Learning is something we all do, all the time. Unfortunately, we sometimes learn things incorrectly or with too little depth to be useful in decision-making outside of just repeating what we think we know. This is called being under an "illusion of knowing". All humans tend to believe they understand things better than they do! But, often, when its time to show what they know, things don't go well.
Humans were designed with brain architecture that uses an encoding process to make learning durable. Durable learning is that information which helps us understand the correct choice and implement it. Durable learning is also the basis for taking information learned in one situation and applying it and modifying it to new situations. To encode learning, we must activate long-term memory through retrieving information.
Our educational program is designed around the principles of educational psychology and proven learning science based on retrieval practice. You will not only learn the information, but you will begin to understand how human learning occurs. This is important because it will help you understand how to grapple with new information to place it into your long-term memory stores. Since learning is life long, you will be equipped to use these techniques to teach yourself long after you exit your formal learning environments.
The old saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words". That might be an overstatement, but actually educational researchers have long known that people learn better with pictures and words than with just using words alone. This phenomenon is because humans are equipped with auditory and visual processing channels in their brains that, when used together, improve the impact that is made on the long-term memory.
But, there is a limit on how much the human mind can process at any one time. When those limits are ignored, learners suffer from cognitive overload, and learning is impaired.
At CDI, our learning is designed around these well-known multimedia principles. Our learning paradigm is based on the principles of adult learning. We know how to design learning tailored to mature minds that are motivated to regulate their learning experiences.
We utilize online learning that is ready to view on phones, tablets, and personal computers when you are ready to view it. Our online learning format and our face-to-face formats both use best practices in learning to help our Residents succeed. Our designs are interactive and authentic so that you don't waste valuable time viewing irrelevant content. Our goals also include helping you track your progress so that you are sure of what you know.
The learning modules are intended to be completed along a learning pathway. While they may be available to view, it is important that students work through the learning progression as assigned to achieve the best result. This is because many of the Community of Inquiry meetings and lectures are developed in a learning sequence. Most of the clinical learning assignments, such as the suture board, are designed to follow introductory material housed in the LMS. To complete material out of order may result in not only being confused on the lecture days, but may cause difficulty for other students in the cohort.
The learning modules are full of information distilled into a review-type format. Many of the concepts will have been covered extensively in your undergraduate training, however, we have developed a format that allows you to have concepts at your fingertips. Remember, the best way to learn is to retrieve information from your long-term memory stores. This retrieval practice develops durable learning that can be transferred to new situations.
Below are some tips for success and some additional information to help you on your learning journey.
Stay current so you do not fall behind in assignments.
Ask questions when information is not making sense to you.
Be prepared to discuss information. Our LMS affords you the opportunity to learn on-demand at your own pace, so you should have an adequate understanding of material before discussions.
Complete assignments fully. To receive your Certificate, CDI requires a completion rate of 85%.
Our residency programs are a combination of learning opportunities that center around improving your General Dentistry skills, your problem-solving skills, and your discernment. Dental practice requires an immense amount of knowledge about interrelationships between the oral cavity and systemic health. It requires being able to troubleshoot problems, choose solutions and apply the best practices for the benefit of the patient. It also requires understanding how to communicate with and interrelate with many different businesses (such as laboratories and vendors), people (like staff members and patients) from many backgrounds. Dental practice needs to be approached in a logical, step-wise fashion in which solid foundational principles are known and applied on a moment by moment basis.
To accomplish our goals for your residency, we have developed a learning model that will give you goals and objectives and rate performance based upon those goals. Over time, your performance ratings should improve in every area, although the improvement will proceed at a different rate in the various areas. For example, you may have a clinical weakness in access openings for root canal therapy. In our system, we will note the deficiency, give you actionable feedback for improvement, and document when the weakness is showing improvement.
Each resident's learning pathway will vary slightly, therefore. You should avoid comparing yourself and your knowledge and performance to other residents. Instead, focus on your individual talents and abilities and seek to apply the given corrections. It is fine to admire another Resident's style with patient communication and develop those admired aspects into your own personal interactions, but the comparison game can keep you in a mindset that only focuses on weaknesses and not improvement. When we focus on our abilities being unchangeable, we operate in a fixed mindset that says trying new things or trying things in new ways will be of no value. Alternatively, a growth mindset uses defeat or mistakes as a necessary correction on the pathway to improvement. Scientific studies have shown that a growth mindset is necessary for learning.
This short video selection is a great introduction to approaching a growth mindset while you are at CDI. You will make mistakes, be confused, misunderstand someone, and not always perform at your best. The critical aspect of learning is understanding that learning involves some failures and some successes. We must always do what is in the best interest of the patient, that is, we must practice competently. But, as we operate in that realm, we can always improve.
You need to learn to value the knowledge and experience of the instructors and Chief Residents at CDI. They can help you stay on track with best practices and implementation. Communicate your questions and concerns and be prepared to learn.
