MOTIVATING DENTISTRY STUDENTS: A BIOFILM PROJECT TO FOSTER ENGAGEMENT AND INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING

Within the framework of the Teaching Innovation Strategies promoted at Universidad San Pablo-CEU, the BioFilm project has been developed in School of Medicine for first-year students enrolled in the Dentistry degree, which is offered to students from all nationalities in two languages: Spanish and English.Some dentistry students do not consider the application of basic science subjects "on real world" or their future profession, making learning process overwhelming.Within the School of Medicine, dentistry students take the subjects of Biology (1 st semester), Genetics and Biochemistry and Physiology (2 nd semester).To address the need to boost student motivation in these subjects, the BioFilm project was developed.This is a single project that spans various subjects across two semesters, with different student work submissions.The project involved 150 students and was mentored by 9 supervisors, also lecturers on the subjects, from two different departments and schools: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (School of Pharmacy) and the Department of Basic Medical Sciences (School of Medicine).To increase engagement and motivation, a transversal and multidisciplinary Project based learning approach was developed.Students were asked to present informative videos on chosen topics that cover all subjects involved in the learning project, thereby deepening the learning process.Using Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools, students were challenged and their willingness to engage in the work improves, as they are very familiar with these short videos in their spare time.Through the evaluation of these videos, it is determined whether the students have successfully integrated the knowledge acquired from the different subjects.Additionally, the project promoted a transversal and horizontal learning experience, ensuring that students develop a comprehensive understanding of different subjects.This method fosters project management, teamwork, critical thinking and the ability to communicate complex concepts effectively.In conclusion, the Biofilm project enhances the learning experience of the first-year student at Universidad San Pablo-CEU by facilitating interdisciplinary courses coupled with the integration of ICT tools as well as sharpening critical analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills.Creating didactic videos has twofold benefits in the context of the project, as it guarantees comprehension of the content and teaches the students how to use the acquired knowledge in their future profession.Such an innovative method of teaching and learning is believed to increase student's interest and participation in academic work which will raise overall achievement as well as enhance the quality of educational experience.