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Online Poetry Project (OPP)CCA Grant: $20,000Funding Partner: Colorado Online Learning Contact: Kathryn Bass, Ph.D., Project Director The subject of poetry often brings up its share of cobwebs and courtiers, but poetry is more than just a piece of history; it’s a living art that everyone can engage—in their own lives and in their own way. Enter the Online Poetry Project (OPP), an initiative that uses the most up-to-date technology to empower and inspire student writers through three distinct programs: short-term poet residencies, an online poetry course, and an online, extracurricular poetry club. Kathryn Bass, Ph.D., Project Director with studentShort-term artists’ residencies connect Colorado high school students with accomplished poet-educators. Through classroom exercises, discussions, and workshops, students gain creative writing experience and learn about poets’ techniques and insights first-hand. The Online Poetry Project’s roster includes some of the most respected writers in the state—MFAs, Ph.D.s, Colorado Book Award winners, and State of Colorado Artist Fellows. But these poets’ most important credential is their ability to show students how they can own and contribute to the world of poetry, An online course, PoetSpeak: Reading, Writing, and Living Poetry, expands upon the premise of connecting students and poets. Though this intensive, semester-long experience, students with an interest in poetry can practice the art with the support of teacher Lisa Danos. Professional poets from the OPP roster contribute exercises, lessons, readings, and feedback to help students craft their own powerful poetry. As they complete work for the course, students build active reading and critiquing skills and a strong vocabulary of poetic and literary terms that will prepare them for more advanced study. A further program in development, the OPP Online Poetry Club, will serve students who have a passion for writing but who would prefer to keep it informal. The club’s community of writers will include a faculty advisor, award-winning poets in month-long online “residencies,” and student peers from every corner of Colorado. Members of the club will be able to work with peers and professional poets alike; in addition, they will have the opportunity to contribute to the larger community through readings and publications. The Online Poetry Project has already served hundreds of students in Colorado this year, through short-term residencies in the eastern plains, in the central mountains, and in our urban capital. Here’s what kids are saying about their experiences with residency poets: ‘It was awesome because the way [the visiting poet] taught us to write poetry made it a lot easier. It seemed like the ideas were flowing all the time.” —T.T., Idalia High School “…[N]ow I really understand what metaphors are…” —C.G., Denver North High School “She opened my eyes to the beauty of poetry. [The poet] also gave me confidence when I write poems,” —S.M., Idalia High School “The poet’s passion was inspiring and made poetry understandable.” —B.A., Denver North High School “I liked it all; she inspired all of my class to be creative and poetic…I found it easier to write after she told us what to look for…She had a positive attitude and an open mind.” —S.K., Idalia High School “He showed us that we should not be scared of our own ideas…It was wonderful to express some feelings I had…It was fun to do those poems.” —S.G., Denver North High School |