th and 19th Century poetry and prose. I was an avid reader of 20th
Century American and English prose, but found little that appealed to me in
the abstract arts of expression. My feet were pretty much deeply embedded in
the concrete one might say, if one were me, what with my concrete imaging
mechanisms firmly rooted, because of all those decades of reading/seeing the
world as an infinity of possibilities given my free-ranging/reigning
imagination, but unready to concede that I could also rely on the alternate
realities of others, those with different visions to guide me forward. So what
did I learn? I learned that I could rely o...
I expected to learn more than I already knew about Modern, Post-Modern and
Contemporary American Poetry. I knew that that would be easy, because I knew
practically nothing about these subjects. I had been an avid student of
English Literature for my entire life, especially focused on 18th Century, but
also 17th and 19th Century poetry and prose. I was an avid reader of 20th
Century American and English prose, but found little that appealed to me in
the abstract arts of expression. My feet were pretty much deeply embedded in
the concrete one might say, if one were me, what with my concrete imaging
mechanisms firmly rooted, because of all those decades of reading/seeing the
world as an infinity of possibilities given my free-ranging/reigning
imagination, but unready to concede that I could also rely on the alternate
realities of others, those with different visions to guide me forward. So what
did I learn? I learned that I could rely on these forms of expression to allow
me the freedom to decide to wallow in my comfort zone, or put out a toe into
the roiling/sizzling/eddying waters of radical expression. With the Filreis
option/blessing of just keeping it out there for as little or as long as I
could manage the sensation, without being chastised/chastened. How does one
improve on this total freedom to explore oneself through others? I cannot
answer that question.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
5 years, 7 months ago
I honestly went in kind of blind. I have a background in instructional
design and was chosen to interview for a position, so in preparation for the
interviews I decided to review as many UPenn MOOC offerings as possible. ( I
was basically looking at as many as I could in a short amount of time to
compare and contrast the different approaches by various UPenn professors, as
well as to look at a other delivery platforms.)
While they ultimately chose another finalist for the opening, I got something
better. I fell in love with this course and rediscovered the joy of reading
and analyzing poetry. (I dropped the other courses I had been sampling, to
focus on this one.) As mentioned, I did have some background in literature, so
I expected to maybe learn about some newer poets. However, I was stunned that
this was not the typical boring online lecture course (or, even worse, a bunch
of pdf files or powerpoints with "GOALS AND OB...
I honestly went in kind of blind. I have a background in instructional
design and was chosen to interview for a position, so in preparation for the
interviews I decided to review as many UPenn MOOC offerings as possible. ( I
was basically looking at as many as I could in a short amount of time to
compare and contrast the different approaches by various UPenn professors, as
well as to look at a other delivery platforms.)
While they ultimately chose another finalist for the opening, I got something
better. I fell in love with this course and rediscovered the joy of reading
and analyzing poetry. (I dropped the other courses I had been sampling, to
focus on this one.) As mentioned, I did have some background in literature, so
I expected to maybe learn about some newer poets. However, I was stunned that
this was not the typical boring online lecture course (or, even worse, a bunch
of pdf files or powerpoints with "GOALS AND OBJECTIVES" listed every 12th
screen in repetitious and rather condescending bullet points).
It blew all my previous experiences with online learning out of the water.
This course challenged me to think every day (and many late-nights, in
discussion with people across the globe.) Not only did this course recreate
the intimacy and excitement (and fun and humor) of an actual college seminar,
it went on to exceed any college seminar I've taken because we had the whole
"massive" aspect going on: thousands of participants who were also involved in
animated conversations about poetry, challenging, championing, and teaching
me in the forums. Most of all, making me smile as we connected. We had
dedicated TAs and Volunteer Community TAs asking provocative open questions
and generating exciting discussions. We had excellent writing assignments. We
had the amazing technical staff that created this particular course's
audio/visuals and made the live webcasts possible. We had a Professor and a
co-Professor who were entirely engaged, reached out to us, and made us feel
relevant. I honestly can't think of anything that could be improved upon. I
learned so much more than I ever expected.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
5 years, 7 months ago
The course was magnificent!!! I liked it all!!! The only thing is that there
were lots of stuff for us to learn that it felt like maybe we needed some more
time to complete all the extras etc. Anyway I'm happy it will remain open with
new materials added till the next session that begins in September!!! I would
like to see a ModPo 2 or something with different material!! I think that
would be great!!! THANK YOU!!!
