Undergraduate students as knowledge multipliers and facilitators in the teaching-learning process about a digital radiographic system

Resumen

This report presents the five-step methodology adopted for the empowerment and training of professors and students for the use of a new intraoral radiograph digital system. It highlights the importance of undergraduate students as facilitators and multipliers in the teaching-learning process. Two students were selected to act as facilitators in the teaching-learning process and multipliers of knowledge regarding the radiographic system. These students, together with oral radiology professors, participated in meetings with the board and administrative technicians to define goals (step 1), organized teaching materials (step 2), developed 2-hour theoretical-practical activities for professors and all clinical students (step 3), followed the system implementation stage during one semester (step 04) and applied the evaluation of the system used (step 5), on the Dental Teaching Hospital. Students and professors from two clinical disciplines were chosen to experience the onset of this implementation. At the end of the semester, a survey was conducted to evaluate the usability of the radiographic system. Overall, 176 students and 12 professors participated in the theoretical-practical activity. During system implementation, 68 students and 34 professors experienced the new technology. The usability assessment according to students and professors was 73.35 and 79.37, respectively. The proposed digital system was implemented correctly. The experience of undergraduate students in the different stages of the project, problematization of the theme, accomplishment of their work in a collaborative manner, and the application of solutions developed by them contributed to the formation of professionals always open to critically change.