Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental Students

Background. In the restorative dentistry module of the undergraduate dental program, dental students encounter many new terms and concepts in a short period of time. The provision of adequate learning support to reinforce key concepts can be challenging. Aim. The purpose of this study is to determin...

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Main Authors: Abubaker Qutieshat, Nutayla Al-Harthy, Gurdeep Singh, Viresh Chopra, Rayhana Aouididi, Rayan Arfaoui, Sapna Dileesh, Ahmed Alsadoon, Omaima Al-Nadhiri, Shima Al-Busaidi, Sumaiya Al-Rashdi, Mohammad S Alrashdan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Dentistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/8385608
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author Abubaker Qutieshat
Nutayla Al-Harthy
Gurdeep Singh
Viresh Chopra
Rayhana Aouididi
Rayan Arfaoui
Sapna Dileesh
Ahmed Alsadoon
Omaima Al-Nadhiri
Shima Al-Busaidi
Sumaiya Al-Rashdi
Mohammad S Alrashdan
author_facet Abubaker Qutieshat
Nutayla Al-Harthy
Gurdeep Singh
Viresh Chopra
Rayhana Aouididi
Rayan Arfaoui
Sapna Dileesh
Ahmed Alsadoon
Omaima Al-Nadhiri
Shima Al-Busaidi
Sumaiya Al-Rashdi
Mohammad S Alrashdan
author_sort Abubaker Qutieshat
collection DOAJ
description Background. In the restorative dentistry module of the undergraduate dental program, dental students encounter many new terms and concepts in a short period of time. The provision of adequate learning support to reinforce key concepts can be challenging. Aim. The purpose of this study is to determine student perceptions of how effective interactive crossword puzzles are as adjunctive tools to enhance the learning of restorative dentistry. Methods. Students completed interactive crossword puzzles created by the authors, with a reward awarded to the first group of students who completed the puzzles successfully. The interactive crossword platform was programmed using the ReactJS framework and designed using Tailwind CSS. An evaluation of the student's perception of this educational method was conducted using textual feedback and Likert-scale questionnaires. Results. Students found the crossword puzzles engaging, meaningful, and successful as indicated by their favorable Likert scores and feedback. Written comments revealed student enthusiasm for and a desire to be exposed to more of these exercises. Conclusions. This work sheds light on the potential advantages of incorporating interactive crossword puzzles into the restorative dentistry course from a student’s perspective. The crossword puzzles improved students’ ability to review and reinforce concepts and terminology and proved to be meaningful and enjoyable. The web-based nature of the tool ensured good student responsiveness and engaged the entire class in an interactive, competitive setting. Application of the hint option, which offered a text of relevant reading material, helped students understand, retain more knowledge, and engage with course material more than they might have otherwise.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-8736
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publishDate 2022-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-e92209d823b849cdae5046a1ae1bf7712025-02-03T05:53:33ZengWileyInternational Journal of Dentistry1687-87362022-01-01202210.1155/2022/8385608Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental StudentsAbubaker Qutieshat0Nutayla Al-Harthy1Gurdeep Singh2Viresh Chopra3Rayhana Aouididi4Rayan Arfaoui5Sapna Dileesh6Ahmed Alsadoon7Omaima Al-Nadhiri8Shima Al-Busaidi9Sumaiya Al-Rashdi10Mohammad S Alrashdan11Adult Restorative DentistryAdult Restorative DentistryAdult Restorative DentistryAdult Restorative DentistryOral Medicine & Oral SurgeryJordan University of Science & TechnologyEnglish DepartmentOman Dental CollegeOman Dental CollegeOman Dental CollegeOman Dental CollegeOral Medicine & Oral SurgeryBackground. In the restorative dentistry module of the undergraduate dental program, dental students encounter many new terms and concepts in a short period of time. The provision of adequate learning support to reinforce key concepts can be challenging. Aim. The purpose of this study is to determine student perceptions of how effective interactive crossword puzzles are as adjunctive tools to enhance the learning of restorative dentistry. Methods. Students completed interactive crossword puzzles created by the authors, with a reward awarded to the first group of students who completed the puzzles successfully. The interactive crossword platform was programmed using the ReactJS framework and designed using Tailwind CSS. An evaluation of the student's perception of this educational method was conducted using textual feedback and Likert-scale questionnaires. Results. Students found the crossword puzzles engaging, meaningful, and successful as indicated by their favorable Likert scores and feedback. Written comments revealed student enthusiasm for and a desire to be exposed to more of these exercises. Conclusions. This work sheds light on the potential advantages of incorporating interactive crossword puzzles into the restorative dentistry course from a student’s perspective. The crossword puzzles improved students’ ability to review and reinforce concepts and terminology and proved to be meaningful and enjoyable. The web-based nature of the tool ensured good student responsiveness and engaged the entire class in an interactive, competitive setting. Application of the hint option, which offered a text of relevant reading material, helped students understand, retain more knowledge, and engage with course material more than they might have otherwise.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/8385608
spellingShingle Abubaker Qutieshat
Nutayla Al-Harthy
Gurdeep Singh
Viresh Chopra
Rayhana Aouididi
Rayan Arfaoui
Sapna Dileesh
Ahmed Alsadoon
Omaima Al-Nadhiri
Shima Al-Busaidi
Sumaiya Al-Rashdi
Mohammad S Alrashdan
Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental Students
International Journal of Dentistry
title Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental Students
title_full Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental Students
title_fullStr Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental Students
title_full_unstemmed Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental Students
title_short Interactive Crossword Puzzles as an Adjunct Tool in Teaching Undergraduate Dental Students
title_sort interactive crossword puzzles as an adjunct tool in teaching undergraduate dental students
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/8385608
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