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
5 years, 7 months ago
This is one of the most worthwhile courses I've ever done. In fact the whole
experience is one of the best things I've ever experienced. I have three
degree with English as a major and I have never been taught as well as this.
The instructor believes that learning happens in discussion, he poses
questions and the group explore the answers. There is no teacher who knows it
all, students who know nothing. This is how I learn and love to learn. Thank
you for a most enriching experience.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
6 years, 3 months ago
I learn from this couse a lot. poetry makes our lives more active and more
sirious. However, in some aspects, this course is boring. Firstry, professor's
voice. It has no energy and sometimes make me sleepy.
- 33 reviews
- 31 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
This is what every MOOC should aspire to be - a passionate, encouraging and
kind instructor, carefully selected study material, a very active discussion
board filled with enthusiastic students, the instructor and the teaching
assistants having a very strong presence on the discussion boards, weekly live
panel discussions whereby students could phone in, well-produced video
'lectures' or discussions. It was amazing to witness a community that was
quickly formed during this course and it has continued to exist via facebook
and elsewhere after the course has ended. I checked out this course just out
of curiosity to see the pedagogy behind it and was very impressed. Not many
other MOOCs i suspect approach this really high standard that this course has
set for itself. The peer reviews remain a weaker point in the course but there
again it tries to mitigate it by the instructor choosing to post ALL of our
writing assignments onto the board...
This is what every MOOC should aspire to be - a passionate, encouraging and
kind instructor, carefully selected study material, a very active discussion
board filled with enthusiastic students, the instructor and the teaching
assistants having a very strong presence on the discussion boards, weekly live
panel discussions whereby students could phone in, well-produced video
'lectures' or discussions. It was amazing to witness a community that was
quickly formed during this course and it has continued to exist via facebook
and elsewhere after the course has ended. I checked out this course just out
of curiosity to see the pedagogy behind it and was very impressed. Not many
other MOOCs i suspect approach this really high standard that this course has
set for itself. The peer reviews remain a weaker point in the course but there
again it tries to mitigate it by the instructor choosing to post ALL of our
writing assignments onto the board so many more students could respond to it.
That, i thought was a great idea given the variance of quality in the peer
reviews. So BRAVO, Prof. Filreis and Julia and the teaching assistants plus
the rest of the support team. It's no wonder why so many fell in love with
this course and have returned to the second run of it.
- 1 review
- 0 completed
6 years, 8 months ago
20+ years in schools, colleges, and universities did not inspire me even once
like this course has in just a few weeks. THIS is what learning has to be
about. The Generosity (yes.. capital G) and the sense of community that the
class engenders, in no small part starts from Professor Al Filreis and his
TA's, and is one of the highlights of the course. In this regard, I also want
to mention the discussion forums (and the MOOC Facebook group), where the
students - who come from all spheres of life and from so many different
countries around the world -- add to the learnings= and build on what is
"taught" in class in so many different ways. The "in-class" teaching itself is
open-ended, provoking thought and never didactic. Abstract and sometimes
meaningless language ("babbling", Stein, Dickinson, etc.) that can otherwise
confound or at least throw up a wall of resistance now become accessible after
this course because we learn to read po...
