108 - An Effective Teaching Method Utilizing Repetition and Catch Phrase “hint! Hint!” During Lectures to Learn High Yield Anatomical Concepts in Dental Gross Anatomy

Poster Board Number: 108
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Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Abstract Body : Teaching Human Gross Anatomy to professional students’ needs to provide a fundamental anatomic foundation in a basic science curriculum. The overall objective of the study was to develop an effective teaching method that would enable dental students to easily ascertain and understand high yield anatomical concepts during lectures. The newly developed teaching methods utilized continual repetition and saying the catch phrase “HINT! HINT!” when introducing and expounding on high yield anatomical concepts during lectures. Repetition included repeating anatomical concepts many times by various clinical examples and HINT! HINT! statement technique to immediately catch the attention of students to emphasize a definite exam question is being presented. The innovative teaching method was implemented the past two years and then compared to previous years of traditional teaching in the Human Gross Anatomy Course of first year dental students. Grades, number of failures and student evaluations were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed HINT! HINT! repetitive teaching style. The newly developed teaching method demonstrated a significant increase in the overall mean grade including a higher number of students receiving an A in the course compared to the traditional, control group. In addition, no failures were given to students in the past two years utilizing the new teaching method compared to having failures in all previous years of traditional teaching. The most positive outcome of the study was revealed by student evaluations received in the course after implementing the teaching method. Comments included “she teaches in a style that allows the students to learn for long-term and not just for the exam, course is designed very well to increase retention and understanding, and she teaches so I learn the material during lecture and don’t need to study all night.” The HINT! HINT! repetitive teaching method is an effective way (higher grades, less failures and positive student evaluations) to present lecture material and help students focus on the important anatomical concepts that are vital to their education and career. By implementing the effective teaching method, it facilitates student learning during lectures, provides focus on the important anatomical concepts and takes the guessing out of what’s on the examinations.