Principal Investigator: Michele Kirkup, clinical assistant professor, IU School of Dentistry
Project Title: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words; Constructively Shaping Minds in a Pre-clinical Dental Laboratory through iPad Technology
Funding Level: $6,584
Abstract:
Early in dental education, students must learn self-assessment skills to enhance accuracy towards the desired expectation. Dental educators frequently use verbal feedback to teach students how to properly evaluate their performances. Due to the confined space of teeth and dental procedures, students may experience difficulty visualizing the specific feedback provided by the instructor. If students do not comprehend the given feedback, the development of self-assessment skills may be delayed and contribute to a lack of self-confidence and poor academic performance. In August 2016, the first and second year and contribute to a lack of self-confidence and poor academic performance. In August 2016, the first and second year curriculum preclinical courses at Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) will implement a project to enhance the effectiveness of laboratory teaching by using images taken with iPads allowing instructors to annotate acceptable and deficient areas of students’ tooth waxings and preparations from the instructor’s perspective. Students will receive the annotated images for reflection opportunities. The objectives of this project are: 1) to evaluate students’ perceived confidence and ability to assess based on specific criteria prior to and after receiving iPad feedback; 2) to provide instructors with a convenient technology tool to enhance the exchange of assessment information; and 3) to determine if participating in iPad feedback would increase students’ grades compared to previous years? Pre- and post-surveys will be given to students and instructors. The results will be gathered and a comparison analysis will be performed. Based on the findings, the investigators plan to test the hypothesis that by incorporating innovative technology, evaluations methods will be enriched which may increase students’ performances.
