Program Assessment & Action Plan
Program: Dental Assistant
Semester: Spring
Year: 2014
Instructor(s): Susan Shelite
Course(s): DEN138 Radiology I & DEN237 Radiology II
College Mission
Salina Area Technical College will meet employment needs of the region by providing a diverse community of
learners with the technical and general education skills necessary for employment, personal growth and
lifelong learning.
Program Mission
The mission of the Dental Assistant Program at Salina Area Technical College, an institution of higher
education, is to provide students with the opportunities to acquire relevant technical skills and knowledge for
employment or advancement in the dental profession.
Assessment Plan for Amalgam Placement and Instrumentation
1. Outcomes to be measured.
Institutional:
1.) Demonstrate the ability to think critically.
2.) Demonstrate proficiency in technical program learning outcomes.
3.) Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication.
4.) Develop positive work habits and interpersonal skills needed for employment.
Program:
1.) Assist in clinical dental procedures.
2.) Manipulate dental materials to perform laboratory procedures associated with dental treatments.
3.) Apply principles of radiation hygiene and safety, utilizing correct techniques to obtain diagnostic
radiographs.
4.) Demonstrate concepts of infection control.
5.) Gather and record diagnostic, patient, and treatment information.
6.) Provide patient education.
7.) Assist in medical and dental emergencies.
8.) Perform basic dental business office procedures.
9.) Maintains confidentiality and professional ethics.
10.) Participates and communicates effectively as a healthcare team member.
Instructional project to be used to measure outcomes: Full Mouth Series of Digital Images
Outcomes to be assessed:
Skill
Proper Materials Were Gathered for PSP Images.
Infection Control Procedures Were Followed.
All Films Were Diagnostic.
Films Were Labeled Correctly.
Films Were Mounted Correctly.
Patient’s Health History Was Cleared for Radiographic
Exposure.
Institutional
Program
Outcomes
Outcomes
1,2
1,3,4,5,6,7,10
1,2,4
1,4,7
1,2,3
1,2,3,5,6,7,10
1,2,3,4
1,5,7,8,9,10
1,2,3,4
1,3,5,8,9,10
1,2,3,4
1,5,6,7,8,9,10
3. What process(es) will be used to collect data?
A rubric will be used.
2. What are the intended results?
80% of the students will average a 3 or above on the rubric.
3. Who will analyze the data?
Trish Hayden and Susan Sheltie
Assessment Results
1. What were the results?
a.) The goal was reached. All but one student attained an average of 3.0 on the rubric.
b.) Students struggled with Program Outcome #2. The average on the rubric for this outcome was 2.43.
Average Scores on Rubric - 14 Students
6
5
5
4
3
3
2
2
Number of Students
2
1
1
1
0
2.83
3.17
3.5
3.67
3.83
4
Rubric Score
Rubric Scores
4 - Excellent
3 - Good
2 - Fair
1 - Poor
0 - No Effort Evident
Average scores for each rubric category
Proper Materials Gathered for PSP Images.
Infection Control Procedures Were
Followed.
All Films Were Diagnostic.
Films Were Labeled Correctly.
Films were Mounted Correctly.
Patient's Health History Was Cleared for
Radiographic Exposure.
3.79
3.79
2.43
3.86
3.93
3.79
Institutional Outcomes
4
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.84
3.5
3
2.5
2
Rubric Scores
1.5
1
Demonstrate
the ability to
think critically
Demonstrate
Demonstrate Develop positive
proficiency in effective written work habits and
technical
and verbal
interpersonal
program
communication skills needed for
learning
employment
outcomes
Demonstrate the ability to think critically
Demonstrate proficiency in technical program learning outcomes
Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication
Develop positive work habits and interpersonal skills needed for employment
Rubric Scores
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.84
Program Outcomes
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
3.6
3.38
3.79 3.56
3.34
3.53
3.86 3.86
3.56
2.43
Assist in clinical procedures.
Rubric Scores
Rubric Scores
3.6
Manipulate dental materials to perform laboratory procedures associated with dental
treatments.
2.43
Apply principles of radiation hygiene and safety, utilizing correct techniques to obtain
diagnostic radiographs.
Demonstrate concepts of infection control.
Gather and record diagnostic, patient, and treatment information.
Provide patient education.
Assist in medical and dental emergencies.
Perform basic dental business office procedures.
Maintains confidentiality and professional ethics.
Participates and communicates effectively as a healthcare team member.
3.38
3.79
3.56
3.34
3.53
3.86
3.86
3.56
2. What was learned through analyzing these results?
a.) Program Outcome #2 directly correlates to only one skill on the rubric: All Films Were Diagnostic. 43% of
the students received less than a 3 on this skill.
Action Plan Based on Results and Analysis
1. Based on the analysis of the results, what steps will be taken to improve student learning?
By implementing the following changes in instruction, increased percentages will be seen on the next student
assessment:
a.) More emphasis will be placed on the diagnostic radiographic image placement in conjunction with the PID
of the dental radiology unit.
b.) There will be increased human patient radiographic requirements.
c.) Students will explain to the instructor in more detail what needs to be done differently with his/her
radiograph technique to improve diagnostic radiographic quality.
2. What goals will be set as result of the above changes in instruction?
Although the original goal of 80% of the students achieving an average of 3.0 or better was met and
surpassed, the rubric will be used again next year because of the low score on the “Manipulate dental
materials to perform laboratory procedures associated with dental treatments.” That Program Outcome is
not acceptable.
The goals for next year will be:
a.) 80% of the students will average a 3.0 or above on the rubric.
b.) 80% of the students will receive a 3.0 or above on the “All Films Are Diagnostic” skill.
3. What additional software, machinery, tools, etc… do you need that would help you teach this course(s)
more effectively?
a.) I feel to teach this course more effectively first and foremost, another manikin with human teeth/jaws
would benefit the students greatly. The manikins we have now need to be sent in to the company for
repairs. The ratchet mechanism is wearing out.
b.) Another great investment would be 20 more phosphor plate sensors to allow students to utilize class
time more effectively. This will allow more students to take digital phosphor plate images at one time.
c.) Another piece of equipment that would support student learning would be another digital sensor. In
order to increase students’ knowledge of dental software, a bridging software-Dexis would allow students
learning digital sensor technology to learn another software, increasing his/her marketability to dentist
offices.
d.) If there was another computer in the radiology room, it would allow more students at one time to use
digital sensor technology.
e.) An upgrade of the DEN program’s intraoral camera is needed. Newer technology can be implemented
using a USB intraoral camera to increase student learning for an initial dental exam and documentation skills.