Program Assessment & Action Plan
Program: Dental Assistant
Semester: Fall
Year: 2014
Instructor(s): Susan Shelite
Course(s): DEN 138 Radiology I & DEN 237 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
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
Outcomes
1, 2
1, 2, 4
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4
Program
Outcomes
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
1, 4, 7
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10
1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10
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?
Last year, this rubric was used for the first time, and although the original goal of 80% of the students
achieving an average of 3.0 or better was met and surpassed, the rubric was used again this year because
of the low score on “All Films were Diagnostic.”
The goals for this year were:
a.) Goal 1: 80% of the students will average a 3.0 or above on the rubric.
b.) Goal 2: 80% of the students will receive a 3.0 or above on the “All Films Are Diagnostic” skill.
3. Who will analyze the data?
Susan Shelite and Trish Hayden
Assessment Results
1. What were the results?
a.) Goal 1 was surpassed. 100% of the students averaged a 3.7 or above on the rubric. 65% of the
students had a perfect rubric.
b.) Goal 2 was surpassed. 100% of the students received a 3 or above on the “All Films are Diagnostic”
skill set.
Average Scores on Rubric - 17 Students
11
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
Number of Students
4
2
2
1
0
3.7
3.8
4
Rubric Scores
4 - Excellent
3 - Good
2 - Fair
1 - Poor
0 - No Effort Evident
Average scores for each rubric category
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.
Average
4
3.9
3.6
4
3.9
4
3.9
Institutional Outcomes
3.9
4
3.9
4
3.6
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
Rubric Scores
1
0.5
0
Demonstrate
the ability to
think critically.
Demonstrate
Demonstrate
Develop
proficiency in
effective
positive work
technical
written and
habits and
program
verbal
interpersonal
learning
communication. skills needed for
outcomes.
employment.
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.
AVERAGE
Rubric Scores
3.9
3.9
3.6
4
3.85
Program Outcomes
3.9
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
3.6
3.8
4
3.9
3.9
3.9
4
4
3.9
Rubric Scores
Rubric
Scores
Assist in clinical procedures. (1)
3.9
Manipulate dental materials to perform laboratory procedures associated with dental treatments. (2)
3.6
Apply principles of radiation hygiene and safety, utilizing correct techniques to obtain diagnostic radiographs. (3)
3.8
Demonstrate concepts of infection control. (4)
4
Gather and record diagnostic, patient, and treatment information. (5)
3.9
Provide patient education. (6)
3.9
Assist in medical and dental emergencies. (7)
3.9
Perform basic dental business office procedures. (8)
4
Maintain confidentiality and professional ethics. (9)
4
Participate and communicate effectively as a healthcare team member. (10)
3.9
AVERAGE
3.89
2. What was learned through analyzing these results?



More emphasis was placed on the diagnostic radiographic image placement in conjunction with the
PID of the dental radiology unit.
There were increased human patient radiographic requirements.
Students were required to explain to the instructor in more detail what needed to be done
differently with his/her radiograph technique to improve diagnostic radiographic quality.
The above adjustments in instruction resulted in excellent scores.
1.) Based on the analysis of the results, what steps will be taken to improve student learning?
a.) No further adjustment in instruction is required at this time.
2. What goals will be set for next year?
a.) A rubric will be designed to assess another course next fall. The goals will be decided at that time.