Author: Ellen J. Rogo, RDH, MEd, PhD – Professor & Interim Chair, Idaho State University Submitter: Ellen J. Rogo, RDH, MEd, PhD – Professor & Interim Chair, Idaho State University
Advocacy is written and verbal communication in support of influencing decisions to improve oral health by creating new policies and modifying or eliminating ineffective existing policies. Policymakers include legislators who vote on state laws, local officials who establish regulatory policies such as community water fluoridation, and members of dental boards who make licensing decisions. An educational experience was developed to foster the health advocacy role in dental hygiene students.
Objective: The purpose is to describe the instructional design, implementation, and evaluation of a Legislative Advocacy Project assignment.
Methods: The project was completed by Bachelor of Science (BS) degree students in a traditional classroom environment and Master of Science (MS) degree students in an asynchronous online format. The course requirement was a written paper, which comprised 35%-40% of the final grade. The project was distributed over seven weeks in a required Leadership course in both curricula. Objectives were developed for topics presented and active learning strategies engaged students to extend learning to a higher level. Weekly activities provided a means for formative assessment. A rubric, designed to determine whether the objectives were met, provided an objective summative assessment and promoted awareness of the criteria for students’ self-assessment.
Results: The majority of students earned A or B grades on the assignments. The overall mean for the BS legislative projects based on four years was 89.1 (n=102); the MS mean based on 12 years was 92 (n=81).
Conclusion: The instructional design of the Legislative Advocacy Project’s objectives, active learning strategies and summative assessment were strategically aligned and created an effective environment for learning.
