So, I’m starting to build out the Portolan Project a little more for the SLF, thinking through what it would look like if I used the interviews we’ve done (http://speculativeliterature.org/portolan-project/) as cores for free online learning modules in creative writing and lit.
I’m planning to take one of the interviews on Monday (maybe Paolo Bacigalupi talking about environmental and message fiction), and then build out some additional resources, such as:
– writing exercises to accompany it
– recommended reading (ideally a mix of short fiction, novels, and essays, with a significant selection of it as material that can be read for free online)
– supplemental materials — and here I’m thinking of things like episodes of Coode Street Podcast or Our Opinions Are Correct or the Skiffy and Fanty Show or SF Squeecast, or Galactic Suburbia that might be relevant — but I don’t think we have time to go back through the episodes to hunt for that, so ideally, the podcast hosts might be able to guide us in that regard
– guidelines as to age-appropriateness (i.e., “this module is appropriate for middle-grade, high school, and beyond”)
– study questions for the lit. people
– what else?
I’d love to hear from teachers / writers / etc. Would this sort of thing be useful to you? What else would you like to see in it to make it even more helpful?
I’m still in the brainstorming phase, but I have some hope of working with other people somewhat intensively in the next month to put together at least 5, or better 10, such modules that we would host at the SLF. If we can put together good materials quickly, then teachers who are switching to e-learning may find them very useful for their fall course planning.
I’m also hopeful that the podcast Benjamin Rosenbaum and I have been doing will become a strong component of this — at least some of the episodes, which have a clear creative writing component.