Lifestyle Considerations

Things to Consider

Dental Hygienists will need to consider carefully the lifestyle changes that will occur when you undertake academic dental hygiene studies at the 3rd or 4th year university level. For many of you it may be the first time you will be a university student which can be quite different from being a diploma-level dental hygiene student.

Students undertaking degree-level dental hygiene studies will have to plan carefully the balance between practice and personal responsibilities. This will mean discussing with family and support people, the implications of working and studying long hours, having access to the required hardware and software for online courses and the cost of the program.

If you choose to be a full-time student it is unlikely that you can practice in addition to the course load. If you choose to be a part-time student with up to 5 years to complete your requirements for graduation, only you can determine how to balance your practice and study load. You will be an upper level university student so you should anticipate devoting many hours per week to your studies and assignments.

Academic/Learning Style Considerations

It may be a considerable period of time since you were a dental hygiene diploma student and there have been many changes in educational approaches recently. The emphasis now is on student-centered learning rather than instructor-centered teaching. As a student you are expected to be self-directed, taking responsibility for your own learning and being accountable for your choices and decisions. Instructors are guides or mentors, not necessarily content experts. Technology has become an integral part of the Dental Hygiene Degree Program that is making it possible for dental hygienists to complete their degree requirements at UBC from anywhere.

Students must be prepared to work and study independently and as members of small groups. Small group work is emphasized in most online courses.

The ability to prepare for and participate in online discussion forums with fellow students and instructors is key to success in the Program. Ideas, knowledge and literature research are shared and discussed this way.

The ability to communicate with others, to self-evaluate and to provide constructive feedback to others is central to activities of the small group work of the Program.

Self-direction and time management are central to success in the Program. The multiple demands of academic work require strong skills and abilities.

A variety of evaluation tools are used throughout the Program. Students will write papers, conduct literature reviews, participate in presentations, written examinations, and case studies as well as be involved with instructors, peer and self-evaluation.

Students must integrate the knowledge, skills and professional behaviour learned in the Program into your practice of Dental Hygiene to make this learning experience meaningful.