I’ve had a great experience in Dental Hygiene 7100 this semester. Every topic that I desired and more was covered in the course. I’m very impressed with the course organization and structure considering this was the first semester the class was taught. During my undergraduate studies I took a course in clinical teaching and I completed a practicum teaching experience as a clinical instructor. I felt that I had ample exposure to clinical teaching and I was craving instruction on how to teach from a didactic standpoint. This semester has certainly satisfied my hunger for this knowledge.
I found the most value in the topics that focused on how to set up a course. Before going through this semester I felt clueless about where to start if given an opportunity to direct a course. This course has given me all the pieces necessary to create a CODA-ready course and the confidence needed to do it. Practice was what really drilled home these concepts for me. Through the syllabus and rubric/assessment assignments I got the exposure and opportunities to practice that have me feeling ready for the classroom.
Learning about various active learning strategies and the value they hold will stay with me throughout my career. I will always look to incorporate them into my courses. I like the specific activities we read about, but I also look forward to creating many of my own and trying them in the classroom. There is more to learning than reading and lecturing and I look to utilize active learning methods to engage students and create the best learning experiences possible.
One topic over all others that I connected with on a high level was the concept of the flipped classroom. After covering it in this course my mind was swimming with the seemingly infinite possibilities the future holds for this rising method of teaching. I have even made it the centerpiece of my master’s internship as I incorporate it into pre-clinic this fall. This course has undoubtedly prepared me to be a more effective teacher. I am beyond excited to get my hands dirty and jump headfirst into teaching, equipped with the knowledge from DH 7100.