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Meal

Clinical

Early Career Professional

Mid Career Professional

Senior Career Professional

DEIB Session

Micro-Credential: Promoting Critical Thinking

Micro-Credential: Facilitating Small Group Learning

Micro-Credential: Promoting an Inclusive and Humanistic Learning Environment

Micro-Credential:Developing a Teaching Philosophy

Micro-Credential: Technology Integration in Didactic Teaching

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Clinical

Pedagogy/Andragogy

PA-013 - Harnessing the Power of Play to Enhance Learning Outcomes in Dental Education

Sunday, March 9, 2025

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM EST

Location: Maryland C, Ballroom Level

CE: 1

Keyword: Cognition Human Learning & Problem Solving (PA)
SoTLFest Designation: Yes
LIAA Designation: No

Vuvi H. Nguyen, Ph.D.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry

PDF Handouts
Tulsi Patel, R.D.H., M.H.A

University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston
Raha K. Naderi, RDH

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry

The power of play is weaved into early childhood pedagogy but underutilized in higher education. Existing literature highlights its role in fostering a safe and positive learning environment which correlates with enhanced student engagement. In dental education, playful pedagogy can be an important tool to prime students for classroom understanding and retention. Current research on the outcomes of play-based learning in dental education will be presented. Participants will engage in play-based strategies to experience strategies that can be applied in their own teaching.

Learning Objectives:

Examine how play-based strategies in education facilitate deep learning and enhance student outcomes.
Create innovative strategies for integrating play-based strategies in the dental classroom.
Assess research findings on the outcomes of play-based learning in dental education.