20+ years in schools, colleges, and universities did not inspire me even once
like this course has in just a few weeks. THIS is what learning has to be
about. The Generosity (yes.. capital G) and the sense of community that the
class engenders, in no small part starts from Professor Al Filreis and his
TA's, and is one of the highlights of the course. In this regard, I also want
to mention the discussion forums (and the MOOC Facebook group), where the
students - who come from all spheres of life and from so many different
countries around the world -- add to the learnings= and build on what is
"taught" in class in so many different ways. The "in-class" teaching itself is
open-ended, provoking thought and never didactic. Abstract and sometimes
meaningless language ("babbling", Stein, Dickinson, etc.) that can otherwise
confound or at least throw up a wall of resistance now become accessible after
this course because we learn to read poetry without necessarily paying
attention all the time to meaning. Poetry reveals itself in new ways sometimes
when you just open your minds and "listen". Or as Wallace Stevens put it: "The
poem must resist the intelligence / Almost successfully." From Dickinson to
Ashbery, what is not familiar is what beguiles and engages us. I resisted the
opaqueness in their poetry when I read them early on but slowly, over time,
I've come to appreciate the mystery. ModPo has clearly been an essential part
of this awakening, if you will, and for that I will be eternally thankful.
Everything I read these days, I see it through the lens of what I learn and
read in ModPo -- that is definitely one big mark of impact. I have never taken
a MOOC before but am encouraged by how it is possible to teach - even multiple
thousands of us - via such a forum. There is nothing I dislike about the
course; if only I had more time to give to it every week because there are so
many aspects of the course that I wish I could delve deeper into.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
I took a poetry course some decades ago. Decided to take this one and really
enjoyed it. Planning to complete It even though it's over.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
I loved ModPo! It brought me in touch with poetry again in such an intense
way. I've never taken a class that just concentrated on poetry, not even in
college or when I was taking my M.A. What I got was the urgency, the absolute
necessity of language as embodied in the poem. Poem as metaphor for life. It
was well worth all the effort and late nights (on top of my job and other
responsibilities). I recommend this to anyone who wants to dive into poetry.
Student
6/10 starsCompleted
6 years, 7 months ago
The TA's really make this course worthwhile as a MOOC. They are stand-ins for
the student. They can't answer the Prof's questions sometimes, they can't get
the poem or they can but it is questionable, etc. They bob their heads when
the Prof enlightens them without any idea what he/she just said, etc. Just
like us out here in the electron world. The guest speakers are always a
delight. Some are more adult than others but so are we. Course permits a
student to either rest or romp off ahead without penalty. Very nice
presentation.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
This is my first MOOC. What can I say about it which had not. Been said
before. I live in Australia. I had thought that the remote aspect of where I
lived was going to be problematic. So much to learn. If you consider education
as a process involving a. The delivery of content; b. a set of processes
including technologies which enable you to learn and are able to refine both
content and execution as a means of improvement; c. The development of
community in all it's richness. Then I am able to say, without hesitation how
able and progressive this course was for me. There is a time when your
anonymity becomes your strength . Thankyou all - See you next year Mike
- 2 reviews
- 2 completed
6 years, 6 months ago
Please do not be put off by the word poetry in the title of this course; this
a very practical course that will improve both your ability to read a text
closely and your ability to think in a creative manner. This course has been
the most valuable class and the most enjoyable class that I have ever
experienced. Professor Filreis and his talented team of TA's have created in
this course an amazing online learning environment in which a wonderful
community of learners emerges. The course includes poems by Dickinson,
Whitman, Pound, Gertrude Stein, Robert Creeley to name just a few.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
Modern & Contemporary American Poetry facilitated by Al Filreis is an
outstanding course for novices and professionals, old and young, female and
male, national and international, able and disabled, open- and close-minded--
no one is exempt. Besides learning to close read poems, students learn how the
poems are related to the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. Assisted
by Mr. Filreis, his teaching assistants, and other staff, students learn via
lectures, webcasts, discussions, quizzes, essays, and peer-review of essays.
What is unlikable about the course is (1) it includes few contributions by
African American poets and none by Latinos (except William Carlos Williams)
and Native Americans, at least none who are recognized as such and (2) the
course is too short.
