Incorporating Technology to Support Diverse Learners in Local Anesthesia Instruction
I designed a three-day local anesthesia unit for dental hygiene students that uses technology to support different learning styles and encourage thoughtful discussions about cultural differences in patient care.
Day 1: Visualizing Injection Success
The unit starts with labeled diagrams and color-coded anatomy charts to help students get a clear understanding of the landmarks. Then, students use an interactive anesthesia manikin to explore oral anatomy from different angles. This hands-on experience really helps visual and kinesthetic learners connect textbook knowledge to real-world practice. While the manikin itself doesn’t show anatomical variations, it sparked great conversations about how oral anatomy can differ among populations. Students finish the day by submitting reflection notes on what they observed and how they plan to apply it chairside.
Students use audio recording tools to practice explaining injection steps clearly and in a patient-friendly way. This supports auditory learners and helps everyone improve their communication skills. The recordings also open up discussions on how to adjust explanations for patients with varying health literacy or different cultural expectations. Students share their recordings in small groups and use feedback forms to guide helpful critiques.
Day 3: Do, Demonstrate, Debrief
On the last day, students record themselves demonstrating injection techniques on iPads. Watching their own videos helps them notice posture, hand positioning, and communication habits. During the debrief, students talk about how body language, eye contact, and tone might be interpreted differently across cultures, encouraging empathy and professionalism. The videos are stored securely, and students complete peer reviews and a short reflection.
This unit shows how technology can help meet diverse learning needs while sparking meaningful conversations about cultural variations in care. Technology here supports learning in a practical way, helping students translate knowledge into care for diverse patients.
American Dental Education Association (ADEA). (2017). ADEA core competencies for graduate dental hygiene education (as approved by the ADEA House of Delegates, March 2016). Journal of Dental Education, 81(7), 861–865. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2017.81.7.tb06302.x.
American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). (2024). Scope of practice. https://www.adha.org/advocacy/scope-of-practice/.
Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). (2022). Accreditation standards for dental hygiene education programs. AmericanDental Association. https://coda.ada.org/standards.
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