Pedagogical actions to develop the skill of “explaining” in Morphophysiology

Abstract

The acquisition of intellectual skills in the basic cycle of dentistry undergraduate studies is essential for the advance of students to the clinical cycle. Objective: To design pedagogical actions in order to develop the skill of “explaining” in dentistry students who take the discipline of Morphophysiology. Methods: A development research, with a qualitative approach, was conducted from January 2009 to April 2011 at the Faculty of Dentistry of Camagüey. The initial assessment of the level of development of this skill in Morphophysiology I was conducted in the academic years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The actions included the training of the teaching staff and the guidance of students through the system of actions and operations of the skill, and their training in teaching activities. The final assessment was based on the results of Morphophysiology V Results: The initial assessment showed that 41 % of students in the academic year 2008-2009, and only 21 % in the academic year 2009-2010, had developed the skill of explaining. With the implementation of the strategy, 79 % of students in the academic year 2009-2010 and 85% in the 2010-2011 reached the development of the skill at the end of their transit through the discipline of Morphophysiology. Conclusions: The strategy showed its effectiveness and should become a permanent tool for the work of the teaching staff, although its future implementation should involve the educational work team of the brigades, in order to increase the commitment and motivation of students and improve their individual responsibility in the development of their skills.