- 2 reviews
- 2 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
I had a maybe 1 or 2 college classes that included Modern Poetry in their
subject matter. But most of my knowledge has been self-learned. I was
definitely among the lower have of students! Part of this is me being older
and not as fresh as I used to be. This class was great. I loved it's "panel"
format. It offers relief from the problem of looking at the same face, with
the same voice, for an entire set of videos. It's also really fun to feel like
you are part of the discussion of students/teachers in the video, and offers
interesting moments of contention and humor that can't otherwise happen. I was
a huge fan of this class.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
6 years, 7 months ago
This was my second coursera course (and the best of the two) and I am
absolutely blown away by the quality of the instruction, materials and
participation. ModPo is a MUST for all aspiring poets and poem-lovers. It
promises, no I promise, it will bring a whole new and fresh perspective to
your enjoyment of modern poetry. As Al so delightfully and wonderfully says in
his course more than once - once you have tasted this, there is simply no
going back. I owe Al, the team and the extended community an incredible debt
of gratitude. I will likely return to redo this for sheer pleasure next year.
Av
- 2 reviews
- 0 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
I couldn't understand what is Poetry. Now, I do. Thank you! But more, I thank
you because I learned how to "touch, love and explain". (My classmates will
understand what I mean...) This course was a life experience that I never
could imagive having while working and taking care my family.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
6 years, 7 months ago
Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (ModPo) will help spark your curiosity,
support your learning, and invite you into a world-wide community. There are
no lectures in ModPo. Not one. What you view are discussions with a few
students, expertly facilitated by Al Filreis, who trusts "the wisdom in the
room" to elucidate key features of each poem. There are live webcast
discussions (with "real" poets) that help enrich each week's material.
Everything is recorded so you can participate when you have time. The cheerful
discussions help you think through a close-reading process. I found it
confusing at first, but I grew to absolutely love it. I learned how to really
read poetry. You study a few poems a week. The syllabus looks intimidating,
with maybe 20 or more items to do each week, until you see that each item is a
small task. You can get through the entire course one bite at a time. The
quizzes are directly related to the content and...
Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (ModPo) will help spark your curiosity,
support your learning, and invite you into a world-wide community. There are
no lectures in ModPo. Not one. What you view are discussions with a few
students, expertly facilitated by Al Filreis, who trusts "the wisdom in the
room" to elucidate key features of each poem. There are live webcast
discussions (with "real" poets) that help enrich each week's material.
Everything is recorded so you can participate when you have time. The cheerful
discussions help you think through a close-reading process. I found it
confusing at first, but I grew to absolutely love it. I learned how to really
read poetry. You study a few poems a week. The syllabus looks intimidating,
with maybe 20 or more items to do each week, until you see that each item is a
small task. You can get through the entire course one bite at a time. The
quizzes are directly related to the content and designed to help you review
the material, not trick you. If you want to get the full Monty and complete
the course, you can write four essays. If you keep up with the material,
they’re very doable and an effective way of learning and getting feedback. You
write—and receive—peer reviews for each round of essays, which are so helpful.
You share feedback with your fellow students. You begin to see the rich
variety of students taking the course, and you learn from everyone. I spent
5-7 hours on the course each week, and would have loved to have given more
time to it. One thing I will do when I repeat this course next year--
apparently lots of ModPo'ers can't get enough of it--is spend more time in the
discussion forums. That's where you can express your confusion and enthusiasm,
complain and get help, share your insights, and feel a part of the community.
You will be surprised how connected you can feel to 40,000 fellow poetry-
loving students.
Student
10/10 starsTaking Now
6 years, 7 months ago
My first experience with modern poetry and it was quite an eye-opening
experience. Al and the TAs do a wonderful job of making it a collaborative,
community feel, pretty amazing for such a large number of students! This is my
first mooc so I don't really have a comparison scale, but it was pretty
amazing...
