Creating an Application and Interview Process that Boosts Student Retention/Completion in Dental Hygiene Programs (1 CEU)
January 22, 2024, Monday, 4pm PST | 7pm ET
Dental Hygiene Educators are faced with the increasing challenges of incoming students in their programs who are less ready to face a rigorous workload.
Remediation is becoming a common theme, and playing a larger role for a seemingly larger contingent of students who need extra help to succeed and be prepared for taking their national and clinical board exams.
Join us as we discuss strategies for selecting applicants who are most likely to succeed in DH school and obtain licensure. We’ll share ideas we’ve tried over the last few years, to fine tune our selection processes.
Weighting point categories in areas like logical reasoning, following directions, reflective writing, and awarding points for volunteering have varying implications on total points earned by a candidate, and their ranking for acceptance.
We’ve looked at sample students in the past and reflected over their rankings going into interviews (how they earned enough points to be the top 50 interviewed) and after interviews (how they were chosen among the top 18 to enter); Then tried to modify our points system and weights to favor student traits that we found more likely to help students succeed in and complete the program as well as pass their board exams.
Our “lessons learned” with each successive cohort continue to evolve post-pandemic and with each year. This is a shared discussion and audience participation is welcome and valued.
Recognize inherent bias in an interview process, and how to minimize it
Identify student traits that are conducive to dental hygiene school success (retention/completion)
Describe ways to effectively screen for possible indicators of student success, and implement them into the application and/or interview process
Explain how rubrics can be used to provide organization and structure in awarding points for interviews and/or admissions
Jennifer A. Aubry, RDH, MS, EPP
Jennifer serves as Program Director, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Faculty at Mt. Hood Community College. Her areas of specialization are Local Anesthesia and Periodontal Instrumentation. She has led students on overseas dental mission trips and regularly oversees local dental outreach events using mobile equipment.
Jennifer attended MHCC for Dental Hygiene, and earned her B.S. in Health Promotion and Education at Oregon State and M.S. in Education at Portland State University.
Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 children. She is an avid supporter of the performing arts and loves sewing and quilting.
Ilya Babiy, RDH, MS, EPP
Ilya is a full-time dental hygiene instructor, first year clinical coordinator, and radiology lead at Mt. Hood Community College. He also serves seniors and people with special needs with his mobile dental hygiene business, On-Site Oral Health Care, which he started in 2014.
Ilya earned his A.A.S. in Dental Hygiene at MHCC, B.S. in Dental Hygiene at Oregon Institute of Technology, and M.S. in Education from Portland State. He enjoys inspiring students to fulfill their dreams and make a difference in our world.
Ilya and his wife have three children. They love to travel, entertain family and friends, and explore the great outdoors.
Feb 5, 2024, Monday, 4pm PT | 7pm ET
Keeping students engaged during didactic classes has become increasingly challenging. Delivering a lot of information during a 60-80 minute class session can be overwhelming for students and retention is difficult.
This course is an introduction to the jigsaw method of teaching to help keep students engaged and find the coursework manageable while navigating an intense dental hygiene curriculum. The jigsaw method of pedagogy is a cooperative method of learning where course material is broken down into sections that a group assembles to complete the puzzle.
The advantages of this teaching strategy are the development of self-confidence, communication skills, logical thinking, critical thinking, and supporting other students. It incorporates five pillars of cooperative learning including positive interdependence, team formation, accountability, social skills, and structuring.
Critique the jigsaw method of pedagogy
Identify multiple techniques for the use of the jigsaw pedagogy
Apply the jigsaw method of pedagogy to a course topic
Jeannie Bopp, MSAH, RDH
Jeannie Bopp has enjoyed the dental hygiene profession for over forty years and has experienced many of the opportunities the profession has to offer.
During her years of clinical practice, Jeannie worked in general and periodontal practices. She moved to Munich Germany for two years and worked in a periodontal practice while traveling and learning about healthcare on a global stage. She returned and coordinated a mobile dental van project delivering free dental services to underserved populations within her community in California.
Currently, Jeannie is a full-time faculty member at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls Oregon. Teaching at Oregon Tech has allowed her to return to her native home and apply her knowledge and experiences to mentoring and teaching dental hygiene students.
Jeannie is the senior clinical lead instructor along with teaching the junior prevention series and Emergency Procedures. She also leads the International Externship Program, taking senior-level students to a global site to deliver free dental hygiene services to populations with no, or limited, access to care.
Watching the students grow and develop their critical thinking and compassion for others has been the greatest reward, knowing these are the future leaders and servants of our amazing dental hygiene profession.