How it Works

In a supportive and collaborative environment students refine their critical skills through close readings and in-class discussion of selected poets and of each other’s work with an emphasis being placed on approaching and evaluating each work on its own terms.

Blending lecture, critical reading, writing exercises, and group discussion, our classes are designed to challenge students while helping them explore and develop their craft.

  • Courses are held both on location (at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602-4801) and online using video conferencing/collaboration tools.
  • Courses run 8 weeks and meet once per week (2 hour classes).
  • Each 2 hour class includes 20-30 minutes (approx.) of lecture or writing exercises and in-depth critiques of each student’s work.
  • For each 8-week course, students will be given a reading list of 3-5 poetry books that support themes addressed in that class.
  • Students turn in one poem per week for class critique.
  • The School offers one-time, master classes with recognized poets each session (Spring, Fall). In Fall 2012, the School welcomed Ron Silliman. In 2013, Eileen Myles (Spring) and Charles Bernstein (Fall) will lead master classes.
  • Class sizes are limited (8–10 student maximum per class) to give each student the full attention of their instructor and peers.

How Online Classes Work

Work face-to-face with your instructor and fellow students, from anywhere in the world, through our online classrooms. Our web conferencing system allows you to attend class from home through your web browser using video and phone conferencing, desktop sharing, and a collaborative whiteboard for written note taking.

Below is a video from Fuze Meeting, our video-conferencing software, that highlights some of its features. It should give you a good idea of what our online classrooms are like and what they are capable of.

Our online classrooms are designed to reproduce the interactivity and intimacy found in face-to-face environments in an easy-to-use, intuitive fashion.

  • Students and instructors log into the classroom at the start of each session.
  • Each person in the classroom can be seen and heard through their own video feed window.
  • All poems and lecture materials can be viewed and interacted with through the classroom’s whiteboard.
  • And the instructor can share their computer screen to show additional class materials like videos, blogs, and other websites.

What You Need

A computer with:

  • Macintosh, Windows, or Linux operating systems.
  • A microphone (most have one built in) for voice conferencing.
  • A web cam for video conferencing.
  • An internet connection (preferably high-speed, like cable or DSL).
  • That’s it!