28.06.2013 Views

Papers in PDF format

Papers in PDF format

Papers in PDF format

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

A Web Based Course on Dreams: Teach<strong>in</strong>g Personally Sensitive Material<br />

Over the Internet<br />

Jayne Gackenbach, Ph.D.<br />

Computer and Outreach Services<br />

Grant MacEwan Community College, Canada<br />

jgackenb@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca<br />

Unlock<strong>in</strong>g the Secret of Your Dreams is a noncredit <strong>in</strong>troductory course that is delivered on the World Wide<br />

Web by Grant MacEwan Community College. The course consists of five lessons which teach the student to<br />

<strong>in</strong>terpret and work with their own dreams, both alone and <strong>in</strong> electronic group sessions. Each lesson is<br />

accompanied by an assignment where students put what they have learned <strong>in</strong>to practice, and answer a<br />

questionnaire about their dream experiences. Students receive feedback on the completed assignment the<br />

follow<strong>in</strong>g week.<br />

Here is a brief outl<strong>in</strong>e of the lessons and assignments. A longer version is available on the registration page for<br />

the course (http://www.outreach.org/dreams):<br />

Lesson #1 - Introduction to Dream<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Summary: The latest psychological, cl<strong>in</strong>ical and cross cultural scholarly work <strong>in</strong>to these remarkable<br />

experiences of the night are offered so that the student can develop a work<strong>in</strong>g understand<strong>in</strong>g of the process of<br />

dream<strong>in</strong>g. How to recall dreams and techniques for dream diary<strong>in</strong>g are covered.<br />

Assignment: This is a basic demographic questionnaire <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g questions concern<strong>in</strong>g their sleep<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

dream<strong>in</strong>g habits and preferences.<br />

Lesson #2 - What Do Most People Dream About?<br />

Summary: The typical content of peoples dreams is presented followed by techniques for ascerta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the<br />

content of ones own dreams relative to norms. It is stressed that the dreamer and not the course <strong>in</strong>structor,<br />

friends, psychotherapists, scientists or anyone else is the owner of their dream and thus the f<strong>in</strong>al authority on<br />

his/her dream.<br />

Assignment: The dreamer is asked to answer various questions about their dream experiences.<br />

Lesson #3 - Dreamwork Tools & Techniques<br />

Summary: In this lesson the role of metaphor <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>terpret<strong>in</strong>g dreams is stressed. Basic dreamwork tools are<br />

covered which do not rely on an expert.<br />

Assignment: The student is asked to work one of their own dreams <strong>in</strong> the privacy of their home first <strong>in</strong> a dream<br />

metaphor exercise. Then they are asked to use an <strong>in</strong>dividual dreamwork technique to further <strong>in</strong>terpret their<br />

dream.<br />

Lesson #4 - Dream Connectedness

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!