| Current Issue: Keeping PACE News September 2009
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 Archives |
One of the most common questions directed at Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) staff is, “How many/What type of hours should I assign for this course?”
Use the following two “quick reference” charts when planning your next class to help you determine the right type and amount of CE to issue to your attendees. More information can also be found in the AGD PACE Guidelines.
The educational method or manner in which you plan to teach participants must be appropriate to both your stated course objectives and the skill level of your intended audience. The most common methods used by continuing education providers are lecture and participation. Use this quick reference to help you determine what teaching method is used in your course.
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Teaching Method
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Description
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Lecture
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- Instructor(s) present
- Participants primarily listen and ask/answer questions.
- Participants do not manipulate dental materials or devices, treat patients, or practice techniques.
- Webinars can qualify for lecture credit if a live instructor is present and available to answer questions. The provider should develop a method to ensure that participants are present during the entire presentation.
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Participation/Hands-on
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- Instructor(s) present
- Participants listen and ask/answer questions.
- Participants actively manipulate dental materials or devices, treat patients, or practice skills or techniques under the supervision of a qualified instructor. During the hands-on activities, the instructor:student ratio must not exceed 1:15. Providers may need to bring in qualified instructor assistants during this portion of the program. |
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Self-Instruction (self-paced)
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- No instructor present
- Participants read and/or complete written materials that are evaluated by the provider. Example: completion of questions from dental journal articles.
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Self-Instruction (electronically delivered)
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- No instructor present
- Instructional materials include an audio, audio-visual, or online/computer component with a specific runtime.
- Providers should develop questions/tests appropriate to the length of the program so that average participants spend at least as much time answering questions as they do watching the initial presentation.
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Protocol/Mastership
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- Instructor(s) present
- Courses involve classroom and in-office components, in addition to a class presentation that is evaluated by the course instructor.
- Participants generally manipulate dental materials or devices, treat patients, or practice skills or techniques under the supervision of a qualified instructor the classroom session. During the hands-on activities the instructor to student ratio must not exceed 1:15. Providers may need to bring in qualified instructor assistants during this portion of the program.
- The in-office component requires the participant to work independently on a homework assignment based on the classroom material and develop a presentation of his or her in-office work, to be evaluated by the course instructor/director.
- Participants earn participation hours upon completing a protocol assignment.
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Teaching
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- Awarded to individuals presenting information during a structured course.
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Awarding CE Hours
CE credit for structured programs is generally awarded based on the actual number of contact hours (excluding breaks, meals, and registration periods). No credit can be awarded if the total course time is less than one hour in duration. Use this handy guide when determining the number of hours to assign.
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Teaching Method
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Minimum hours per course
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Maximum hours per course
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Calculation
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Lecture
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1
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n/a
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One CE hour for every hour spent in the classroom.
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Participation/
Hands-on
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1
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n/a
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One CE hour for every hour spent in the classroom.
- If 30 percent or more of the total classroom time is spent on hands-on activities the total number of classroom hours can be recorded as participation hours.
- If less than 30 percent of the classroom time involves hands-on activities a combination of participation and lecture hours should be awarded reflecting the actual time participants were engaged in each activity.
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Self-Instruction
(written/self-paced)
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1
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8
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Educator provides best estimate of the time required to complete the program.
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Self- Instruction (electronically delivered)
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1
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n/a
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Award twice the length of the actual instructional time presented.
- Extra time is allowed to complete questions associated with the presentation.
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Protocol/ Mastership
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1
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n/a
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Participation credit is awarded as follows:
- One hour for every hour spent in the classroom; plus
- An amount less than or equal to the amount of credit awarded above for completion of the in-office homework (actual hours awarded are at the discretion of the evaluator, but may not exceed the number of hours a participant spent in the classroom); plus
- The number of hours each participant spends presenting or critiquing homework presentations.
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Teaching
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1
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n/a
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One hour for every hour spent presenting information in the classroom.
- If the instructor developed the content and is presenting it for the first time, providers can award three hours for every hour the instructor spends presenting the information in the classroom.
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