Teaching
The programme will be taught through lectures, seminars, e-learning, workshops and work-based learning (WBL). It also includes practical projects and portfolio work by students. It is important that the programme provides a foundation of skills; knowledge and understanding that students can carry on through to other programmes. Opportunities for learning across the programme will be provided through in-class sessions supported by Blackboard online resources, exercises and tutorials. The resources provided through classroom delivery will form the basis for meeting the learning outcomes supported by further reading.
Essential resources will be available through Blackboard, as will the formative assessments, in the form of quizzes and short answer questions. Links to videos and other learning resources will also be available through Blackboard.
A number of custom-made components or devices will be used to develop an understanding of the laboratory manufacturing processes. The development of skills in manufacture and application will be based initially around simple devices, fixed restorations and models and orthodontic appliances thus enabling the development of a range of skills related to dental technology.
Students will be required to complete a total of 400 hours of work-based learning across the programme. This may be achieved through a minimum of one work placement for the duration of the programme. It is the student's responsibility to find an appropriate work placement at a Dental Laboratory in the public or private sector. Students are allocated a workplace mentor and a work placement officer. It is the work placement officer's responsibility to assess the work placement logbook formally and the workplace mentor will confirm the suitability of each appliance for presentation to the customer.
Lectures and tutorials will be used to underpin the practical components with the relevant theory, leading to greater comprehension of the skills being used. Transferable skills will be developed through the modules and embedded into the delivery for the work based modules. The work placements will be supported by work place mentors and college assessors.
Learning in the work-based environment is complemented by practical and technical skill development in the college laboratories where students are supported to achieve the required level of competence from basic to advanced skills, requiring development of professional judgement.