| Unit name | Foundations for Practice |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ORDSM0065 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Mrs. House |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Dental School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is important because it provides training of fundamental skills and knowledge for the student in the non-clinical environment for experiential clinical learning in the subsequent two practice-based units.
The aims of this unit include students gaining an understanding of:
Additional aims are to introduce the student to concepts of law and ethics, reflective practice, communication and research skills applicable to dentistry with a focus on the needs of different patient groups including children, adults, older people, and those with special care requirements.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This must-pass unit precedes workplace-based training as a student orthodontic therapist, and successful completion ensures that students have the skills, knowledge and behaviours to progress safely to patient care. Demonstrating appropriate understanding, behaviours, and skills to treat patients safely in subsequent practice-based units is a critical part of this unit.
An overview of content
To provide necessary tuition in the pre-clinical setting that will prepare the student for clinical practice.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will have the skills, knowledge and behaviours to progress to workplace-based training as a student orthodontic therapist. They will understand the significance of undertaking a professional clinical training programme leading to registration with the General Dental Council.
Learning Outcomes
To describe:
To be aware of:
To be knowledgeable in:
To recognize:
To assess and manage:
To be able to discuss:
To understand:
To demonstrate:
Teaching methods include:
Teaching will use a blended learning approach delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities. Students will be expected to engage with all learning.
Clinical skills laboratory teaching will provide simulated 'phantom heads' and teeth for students to practice the necessary practical procedures to the required standard prior to the summative assessment for this unit and prior to patient care. These laboratory sessions will be supported by preparatory material, viewing images/video clips and demonstrations, and regular formative assessment and feedback by supervising staff.
This postgraduate diploma offers career development to a variety of dental care professionals, who will start the course with a range of experiences and skills. The teaching methods in this unit will include group tutorials, scenario teaching and group work to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing of prior experiences – particularly covering topics such as communication skills and professionalism. Additionally, small group tutorial teaching will ensure that transferrable skills such as academic enquiry, understanding research papers and critical appraisal of the literature, scientific writing and a good grasp of academic integrity are well understood to underpin learning and development in the later parts of the course. The in-person, cohort-based teaching in this unit will facilitate the cohesion of the year group, which is of particular importance due to the placement-based nature of later units in the programme.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Alongside training in the clinical skills laboratory, several must-pass competencies will be taken to ensure students are meeting the standard required to prepare students for safe clinical practice. In order to determine whether students have developed not only the practical ability but also the correct approach and attitudes to complete a task safely and to an adequate standard, students have to be observed carrying out the procedure (e.g., to prepare a tooth for placement of an orthodontic fixed appliance). Hence this type of skill is assessed in the form of a Performance of a Prescribed Task or Competence Assessment. Competence assessments may take place in the clinic and involve procedures performed on patients, or in the clinical skills laboratory on simulators. They are more than just tests of practical skill. In order to pass, students must demonstrate the necessary underpinning knowledge to allow sound judgements to be made about treatment. Patient management should be good, and the procedure should be conducted in a professional manner. Each assessed procedure is broken down into its important stages and performance is measured against criteria for each stage. Working through the clinical competencies will prepare students to complete the tasks assessed in the summative examination for this unit. The competencies can be repeated as many times as needed but must be completed before the date of the unit exam below.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The assessment for this unit (100% of unit total) is an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Passing this assessment is the ‘Gateway’ to progressing to the subsequent unit where you will be treating patients under supervision within your workplace-based placement.
When assessment does not go to plan
Following the Gateway OSCE examination, feedback and support will be provided for any students not yet meeting the required standard. A second opportunity to sit the examination will be provided before the workplace-based placement as an Orthodontic Therapy student can commence. Results for this unit will be ratified at a Faculty Exam board held in February. If a student fails to meet the required standard in the OSCE after two attempts, they will be required to withdraw from the programme. If however, a student fails two attempts but has classified exceptional circumstances, they may be offered a further attempt to demonstrate the required standard by retaking the first unit in the following year. They will only be allowed to take the further two units after passing the first one.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ORDSM0065).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
