DEN1100 Updates

I just wanted to take a moment to update you on DEN1100 progress and stress a few important items.

1. Students are making progress and slowly gaining confidence in clinic.
2. Grading of assignments in Brightspace. I appreciate those who already graded their advisees’ Discussion Post and Writing Assignment 1. Please remember that we try to post grades and feedback for students within 2 weeks of the assignment due date. Discussion post grades were due this past Sunday, 9/22. Grades for Writing Assignment 1 should be posted by 9/29. Should you need help with grading in Brightspace, please let me know.
3. I completed reviewing all reflective journals. As always, students highly appreciate faculty interactions, feedback, and dedication. Some issues that came up:
4. “Sometimes, I feel confused and annoyed when we leave the clinic early, even 30 minutes before other groups. It makes me feel different or like I might miss important information and practicing time compared to my classmates.” Steps to resolve – please dismiss students in all groups at the same time. Ask the lead faculty when is appropriate dismissal time based on the objectives set forth for each clinical session.
5. “I misunderstood the instructions on submitting the contaminated instruments and forgot the final step of bringing the box of contaminated instruments to the larger plastic box for the CLD. It was particularly frustrating since I remember doing it the first/second time of clinic, but as more and more information got piled on, and the CLD went around collecting the boxes in the following clinicals, I ended up misremembering the step and leaving it under the sink. ” – Steps to resolve – please adhere to standard protocols. I am aware of some CLTs being too quick in collecting contaminated instruments. Please inform them that a clinical session is still in progress and students were instructed to follow uniform directions. I think skipping some of the steps confuses students and leads to critical errors.
6. One of the students from group 1B withdrew from the program. Please assign a typodont as a “Patient” to one of the students and continue with regular Patient/operator rotations. Utilize learning in groups of 3 when warranted.
7. Today we implemented the first-ever computer-based exam. So far it was a success. I will work on grading all exam submissions but so far grades look promising and the process has been very smooth.

With warmest regards,
Khrystyna