Dental Faculty and Practitioners at the Forefront of Teaching and Learning

ATLANTA - Dec. 2, 2015 - PRLog -- ATLANTA, GA – The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and Academy for Academic Leadership (AAL) held the 2015 Institute for Teaching and Learning (ADEA/AAL ITL) in Atlanta on August 20-22 and October 22-24, 2015. The ADEA/AAL ITL is an intense professional development program created for early- and mid-career faculty and private practice dentists who are interested in academia. The program’s goal is to help participants refine their teaching skills, enhance the quality of their interactions with students, and develop other skills that will increase confidence, job satisfaction, and professional growth in the academic environment.

The 2015 ADEA/AAL ITL class included 85 participants from dental schools and clinical institutions as well as private practices. “The ADEA/AAL ITL now has 560 alumni since its launch in 2006,” says N. Karl Haden, Ph.D., President of AAL. “Evaluations from participants and ongoing educational research conducted by our instructors keep the curriculum current and ensure the program prepares faculty with teaching skills necessary to understand and communicate with today’s students.” Ninety-nine percent of graduates report a positive or highly positive experience with the program.

At the ADEA/AAL ITL, participants learn the skills of a master teacher from renowned experts in pedagogy, curriculum development, higher education administration and leadership. The program occurs in two phases over six days, with a between-phases assignment. Participants in the ADEA/AAL ITL earn 50 continuing education units.

“Knowing how people learn and what teaching techniques work best is a continuous process and fundamental to our mission in dental education,” says Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H., ADEA President and CEO. “The growth and popularity of the ADEA/AAL ITL program demonstrates the commitment of academic dental institutions and their faculty to excellence in the profession and to fostering leadership.”

To date, a total of 186 tuition scholarships have been provided for individuals to participate in the ADEA/AAL ITL. The scholarship providers include AAL, ADEA, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Foundation, American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Foundation, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), American Dental Association, Colgate-Palmolive Co., and the Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission.

For more information about the ADEA/AAL ITL, please visit http://www.aalgroup.org/ITL or call 404-350-2098.