Interesting course at coursera

[Juan]

I don't know if this can be posted here, but I hope many of you like it and find it interesting. This week at coursera a new course titled "Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World" just began. You can find it here: https://class.coursera.org/fantasysf-...

Let me know if you are at it or will be, it seems very nicely planned. The readings are mostly known (Grimm Brothers, Dracula, Alice in Wonderland and so on...), but the things offered by the course are neat.

:)

[Maria]

I did this course last year. It's great if you have the time to spend. You ideally need to be able to read the books in advance, as you only really have about five days to read each book, before you write an essay on it. This can be a problem when you have two or three books to read in a week, and if you are working as well. The peer review system can be annoying as sometimes the feedback that you receive makes you wonder whether the person reviewing your essay actually read it, or it is limited to a single comment such as 'This was a great essay'. Nice for the ego, but not so great if you are looking for constructive criticism. It can also be quite difficult reviewing the essays of people who are not necessarily native English speakers and who may be finding it hard to express themselves. Having said that, Professor Rabkin is amazing, and the whole experience is worth it just to be able to hear his lectures, and you will look at literature in a whole new light afterwards. If you take this course, enjoy.

[Catherine]

I'm in the course that is just starting. The readings are wonderful and I'm looking forward to the rest of the material. The site for the class opened just two days ago and the first video session is supposed to be available today.