A new facility at the University of Iowa College of Education is transforming how tomorrow's teachers are taught.
The Teacher Leader Center is a technology rich environment built for collaboration and innovation, with iPads and iPods available for checkout, a virtual reality workstation, interactive SMART boards, and more. The facility hosts technology workshops and boot camps throughout the year.
A corresponding certificate program emphasizes not just technology, but also assessment and community. Students learn about everything from testing programs and online learning, to the impact of poverty, language differences, and other factors on teaching.
All students who enter the college's teacher preparation program complete the certificate. The goal, as this video produced by the college emphasizes, is a cadre of graduates who are best prepared to compete on the education job market.