EFFICIENT STRATEGIES OF A POPULAR MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE: THE CASE OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY POETRY COURSE ("MODPO")
EFFICIENT STRATEGIES OF A POPULAR MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE: THE CASE OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY POETRY COURSE ("MODPO")

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the reasons for the success of the Modern and Contemporary American Poetry Course held by Professor Al Filreis from the University of Pennsylvania, held on Coursera platform. Among the success factors, based on participants' feedback, we find the interaction with the instructor and teaching assistants, as well as with other students, which is found to a larger extent than in other MOOCs. Reasons for the use of the strategies will also be explored. We know from Hofstede's cultural dimensions that the USA score low on the power distance index, meaning that the relationships with authority are friendly and on equal terms. The interaction teacher - student is done in the same way in the offline as in the online media, with the same type of communication, low-context since the US relies on explicit communication. Otherwise, we notice how creativity of the students is encouraged, as they are given the freedom to express their opinions on the poems studied, another feature of low power distance cultures in the field of education. The benefit of such a course is that it encourages students to see poetry as accessible and as a means to express themselves freely and become more aware of how they feel when they react to understanding poetry. Students of all ages can share their experiences in the interpretation of the poems. The way the course is taught is in tune with the way contemporary poetry claims to be anti-elitist and thus accessible to everyone.

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