Syllabus & Calendar
Course Title: Dental Terminology
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor: Liz Eccles
Contact via email only using Moodle class email.
Technical & Administrative Support
Julie Clarke, Vancouver Island University, Powell River
Email: julie.clarke@viu.ca
Telephone (toll-free) 877-888-8890 or 604-485-8032 (Powell River)
Course Description
This course will present the role and function of the different branches of dental practice and introduce the members of the dental health team. It will give an introduction to the science of dentistry, as well as basic knowledge of dental terms, the teeth and other parts of the mouth.
Goals & Objectives
Upon completion the student will be able to:
- Recognize prefixes, suffixes, and word roots as word parts used in dental terms.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the rules for using word parts by combining them correctly to form dental terms.
- Define the structure of the oral cavity.
Texts and Materials
Text Required: "Dental Terminology", 2nd Edition, by Charline M. Dofka; Delmar Learning, Publisher (ISBN: 1-418-01522-9).
Instructor Bio
Liz Eccles has over twenty years experience as a Certified Dental Assistant and three years as an Instructor. She is a regular Instructor in the dental assistant program at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. She also teaches Dental Sciences - which includes anatomy, radiography, pharmacology, pathology etc.
Liz taught the clinical component in the dental reception program for the Center for Continuing Studies and courses as a term instructor at Vancouver Community College dental assistant and dental reception programs.
Please feel free to e-mail Liz if you have any questions or concerns at any time.
There will be opportunities for group discussions during arranged periods of time as well.
Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself
Chinese proverb
Our Moodle Classroom
Our Moodle space is our online classroom. Here you’ll find the following:
News Forum - The news forum is a general discussion forum used for the delivery of class news and events. Check here for any date changes or news of general class interest.
Course Syllabus - You are currently reading the Course Syllabus. It will be posted in your online classroom to give you an overview of the online classroom setup and the week-by-week schedule for your class.
Water Cooler - The Water Cooler is a discussion area used for non-course-related topics.
Lessons - delivered as html or pdf files, these should be easily viewable. If you have any problems, please let the instructor or administrator know.
Web Page Links/Resources - Related links. Visit them for even more information.
Assignment and posting of assignment instructions - The Assignment area is where you will upload your completed assignments. If more than one file is required, you will need to zip them before uploading.
Sample files - There may be sample files included related to your weekly lesson or assignment.
Discussions (also known as 'Forums') - Be sure to visit the Discussion area for each week's lesson. Topics will be posted for each week's lesson. You will be expected (as part of your grading for the course) to contribute. For more information on what's expected here, see the 'Grading' area below.
Grading Criteria and Total Components of a Grade
Each student will be graded by earning points for class participation, for assignments, and for the final examination. Grades will be posted in the Moodle 'Grades' area so that you can check on your progress throughout the course. Grades will be assigned as follows:
97 - 100 points = A+
93 - 96 points = A
90 - 92 points = A-
87 - 89 points = B+
83 - 86 points = B
80 - 82 points = B-
77 - 79 points = C+
73 - 76 points = C
70 - 72 points = C-
65 - 69 points = D
Less than 65 points = Fail
Points will be distributed as follows:
Participation in class discussions: 20 points possible
Students should participate in class discussion by posting their comments or questions and by responding to at least one other classmate each week. The instructor expects each student to contribute at least two thoughtful, quality postings per week (including the response to a classmate). Just logging on and reading other people's postings is not considered participation, nor is mere agreement with others' postings.
Quality of postings is more important than their sheer frequency, length or grammatical form. Quality includes, but is not limited to:
- commentary on the lesson for the current topic;
- detailed sharing of a student's experience or research relative to the week's topic;
- opinions on the topic that are backed with compelling facts and reasoning;
- raising questions that help the class better understand the topic, particularly by proposing; and explaining implications that might have been overlooked in the lecture, or in previous discussion.
Quality participation also means conveying your experience, research, opinions, questions or commentary in a professional manner. Disagreements among discussion participants are expected and often valuable, but they should be expressed tactfully, not in a confrontational tone.
Assignments: 30 points possible
Points per assignment are listed in the Course Schedule, below.
Assignment instructions will be added to the end of each lecture. Completed assignments should be submitted as described in the assignment instructions. Please do not send completed assignments to the instructor's email box.
Late assignments will automatically have one point subtracted for each day late, unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor for late submission due to extenuating circumstances.
Dental Office Observation (1/2 day) : 20 points possible
Final exam: 30 points possible
Final grade in class
Your unofficial grade in the class will available to you no later than one week after the class ends, either posted in the 'Grades' area on your course site or emailed to you directly from the instructor. Your official final grade will be sent to you via 'snail mail'.
