Fall \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Samhain Moon
\nT. S. Eliot \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Little Gidding V<\/p>\n
“We shall not cease from exploration
\nAnd the end of all our exploring
\nWill be to arrive where we started
\nAnd know the place for the first time.”<\/p>\n
The hurry of last week has receded and today is an outdoor day, raspberries and fertilizer. It’s chilly out there, but physical labor adds its own heat.<\/p>\n
The end is in sight for both MOOCs, Modern\/Post Modern with only two more weeks and ModPo with four. \u00a0Like the course I took last year on Greek Myth both of these have been excellent. \u00a0The interactive discussion forums and the video lectures in small, accessible chunks work well for the at home classroom. \u00a0The reading in all three has been challenging, definitely college and post-grad level material. \u00a0Did I mention that they’re free?<\/p>\n
The Great Course’s cd and dvd classes, taught by professors of proven teaching ability, are excellent, too. \u00a0The lectures in these courses are longer and in more depth, but I have not found the spur to do the reading as I have in the MOOC’s. \u00a0That’s me, of course. \u00a0And, there is no interaction at all. \u00a0An advantage is that you can do them over any time frame and in multiple venues. \u00a0The MOOCs require a computer screen. \u00a0These are not free.<\/p>\n
Though I am at heart an auto-didact and can develop my own reading plans, I appreciate these compressed experiences where an expert in a field alerts you to current issues and literature. \u00a0They’re a quicker way in to a broad foundation in a discipline and for an overview of what might have additional interest.<\/p>\n
Over the years I’ve pursued in particular the history of ideas, ancient history: \u00a0Rome, Egypt, China, mythology, philosophy and literature. \u00a0In literature I’ve tended to focus on the classics and on the classical tradition. \u00a0These broad areas have fascinated me for a long time. \u00a0I plan to challenge myself over the fallow time with calculus. \u00a0Kate’s promised time as my tutor.<\/p>\n
I suppose I could gamble or drink or run naked through the streets, but, hey. \u00a0Each to his own? \u00a0Right?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fall \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Samhain Moon T. S. Eliot \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Little Gidding V “We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our … Continue reading Anco Impari.<\/span>