A grounding foundation of contemporary 20th and 21st century American Poetry superbly presented in the MOOC format. Their is a solid didactic and Socratic architecture in place that will require expansion. That need might require a blog or small classroom (office hours format) setting where a TA could lead similar round table discussions and assignments. A buddy system of 2-4 learners could thereafter share feedback critiques and dig deeper into shared sub-topics. William H Mollohan

This course was an eye opener for me. As a person more immediately drawn to quantitative disciplines, i had always felt sort of guilty about poetry. This course ends that sort of thinking! There is a lot of work if one wishes to complete all the assignments, but then, one need not, actually. Although the course is active only briefly, the materials are available all year. It's so great to know that I can visit all year long. Many thanks to Al, the team and the many participants.

ModPo should be the standard that all moocs follow. It has the feel of a real college experience with its live interactivity between the instructor, TAs, mentors and community TAs-- not to mention fellow students!

More than that ModPo is a gathering of poetry lovers from around the world in a thoughtful discussion and close reading of poems that is mind expanding in so many ways.

I'm so happy to be a small part of this community, and I strongly recommend it!

This is not just a course, it’s an experience! The learning is truly in a community setting. Instructor Al Filreis is inspiring, and he is supported by an amazing team of teaching assistants, mentors and staff who all together make the learning experience so rich and fruitful. They are all so knowledgeable and so encouraging! Fellow students also encourage each other. I am a beginner to poetry, and I learned so much. I very highly recommend this course!

Es el mejor curso en que he participado. El trabajo constante de Al y su equipo, la interacción constante, a través de los foros, los hangouts, las asesorías semanales, es impresionante y demuestra la pasión y empeño que ponen en este curso. A tener en cuenta que el curso es bastante exigente y demanda mucha dedicación, muchas horas semanales para poder seguir el ritmo, más vale la pena el esfuerzo, se aprende muchísimo, genial, the best mood course.

Having very little to do with poetry since my schoolyears, I enjoyed this seminar-like MOOC, where Al and his enthusiastic assistents in their peer-like joint close reading sessions inspired me to open up to new poetry and try to close read myself poems and collaborate on the interpretation. This concept may inspire millions of "potential" readers to give poetry a significant place in our cultural and spiritual life. Thanks and reach out to the world.

Beautiful , just the all round 10/10 for this lovely course. It has taken me such a long time finishing up with this course and i can finally say that I HAVE DONE IT!!!! Thank you to the students , Professor Al Filreis and others that took their time to compose the video lectures.

I enjoyed each and every poem brought forth in this course and I would highly recommend this course to anyone that's interested in learning more on American poetry.

No matter your level of interest in or knowledge of poetry this is the most worthwhile class I have taken. ModPo is more than poetry, it's the distillation of our very essence. Learning how to close read instills valuable critical thinking skills. ModPo gives us a way to take a deeper look at poetry, ourselves and our community. I am looking forward to taking the course again. Thank you for all your hard work with bringing ModPo to us all.

Al Filreis is wonderfully enthusiastic and has created a unique community of people that love poetry and/or want to know and understand more about the magics and powers of language. It was a special experience to follow what is happening in the course, even though I only read and listened to a small part of what was happening. Now I feel that I am accepted as a part of the ModPo Community for days and semesters to come. Thank you!

I really enjoyed and got a great deal out of my first time through ModPo. Al and his gang have really created something special here. At just shy of 53, I'm increasingly spending more time with poetry and getting in more deeply as well as broadly. Taking ModPo has been a significant aspect of that and I now have a better sense of the arc of the last century or so of American poetry and poetics. Deep gratitude to all involved.

An absolutely brilliant course, which I cannot praise enough. The content was very well thought out and excellently structured from beginning to end. The support and active participation by the lead Professor and his brilliant team of Teaching Assistants and Mentors was truly wonderful. Thanks also to Chris the techie for making sure that the live weekly events worked so well. And thanks to the poets who took part as well.