Extra-credit: The instructor may offer opportunities for extra-credit points. Participation in extra-credit opportunities is strictly optional.
Feedback Schedule
The instructor will provide feedback and points on graded assignments within one week of the due date for that work, unless otherwise noted in the assignment instructions. Late submissions may take longer. Feedback and points for each assignment will either be posted online via the "Grades" area, or emailed to you directly by the instructor.
The instructor does not normally participate in real-time chat discussions, but students are welcome to use this feature on their own.
The instructor normally logs onto the course discussion forums at least once daily, Monday through Friday. Exceptions are the instructor's travel or sick days, which may be posted as an announcement on the Homepage.
The instructor's office hours are anytime Monday through Friday via her Moodle email.
Student Conduct
Vancouver Island University students are expected to behave in a responsible manner respectful of the learning environment inside the classroom, whether attending in person on online. This policy applies to all Vancouver Island University campus and off-campus locations where Vancouver Island University sponsored activity is occurring. For further information, link to Vancouver Island University 's Student Conduct Code pages.
Course Topics and Assignments Outline
Week 1: Introduction to the Dental Profession/ Dental Office Observation
Reading: Lesson 1 (online classroom - Introduction to the Dental Profession; Personal Oral Hygiene; Dental Office Observation Information - from 'Assignment' area)
Assignment: (6 points)
1) Read Dental Office Observation Information to familiarize yourself with the dental office observation requirements.
2) Download Dental Office Observation Record.
3) Create list of questions & short-list of potential dental offices for half-day dental office observation.
Discussion: (3 points)
Research and share information related to the Week 1 Lesson with your classmates in the Week 1 Discussion forum. Instructor will start you off in the discussion area with specific instructions.
Week 2: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms
Reading: Lesson 2 (online classroom - Prefixes, Suffixes, & Combining Forms; List of Prefixes, Suffixes, & Combining Forms); Website for Combining Forms; Chapter 1 from 'Dental Terminology - Second Edition' (Charline M. Dofka)
Assignment: (6 points)
Matching Exercise
Discussion: (4 points)
Research and share information related to the Week 2 Lesson with your classmates in the Week 2 Discussion forum. Instructor will start you off in the discussion area with specific instructions.
Week 3: Dentition & Dental Arches
Reading: Lesson 3 (online classroom - Dentition and Dental Arches); start reading Chapter 3 from 'Dental Terminology - Second Edition' (Charline M. Dofka)
Assignment: (6 points)
Dental Office Observation date
Practice Exercises: (not graded)
Activities
Discussion: (3 points)
Research and share information related to the Week 3 Lesson with your classmates in the Week 3 Discussion forum. Instructor will start you off in the discussion area with specific instructions.
Extra Learning Resources:
Website link for teeth information
Landmarks of the Oral Cavity
Those important primary teeth
Week 4: Quadrants and Parts of a Tooth
Reading: Lesson 4 (online classroom - Quadrants & Parts of a Tooth; Adult Dentition; Dentition Diagram; Tooth Numbering Systems); finish reading Chapter 3 from 'Dental Terminology - Second Edition' (Charline M. Dofka)
Assignment: (6 points)
Review quiz
Practice Exercises: (not graded)
Activities
Dentition worksheet
Basic Dental Terminology Review #1
Basic Dental Terminology Review #2
Discussion: (4 points)
Research and share the information related to the Week 4 Lesson with your classmates in the Week 4 Discussion forum. Instructor will start you off in the discussion area with specific instructions.
Week 5: Surfaces of the Teeth and Types of Teeth
Reading: Lesson 5 (online classroom - Surface of the Teeth & Types of Teeth; TMJ Information; Temporomandibular Joint Diagram); Chapter 7 from 'Dental Terminology - Second Edition' (Charline M. Dofka)
Assignment: (6 points)
Review quiz
Practice Exercises: (not graded)
Activities
Discussion: (3 points)
Research and share information related to the Week 5 Lesson with your classmates in the Week 5 Discussion forum. Instructor will start you off in the discussion area with specific instructions.
Week 6: Tissues of the Tooth/ Structures of the Oral Cavity
Reading: Lesson 6 (online classroom - Tissues of the Tooth & Structures of the Oral Cavity) and review all course materials for exam
Assignment:
Submit Dental Office Observation (20 points)
Final Exam (30 points)
Discussion: (3 points)
Research and share information related to the Week 6 Lesson with your classmates in the Week 7 Discussion forum. Instructor will start you off in the discussion area with specific instructions.
Questions, comments, or concerns? Please contact Instructor via Moodle Class email.
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