Thread: Oral Health
Post: Oral Health
Author: Rhonda Schalk

Posted Date: January 10, 2012 1:14 PM
Status: Published
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Dave,
For my project I would like to do something with oral health. Looking over the answers that you have given others about their project, I'm worried that I don't really know where I'm going to go with this or if I'll have the technosavy to actually be able to produce it.
I thought I could do a general idea of how to keep yourself healthy through oral health with teaching techniques on both brushing and flossing, using video and photos. The thing that, at this point, I'm stuck on is the "learner interaction". So what I'm wondering, I guess, is if this is workable. If I stick with simple brushing and flossing, is this too narrow? Do you think I need to expand it?

My focus group, I think, will be K-3.
Rhonda

Thread: Oral Health
Post: I'm already confused
Author: Rhonda Schalk

Posted Date: January 10, 2012 1:21 PM
Status: Published
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Since I was basically asking for input, should I have posted this under "concerns"? I'm already getting everything muddled. I hope to get it together before the end of the week.
Rhonda

Thread: Oral Health
Post: Audience of K - 3: Oral Health
Author: David Knowlton

Posted Date: January 10, 2012 3:33 PM
Status: Published
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I kind of like it, Rhonda!  Could you start by thinking a little broader than brushing and flossing -- what else is there for oral health?  Brushing and flossing does sound VERY narrow to me.  Maybe you could add something about what the dentist is looking at when the dentist looks at their teeth?  (I'm not sure what would be age appropriate, but is there any way to start broader; then if it becomes too much, it's easier to narrow.)

At first, I was concerned about such a young audience, but after thinking about it, I'm not sure why I was concerned.  I think a five year old can click on things and move through a website.

Don't worry about interaction too much yet.  Brainstorm some ideas!!!  But, as the class moves forward, you'll come to discover some ways to create interaction that will work just fine! 

Hope this helps.

Dave

Thread: Oral Health
Post: broader oral health subject
Author: Rhonda Schalk

Posted Date: January 10, 2012 6:24 PM
Status: Published
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One idea that came to me quickly since you mentioned what the dentist looks at is that I can be broad in each aspect of a typical dental exam: x-rays (what it is we are looking for), equipment, the prophy (cleaning--which could include instruction on brushing and flossing), the exam (what the dentist is looking for: cavities, gingival (gum) health, what kind (baby or adult) of teeth are present, etc), and fluoride. However, this does sound an awful lot like it's just a presentation with little or no interaction. I'm hoping that as the semester continues, I will be able to think of ideas for interactions for each of these areas. Does this sound more fleshed out?
Rhonda

Thread: Oral Health
Post: Don't lose site of your learner
Author: David Knowlton

Posted Date: January 10, 2012 6:25 PM
Status: Published
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Yes, it does sound more fleshed out.  Now, don't overwhelm your learners - 5 to 8 year olds, as I understand it.  So, as you start writing it up, you'll have to find ways to put it in Sesame Street types of language, right?  Think about the needs of your learner!  :-)

Dave

Thread: Oral Health
Post: RE: Oral Health
Author: Christy Sales

Posted Date: January 10, 2012 6:50 PM
Status: Published
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This sounds interesting to me! I will love to see your website you create.  I try really hard to take care of my teeth and gums so I'm always up for more ideas. :)

Thread: Oral Health
Post: Design project: A visit to the Dentist
Author: Rhonda Schalk

Posted Date: January 11, 2012 8:45 PM
Status: Published
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This may be redundant, but I want to be sure that I am fulfilling the assignment of creating a rough draft of my idea for the design project. (I'm still stuck in the Generative participation stage...working on moving up, though)

My design project will encompass what a child will experience in their visit to the dentist. This visit will consist of x-rays, the cleaning (which includes instruction on brushing and flossing and a brief explanation of why this is done and it's importance.), the exam, and fluoride. Within each of these components will be explanations of the "tools" used and possibly why these steps are done.

The target audience is K-3rd grade. As the design project is developed, the age of the learner will be kept in mind in terms of language and expectations. (As per Dave's suggestion to be aware of the age group in another thread.)

Right now, I'm not very sure how I'm going to make this interactive, but I'm hoping to get loads of feedback from my classmates.
Rhonda

Thread: Oral Health
Post: please ask about oral health
Author: Rhonda Schalk

Posted Date: January 11, 2012 8:47 PM
Status: Published
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Christy,
Anything you have questions on, I'm very happy to help you find the answers. I'm still relatively new to the field so I am very excited to share my knowledge. Hopefully in 20 years I'll still be excited about it!
Rhonda

Thread: Oral Health
Post: Then this happens . . . then that happens
Author: David Knowlton

Posted Date: January 12, 2012 9:30 AM
Status: Published
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From the way that you now are describing it, I worry a little bit that you will end up with just a list of items:  First you enter the waiting room, then you go to a back room, then the hygenist comes in . . . etc. etc.

Could you change the slant to more of a "training them to be a junior dentist"?  Now, what you're "really doing" is teaching them what happens when THEY go to the dentist, but if you changed the angle to make it seem more like you are teaching them HOW TO BE a Dentist, then you might have more robust opportunities to improve their knowledge, skills, judgment, etc. 

So, what I liked about your older idea of teaching good oral health was that you are improving their skills. 

I hope that I'm making sense.

Dave

Thread: Oral Health
Post: RE: Then this happens . . . then that happens
Author: Rhonda Schalk

Posted Date: January 12, 2012 9:19 PM
Status: Published
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I wasn't thinking along the lines of a list of what will happen as you go to the dentist as much as teaching the different components. Let me use the cleaning part of the visit as an example.
We have a variety of instruments that we use as part of the cleaning or prophy as we call it. (Prophy is short for prophylaxis, prevention) I can use pictures and video to introduce each of these to the learner. Some of the scary things in the dental office make noise so video would be a nice way to introduce this to them.

What would be really great would be to create some sort of game where the learner could use each of the instruments to do something. Probably, I would only be able to accomplish something much more simple like a matching game. Like: the mirror goes with the explorer; the prophy angle (I call it, "My super-duper tooth tickler") goes with the saliva ejector (the "straw" or as I like to call it, "My super-duper spit sucker" --I like the word super-duper, can you tell?)

Does this sound better? Does anyone have any suggestions to make this more of a learning activity?
Rhonda

Thread: Oral Health
Post: reading past posts
Author: Rhonda Schalk

Posted Date: January 12, 2012 9:27 PM
Status: Published
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I went back and reread what I had written before and agree with your assessment. My initial post on expansion of the exam was better. I do want to go into what we are looking at with each part of the exam as well as introduce the learner to the different instruments that we use. So, what I'm saying is go with what I said first.

Sorry my last post didn't have a clear subject heading, I forgot to change it. I'm getting tired from reading 20 million posts. I need to find a way to make myself be more choosy in what I read. I've been having fun with it though, it's a lot like Facebook! :-)
Rhonda

Thread: Oral Health
Post: I love the idea of making it a game!
Author: David Knowlton

Posted Date: January 13, 2012 10:01 AM
Status: Published
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I think that good instruction can have games embedded in them.  Keep thinking about that idea!  I like the direction of it.

Dave