Student
10/10 starsTaking Now
6 years, 8 months ago
I have an MA in English. Although an undergraduate survey course, ModPo is one
of the most engaging courses I have ever taken. Although it is a MOOC, it is
intimate. The professor and TAs unselfishly reveal their personalities, and
their passion shows. The curriculum is inspired and inspiring. And for many,
the combination of its content and its format may be transformational.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
6 years, 6 months ago
ModPo is not only the most satisfying MOOC experience I have had but it is one
of the best educational experiences I have ever had as an undergraduate or
graduate student. Not only is it evident that many people and much work went
into developing this MOOC, but, and this is what blows me away, how much time,
attention, energy, and work go into to present the course day by day, week by
week. Al, Julia, the TAs, volunteers, support staff, visiting professors and
poets, and friends of the Kelly Writers House all go out of their way to make
ModPo as close to a real-time, live experience as can be accomplished through
digital media. Along with an excellent syllabus, this group has assembled a
wealth of resources, available from within the course portal. All the material
you need for the class is available through the portal--plus, the student is
introduced to so many other resources that live long past the ending of the
course. These onli...
ModPo is not only the most satisfying MOOC experience I have had but it is one
of the best educational experiences I have ever had as an undergraduate or
graduate student. Not only is it evident that many people and much work went
into developing this MOOC, but, and this is what blows me away, how much time,
attention, energy, and work go into to present the course day by day, week by
week. Al, Julia, the TAs, volunteers, support staff, visiting professors and
poets, and friends of the Kelly Writers House all go out of their way to make
ModPo as close to a real-time, live experience as can be accomplished through
digital media. Along with an excellent syllabus, this group has assembled a
wealth of resources, available from within the course portal. All the material
you need for the class is available through the portal--plus, the student is
introduced to so many other resources that live long past the ending of the
course. These online sources are maintained, containing decades of material of
readings, interviews, audio recordings, videos, and a host of other resources.
Along with the Kelly Writers House community, the student also joins an
international community of other students, at all levels of proficiency and
experience with both poetry and English. This diverse, international community
generates ideas, readings, connections, and interactions that truly feed
intellect, soul, and self. I signed up for this MOOC because I wanted to add
some humanities to my life. As a humanities student many years ago, I fell in
love with poetry, languages, philosophy, art, cultural history, fiction and
have maintained that passion, but primarily alone. I write training for my
career, but in the technology field. I thought I would take this course to get
poetry back in my life more deliberately, perhaps brush up on my scansion,
read a few poems with other people, and learn more about poetry from the Penn
faculty and students. It didn't take too long into the course, say within 15
minutes of the first video discussion, that I knew this was going to be
something special. And I was right. It is. Because of the the people who
developed it, contribute to it along with their responsibilities at the
university, and all the thousands, tens of thousands of poetry lovers who open
their hearts, minds, mouths and share their passion, ideas, voices. No
lectures here--only conversation, discussion, sharing ideas; exploring the
text together, making discoveries about the poem and the self. The course does
not tell you what a poem means, but rather shows you how you can find meaning
in the poem by close reading. Al Filreis is not only committed to poetry
scholarship, but he is committed to people, regardless of their background in
poetry and literature, to help develop an understanding and love for poetry.
His philosophy of education is so refreshing. His style is to explore a poem
with a close reading, which he and his colleagues demonstrate through playful,
insightful conversation, where no one is the expert, but each person adds
something to the experience. I think this is a large part of what makes ModPo
work: it is a community experience where each person is involved in reading a
poem, that is, interpreting and applying it. I have taken more than a few
MOOCs at this point. Some have been well worth the time; others, well, they
weren't a good fit for me. Some I lost interest in because of the way they
were presented. With so many things demanding my time, I have to be selective
in what I commit to. With ModPo, while I could commit to a few hours a week
and satisfy the requirements, I find myself putting in more time, not just on
the course site itself but in exploring the resources. This course has
reignited my passion for poetry again, giving it more focus and purpose.
Amazing that something free and online could make such a strong impact on me--
and, this semester, 35k other people world-wide. I can recommend this MOOC
without any reservation. Thank you, Coursera and ModPo, for bringing education
to so many people globally.