Final Blog Post for Dental Hygiene 7100

This class was full of valuable information that I will carry with me and be able to utilize in my future career.  I really enjoyed the fact that this class was a continuation, to some degree, of Dental Hygiene 6100.  We were able to see a great way to start the beginnings of planning a course with goals and objectives in 6100 and then taking those items and incorporating them into a complete syllabus by the end of 7100.  These are tools, proper methods of creating a syllabus, that will be extremely valuable in the future.  Creating our own syllabus allowed me to understand how thorough and involved of a process that creating a syllabus actually is.  I know that when is comes to creating my first syllabus that I will be reaching for my notes and examples to guide me along the way.

I also think there was so much great information on innovation in the classroom.  I love the fact that I am embracing the new technologies that I have been introduced to and that exist for education.  I aspire to be able to utilize things like Connect in order to be able teach students at a distance.  I do think that realizing that innovation in the classroom can incorporate the most extravagant and newest technologies, but that the flash and the flare are not always necessary.  Innovation comes from deep within.  It comes from a place of wanting the best for your students and searching for the best ways to improve the students’ abilities to learn and to utilize the information given to them.  Innovation is interactive and always evolving to meet the needs of our students.  Innovation is constantly searching to improve in my abilities as an instructor in order to make the ones I teach become better learners.  Innovation is a process and a journey that should last the span of one’s career.

I enjoyed, although with trepidation at the beginning, the many new things I have experienced this semester.  I think my favorite project was the Pecha Kucha presentation.  If I remember correctly in our first synchronous meeting when we went through the syllabus for the semester we were first introduced to our assignment for the Pecha Kucha presentation.  I was immediately thinking and my wheels were turning quickly.  I had definite questions about how I would be able to do this project, but somehow I was able to look past the nerves and I was inspired.  This project was a great way to express verbally and visually about a topic that was important to each and everyone of us.  Yes, this was a project to introduce us to a new process of presentation, but I think it was also to stir up passion within ourselves.  I was so excited to present my project to everyone else, but I think I was just as excited to hear what everyone else was passionate about.  I remember the night of the presentation and how great it was to go on everyone’s journey.  Chad’s family, Lauren’s trip to Ireland, Brittany’s Disney vacation, Robert’s love for the car of my Husband’s dreams, and Amy’s amazing memories of her time at OSU.   I was honored to be able to experience each unique passion everyone presented.

There is so much I will take from this class.  Putting content aside, and not discounting any content at all, there were many valuable things that I have gained from this class.  I know some of you might be aware, but this journey of getting my Master’s has been a dream of mine since the quarter after I graduated.  I was not so sure that I would be able to keep up and grasp all of the things I would need to in order to be a success in this program.  This class, the projects and the entire process has given and invaluable sense of confidence within myself.  I have gained so much information and insight regarding a confirmation of the passion I have about becoming a dental hygiene educator.  So, I want to thank all of you for being an incredible part of this journey.  I have learned so much from each and every one of you.  I will take one of the things I learned from training the half ironman and apply it to my education career, and that is to get comfortable, being uncomfortable.  I will strive to always try new things for the greater good of my students and their journeys and never give up on the process.

2 thoughts on “Final Blog Post for Dental Hygiene 7100

  1. Heather! I also loved the PK presentations! Although it was pretty time consuming it was one of my most favorite things that we did! I will never forget your great accomplishments!!! And then I couldnt agree more about how nice it was that this course was a good continuation from the fall course. It helped make it a great and easy transition! You were a wonderful asset to the classs Heather! Hope you have a great summer!

  2. Heather I feel lucky to be part of your journey and part of helping you accomplish your goals. You have grown so much in the two semesters I’ve been teaching your courses and really you did it all yourself. The course was just a tool to guide you through the path, but the real work and development was from inside yourself. I look forward to seeing you complete the program and being teaching. Your students and dental hygiene program will be lucky to have you.

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