Online directed journaling in dental hygiene clinical education.

Full Abstract

Reflecting upon and sharing of clinical experiences in dental hygiene education is a strategy used to support the application of didactic material to patient care. The promotion of interactive, clinically focused discussions creates opportunities for students to foster critical thinking and socialization skills in dental hygiene practice. Twenty-eight dental hygiene students in their first semester of patient care utilized online directed journaling via blogging software, as a reflection and sharing strategy. Journal entries found critical thinking and socialization themes including connection of didactic material to clinical experience, student-patient interaction, student-student collaboration, and a vision of the professional role of the dental hygienist. A 7 item evaluation instrument provided data that the online journaling strategy was perceived as effective and valuable by the students. Online directed journaling is a strategy that has the potential to enhance critical thinking and socialization skills in dental hygiene clinical education.

Author information

Author/s: Gwozdek, Anne E (AE); Klausner, Christine P (CP); Kerschbaum, Wendy E (WE);

Affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. agwozdek(-atsign-)umich.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of dental hygiene : JDH / American Dental Hygienists' Association (J Dent Hyg), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-; vol 83 (issue 1) : pp 12-7

Dates: Created 2009/04/16; Completed 2009/05/18;

PMID: 19370811, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 May 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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