Tamatha, this is a tough skill to teach, as critical thinking is essential on the job.
Michele Deck
I also love using critical thinking questions in my class. Makes them think and analyze situations.
Lawrence, your approach simulates the real world thought processes that are difficult to teach. Bravo!
Michele Deck
B., I like rewarding everyone for their hard work at the end of jeopardy, because they have all succeeded at learning.
Michele Deck
In my online class I encorporate procedures or problmes that have truly been experienced by experienced techs in the field. Then ask the student how they wjould handle this. It incorporates and encourages critical thinking skills, and the student can comment something similar have happened to them at their clinical site, and how it turned out.
Over the years, my colleagues and I have found Jeopardy to be effective in reinforcing concepts and getting students to think/recall quickly. Plus its fun! everyone gets a token prize at the end of the game.
This is a great idea and I have began using it with my clinical students when they come back to class. It is a great teaching tool and provides that valuable teaching moment and to process best practices.
Gayle, thank you for sharing this approach. It does allow your student to think and understand many aspects of the real job.
Michele Deck
Hi,
This may not be all that creative, but I have students play the role of "doctor" when practicing or doing practicals chairside (dental assisting). This serves 2 purposes. The student playing doctor must be spot-on and know the procedure (educational reinforcement) and I can observe the student praticing/taking the practical from all angles as I am looking in at the procedure and not right in the middle of it. Makes it easier to grade that way too.
The event cards. They have been helpful in post-clinical discussions. Students have even created their own scenarios that they want to present.
Robin , this is an excellent critical thinking activity that simulates the real job.
Michele Deck
We teach dental assisting. One thing we do to help with critical thinking is with learning the set-ups for different procedures. They learn many different tray set-ups that can work alone or together. We give the student a scenario and they have to set up all of the appropriate instruments, chemicals, auxillaries etc. that are needed for that procedure.
I play "pin the tail on the"; this exercise is used to identify all of the parts of the anesthesia machine, then state its function, and trace the flow of oxygen around the machine. I first have the students match the definition to the name of the part and create the cards. I then demonstrate by naming the part and "pinning" it to the machine. The students are given multiple opportunities to practice the skill. This is an important skill set for our students as anesthesia machines are often designed differently, so when faced with a new machine they will be able to do the same.
alma, it sounds like you not only ask students to play the game, but also to write the questions. This offers multiple visits to content.
Michele Deck
Jeopardy as groups has worked very nice as it serves as a distraction and fun learning activity for all. It’s a game with learning topics and students as a group need to come up with the answer then its revealed to all if its correct or not.
I made cartoon characters out of the different equipment, i called my needles the sylvester needles after sylvester cat and my vials the tweety bird vials.
I agree that a gameshow like playing jeopardy in class works because students see it more as fun than just a lecture and can remember funny moments.
Georgiajo, I'm so glad you are able to set up this simulation for your students to get some "real life" experience.
Michele Deck
Set up a Mock clinic at the end of their clinical training to run through a day in the clinic from start to finish. So we had some students scheduling and admitting patients, we had patients with various problems, mock doctors , MA's to room the patient and preform any of the tests/procedures ordered by the mock Doctor. Then we would rotate. This way the students are practicing all of the skills they learned throughout their program before going on their externship.
Jamie, this is a marvelous way to get your learners to think critically...nice job
Michele Deck
