Decision Making and Critical Thinking in the Undergraduate Dental Curricula

TitleDecision Making and Critical Thinking in the Undergraduate Dental Curricula
Faculty/College/UnitDentistry
StatusActive
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2024
Project Summary

Undergraduate dental student training in Critical Thinking (CT) Competency is required for graduation, and after graduation, it is needed for Continuing Professional Education.

Revised CT education will consist of remote asynchronous online learning supported by some in-class Q&A sessions and, when needed, access to content experts. This setting ensures equitable opportunities for students with different skills, abilities, and learning needs to pace their own self-directed learning. Newly added, multiple diverse learning activities and assignments will facilitate student active engagement, thereby increasing their motivation and accountability. Revised learning will also include Equity, Diversity and Inclusion issues to help students identify and address their unconscious biases. In addition, due to authentic CT assessments in several settings, students will become aware of their actual strengths and weaknesses. The efficiency of this training will also be evaluated for its sustainability and expansion into senior years of dental undergraduate training, and into graduate specialty programs.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2024/2025
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorJolanta Aleksejuniene
Year 1: Funded Amount40,761
Year 1: Team Members

Jolanta Aleksejuniene, Associate Professor, Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry
Nancy Black, Clinical Professor, Faculty of Dentistry
Ian Matthew, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dentistry
Peter Murphy, Lecturer, Faculty of Dentistry
Michaela Walker, Undergraduate Student
Madison Powell, Undergraduate Student
Michaela Walker, Undergraduate Student
Madison Powell, Undergraduate Student
Mackailyn Arnason, Undergraduate Student
Aida Mesbahi, PhD Student, Faculty of Dentistry