Creating predoctoral orthodontic laboratory online modules and a complete course kit in response to COVID‐19

1. PROBLEM

Similar to any other laboratory course in the dental curriculum, the orthodontic laboratory course required predoctoral dental students to complete specific projects: analyzing 2 cephalometric radiographs, wire‐bending exercises, creating clear retainer, and completing orthodontic study models. In response to COVID‐19, we encountered 2 challenges. First, our institution and local mandates forbid on‐campus teaching and learning. Second, the pandemic limited student gathering in classrooms. Therefore, students had to complete some laboratory projects at home.

2. SOLUTION

To address these challenges, online modules and a complete course kit were created. Asynchronous remote instruction was used for this course by providing short videos online. Students were instructed to view these videos before completing the course projects. Most of the online modules were created from existing videos produced by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry (www.youtube.com/user/UMichDent). These videos were linked through Canvas, our online learning management platform, by creating an external URL in the modules section of Canvas.

The course complete kit was created and placed in 1 bag for each student. The rationale for the complete kit concept in health care suggests that work should not start until all the items required for completion of the job are available. ¹ The kit included all the tools, instruments, supplies, and armamentarium that each student needed to complete course projects. Table 1 lists the contents of the complete course kit, and Figure 1 includes a picture of the kit. Students were instructed to pick up the complete course kit bag from the simulation laboratory in the school.

TABLE 1.

Complete course kit contents

Name of the project	Tools, instruments, supplies, and armamentarium included
Wire bending	Wire‐bending toolbox Three straight 0.018 stainless steel wires Labeled wire‐bending exercises sheet Small tapes (to tape the completed bent wires on the sheet) Wire‐bending short tutorial
Cephalometric radiograph tracing	Two labeled and printed cephalometric radiographs with tracing paper taped Two cephalometric measurements sheet Folder to put in all completed traced cephalometric radiographs with student name on it Cephalometric landmark definitions Pencil Cephalometric tracing instrument Cephalometric radiograph tracing short tutorial
Clear retainer fabrication	Poured impression with uncut and unfinished vacuum formed plastic clear retainer Special polishing wheels to finish and smooth the retainer Labeled envelop with instructions printed on it to put the Essix retainer in it Clear retainer fabrication short tutorial
Dental models trimming	Upper and lower plastic dental model base dental disposable boxes (to form the bases) Appropriate amount of dental stone to create the models placed in a small kit Alginate impressions already taken, wrapped with wet towels Small pieces of sand paper (coarse, medium, fine) Measuring scoop (to measure appropriate amount of water to stone) Label containing student name Instructions on how to make models Model trimming manual
Additional contents	Course syllabus Group assignment (10 students per group)

FIGURE 1.

Complete course kit created for each student, including all the tools, instruments, supplies, and armamentarium needed to complete the course's projects

3. RESULTS

The videos created several years ago by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry have proven to be timely and helpful during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Their library of instructional videos was critical for asynchronous student learning. These videos can also be used during synchronous instruction; however, we elected to post them on Canvas. Asynchronous instruction allowed students to play, replay, pause, or rewind part or all the videos as needed.

Students were able to complete the course projects at different times and locations. In a short survey assessing 40 students’ perspectives about the videos, 100% of respondents agreed that the videos were helpful and sufficient for demonstrating how the exercises were performed.

In addition, 100% of students liked the idea of creating a complete course kit bag. In an open comments section, the main theme about the complete kit was the fact that it was organized and increased students’ capacity to be organized. Furthermore, 3 respondents stated that the complete kit made navigating the course requirements clear and easy. Five students appreciated the combination of online videos and printed tutorials. Three students commented that the creation of these simple and innovative tools made this course the best laboratory course they ever had.

The only drawback of this format was our inability to assess whether students collaborated on the course projects, which was not permitted.

Abdelkarim A. Creating predoctoral orthodontic laboratory online modules and a complete course kit in response to COVID‐19. J Dent Educ. 2021;85(Suppl. 1):921–922. 10.1002/jdd.12359