The benefits of having a Presidential Dream Course

The Dream Course was a great opportunity for the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, the teacher education students, and for me personally.

The Dream Course allowed the college of education to capitalize on our one to one iPad program from One University Digital Initiative. We were able to bring in some world class speakers that focused specifically on integrating technology. The dream course allowed us to reach to the community through social media and invite teachers and school districts into our college. The Dream course also made these resources available to the OU professional community. Through a relationship with the Center for Teaching Excellence we were able to contribute to the OU community by inviting faculty to participate in free workshops with two of these world class experts.

The teacher education students benefitted in several ways. First, they were able to meet and interact with national leaders in technology integration. They were able to add an additional professional connection through their mentor teacher. These students were allowed to have an additional professional experience beyond those regularly required the program. This experience was meaningful to many students and many told me that they wished they could work with mentor teachers in more classes. In fact, one of the students requested their Dream Course mentor teacher as their mentor teacher in student teaching this semester. 

As a professor the dream course benefitted me as well. It allowed me to form new connections with teachers in our community. It also challenged me to rethink a curriculum of a course that I have taught for seven years. I was able to try out new lessons and activities for students, which I am incorporating the course in the future. The connections I have made with local teachers and schools has increased my local and state visibility which will aid me in future projects and collaborations with the schools we serve.