Books on the Nightstand discussion

I know September seems like a long way off, but if you are the type that plans ahead ...

Coursera is offering a free online poetry class that looks like it will be perfect for me, the person who doesn't really understand and is afraid of poetry. It's taught be a professer at University of Pennsylvania and seems interesting and unthreatening.

I've just signed up. I know there are online discussion groups set up specifically for class members, but i thought it might be fun to have some friends join me in this experience.

https://www.coursera.org/course/moder...

I've already signed up :)

before I posted this?

Yup, I had been thinking about taking the class the last time around, but didn't, and regretted it. I've been stalking the listing ever since, and as soon as I was able, I signed up. I haven't done a coursera course yet, so I'm very interested in the process.

This sounds so great Ann. I just signed up and can't wait. Thanks for letting us know. My husband just signed up for a Coursera class and I hadn't checked them out yet.

I'm not sure if the classes "sell out" or not, but I didn't want to chance it.

Are these free online courses? I don't see the fee schedule anywhere...

Yes, free! And legit professors who actually teach at top-tier universities.

I was very excited when I saw this last month since I consider myself a poet. I'm there.

There's an interesting article from the Poetry Foundation website about this course specifically, titled "One Class, 36,000 Students". The author took the course and summarizes the experience week by week, so if you want to experience the class organically, you might want to skip these "spoilers"... but that being said, the article answered a lot of my questions and concerns about how the experience would play out.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/artic...

I'm in! Poetry is a weak spot in my own reading, so Im' hoping to develop some appreciation!

And I just signed for the class on The Ancient Greeks as well :-)

Callie wrote: "There's an interesting article from the Poetry Foundation website about this course specifically, titled "One Class, 36,000 Students". The author took the course and summarizes the experience week ..."

Oh, thanks so much for posting that article! I love Elliott Holt (well, I only know her through twitter) so I feel like I just had a review of the class from a friend.

Thanks for letting us know about the website! Lots of cool looking courses!

Ive been considering taking some classes for awhile. Thank you for giving me a little push, I just signed up.

I've taken a course through Coursera before, but I missed the poetry class last time. I generally don't pick up poetry to read on my own, so this will be a great incentive for me to read more poetry!

I took the ModPo class the first time they offered it. It's great - you'll love it! Set up to be incredibly interactive for an online course.

Ann wrote: "I know September seems like a long way off, but if you are the type that plans ahead ...

Coursera is offering a free online poetry class that looks like it will be perfect for me, the person who d..."

Sounds interesting. Is there a fee?

Eric wrote: "Sounds interesting. Is there a fee?"

No, it's FREE! You don't even have to buy texts as the materials are available online, though they do have a couple of recommendations if you are so inclined to purchase poetry!

My problem of course is time.

I've signed up! Thanks Ann.

I signed up and while I was at the site I signed up and started a class in Fantasy and Science Fiction!

Thanks for the info Ann, I have just started reading some poetry (Robert Frost and Arthur Rimbaud) and I would love to learn more.

If you are interested in poetry listen to THE WRITERS ALMANAC. Garrison Keillor reads a poem on each pcast and its daily.Subscribe on ITUNES.ger

Gerald wrote: "If you are interested in poetry listen to THE WRITERS ALMANAC. Garrison Keillor reads a poem on each pcast and its daily.Subscribe on ITUNES.ger"

I get this on RSS feed everyday. Do enjoy it.

WOW glad I stopped by the group today. I just signed up and I need it. I have to teach poetry to my 6th and 7th graders and it still scares me. Thanks Ann!

Jessica wrote: "WOW glad I stopped by the group today. I just signed up and I need it. I have to teach poetry to my 6th and 7th graders and it still scares me. Thanks Ann!"

Jessica,

I just finished judging a contest for cinquains that should be easy. 5 lines with the first line being 2 syllables, then 4 syllables, 6 syllables, 8 syllables, finally 2 syllables. The kicker is it all should be one sentence.

this sounds great I will have to look into it thanks

This class starts next week ... 27,000 have signed up so far!

Cathy wrote: "This class starts next week ... 27,000 have signed up so far!"

Oh! That poor teacher.

I'm in. Why not? I doubt I'll do the assignments but I'm looking forward to the rest. Thanks, Ann.

This course has its own Twitter feed at @modpopenn and the instructor is @Afilreis.

Oh my. So far very interesting but *a lot* of work each week! I'm on the second Dickinson poem now, which is one I love.

Should we have our own study group?
Informal.
Discussion here?

I've only viewed the intro so far, hope to listen to the poems tonight.

I think a study group here for informal discussion would be a great idea!

Trina wrote: "I think a study group here for informal discussion would be a great idea!"

ditto, er uh, I mean "like"

I'm loving this course already. The teacher and the TA's are wonderful and the site is set up to be very user friendly. I'm blown away by how they work through the understanding of the poems. Love it!
I think it is going to be a challenging course, I'll certainly continue with the viewing but I'm not sure I'll have the time for the assignments.

I like that idea, Ann. I felt a bit overwhelmed by all of the different boards for ModPo. And so many people! It's cozy here.

Oh, by the way, I'm not doing any of the assignments. IN fact, I'm already behind on the viewing...

I'm not either. I need to start Whitman, but I've done all of the Dickinson. I really do like the video discussions--they make me parse each word and phrase in a way that I wouldn't do on my own.

I'm not sure I can handle the assignments either but I'm really enjoying the video discussions so far.

No assignments for me either, but I'm really enjoying this process.

For those of you doing ModPo: do you read along in a book while you watch the readings of the poems?
I confess i haven't gotten past the intro video yet (booktopia just around the corner has me flat out). But I'm thinking about it now. Do I need books or poems in front of me?

They have links to the poems they are discussing, so I usually just keep the poem open in a separate tab or window while watching the discussion. You can print the poem out if you prefer a paper copy.

I've been opening his links to the poems, printing them and taking my notes directly on those pages.
No books necessary so far. I'm loving the course, but it's more than I imagined. Right now I am trying to complete this week before next week arrives, reading Whitman.

I've been doing the same as Trina--two windows at the same time. It's easy enough to flip back and forth as-needed. It is *a lot* of video to watch, but it's interesting. Smart discussion.

I haven't started yet - double shifts and upcoming library sale are doing me in. Bad timing!

Reading Walt Whitman for the first time in a million years got me thinking about the Whitman references throughout Breaking Bad, so I did some Googling. This is probably the best article I've come across so far, but there are spoilers in the article so beware if you are not caught up (with the series, not the poems....)

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/artic...

Is anyone still in? I think I'm out. There's just far too much reading/video watching to keep up with--and I'm not even attempting the assignments! I really love the class and Al, but with my travel and shows, I just can't do it right now.

It's been difficult, but I've managed to mostly keep up. I'm not attempting the writing assignments - just reading the poems and watching the video discussions.

I was soooo disappointed to not be able to do this. I haven't even started. I never put together that it would be in book sale season and that I would be working double shifts. I"m saving all the lectures hoping to go back, but I know it won't be the same.