November 5, 2009 – Skype, a computer program that allows people to talk via webcam from anywhere in the world, has found its way into the Seattle Academy classroom. Every Wednesday, Lauri Conner’s Creative Writing class has a 1.5-hour block of time, during which they visually “Skype” writers into her class. This program, tentatively called “Words on Wire,” is intended to expand the physical classroom, as well as to provide burgeoning writers with access to a larger, and committed community.
Each writer gave a 10-15 minute lecture on the art or act of writing, and participated in a question-and-answer session with the students. The students prepared for the writers’ presentations by reading at least five poems by any given author, and in many cases, books by the writers presenting via Skype.
Each presenter was also asked to give students a writing assignment. Samantha Thornhill—a poet, published author, and professor at The Julliard School—asked students to write an ode. Ruth Ellen Kocher—an American poet and current professor of the MFA program at the University of Colorado at Boulder—asked students to write about sound, and challenged students with a scanning assignment to find a poem’s meter. Adrian Matejka—a German-American poet, and professor of literature and creative writing from the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville—asked students to find an image that spoke to them, and to write a poem around it. Matejka, in addition to his online visit, will be coming to Seattle to talk with the class in-person on Friday.
In addition to their in-class work, the Creative Writing students also put on a poetry reading last night in the Orvis Theatre at the Seattle Academy Arts Center. Ticket sales totaled $200, which will be donated to the senior class graduation.