This is an amazing, admittedly just short of comprehensive journey through ModPo (no course could cover everybody), though there's definitely plenty here (especially when you venture into ModPo Plus), and the worldwide community of students, TAs, mentors, and poets adds to its stimulation and fellowship. Al Filreis and Laynie Browne and the rest of the gang keep everything running smoothly while keeping you thinking. Wow!

I enjoyed working through this ten week course which I found most enjoyable and informative. It has put me in touch with a most valuable poetry community, that has been of enormous help for me. I value the reading material and other sources supplied. I especially liked the two last weeks of the course where I took much pleasure in reading, writing and learning about conceptual poetry. Again many thanks.

Charles D'Anastasi

This class was difficult - however, the readings and videos led me through it and I learned quite a bit. The Professor and TA's were engaged with the students and were quick to respond to any questions or concerns (unlike other Coursera classes). I intend to continue with this class, as others have. I feel prepared to read and write poetry at a higher level than previously. I am grateful to Al, the TAs and the mentors.

I have only praise for this ModPo course.I come away with an understanding poetry that I have never found elsewhere. Probably due to the guided discussion method which is so effective. My only regret is that there was no mention of Elizabeth Bishop`s poems. But this is of course entirely personal. For me the most memorable will be " I dwell in Possibility " and "Via "

Thank you all I shall miss you.

Thelma Heppell

This is a fantastic course on modern and contemporary poetry. It is in-depth, philosophical, and challenging, yet understandable and accessible, too. The readings, videos, assignments, and interactive nature of the class all work together to provide an amazing educational environment in which students can truly grow in their understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary poetry.

ModPo is the most vibrant MOOC that I have discovered in several years of online learning. This is due to the ongoing passionate, hands on participation of Prof Al Fireis and his team. In my experience, many repeat MOOCS can have a stale, dead atmosphere. Not so here. Always refreshed.

If you have any interest in poetry, new or experienced, you will not be disappointed.

First, I would like to thank you for allowing the public, during this time of crisis, the ability to further our education! Next, I have enjoyed this course immensely! It's right up my alley, so to speak. as an Author!!

Lastly, I would welcome learning anything from this Teacher as he has successfully kept his audience captivated!!

Thank you! Truly!!

Jenn

I have just enjoyed the course so much, the format and the content. it's a great way to learn and essential to the idea of pedagogy, so eloquently highlighted by Al and the TA's in the final 'workshop' on the Traci Morris poem. It has informed my own poetry and will continue to do so. Many thank to everyone involved in the course. all the best. Barry

This was a very wonderful course, it taught me a lot in terms of poets in the canon and some who have not yet entered it. It already led me to buy several volumes of modern and contemporary poetry mentioned during the class. The students and professor were not only informative but fun to watch in action. Thank you all. Hope to see you again!

Fantastic modern poetry couse with wonderful facilitator, teaching assistants, and guest speakers - quite challenging at times - definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone - but each year brings new insights and increased appreciation - well worth the effort - look forward to SloPo - thanks to Al and all involved - highly recommended!

What a great experience, I love to read and create stuff but it has been years since I "formally" studied poetry. ModPo has provided me with a new joyous community experience . Thanks Al, the T.As and my fellow ModPoers who have given feedback , commented and shared in this journey. I will be staying in touch. See you next time!

Quite simply, the best MOOC out there, and I've completed many, many courses. Al Filreis and his TAs are exceptional teachers and learners. Mentors work their socks off to create a real global community of learners. The discussion forums are used with generosity and enthusiasm by teachers, learners and mentors.

Thank you so much.

Beautiful course, I'm just going trough week 1 and it's amazing feel so engaged, with the content and the videos, I really appreciate the words and toughs of Al Filreis, and all the Team that is working with him, thank you so much to everybody, I'm not a native English speaker, but here I'm loving this course.

Thank you,

Esteban

The last poetry course I took was as a freshman in college in 1971. This course was not in the same league. I learned more in the first week of ModPo than I did in the entire previous course.

My husband teaches poetry and AP English and he has enjoyed learning alongside me as I am constantly thinking and talking about poetry.