Sealant Placement — Asynchronous training for dental hygiene students · Genially + Interactive Simulation · Redesign in Progress
The problem
Sealant placement reads as simple on paper and fails in specific, predictable ways — isolation breaks down, the etch is under- or over-applied, material goes on before the surface is ready. A student can recite the steps correctly and still place a sealant that fails within the year.
So the module had to carry two things at once: the procedure, and the judgment around it — when a tooth is indicated, what the complications look like, and what to do when something goes wrong mid-procedure.
What I built
A self-paced Genially module covering clinical indications, the armamentarium, the full procedural sequence, and the complications students are most likely to encounter.
Bloom's taxonomy structured the objectives in two tiers: recall of the procedural steps, then application of that knowledge to a clinical scenario. Merrill's First Principles shaped the sequencing, so each section opens from a real problem rather than from definitions.
Text pairs with images of the instruments and materials, video demonstrations show the technique from the angle a student actually works at, and interactive questions run throughout the module for immediate feedback rather than holding assessment until the end.
Built over three weeks, with a reflective paper on the design decisions and where they fell short.
The redesign
The limitation of the original module was clear: a student could complete every activity, answer every question correctly, and still never perform the procedure. Interactive questions measure whether someone recognizes the right answer. Sealant placement requires motor skills and clinical judgment working together.
I've developed a browser-based interactive prototype that moves the learner from selecting answers to performing actions. Using a realistic tooth image and interactive instruments, learners practice procedural decisions and receive feedback based on their technique.
The prototype is live and available to explore. The larger redesign remains in development, with the goal of connecting procedural knowledge, guided practice, and competency assessment.