Over two years, Maggie customized the Tal Eval and Radiographic clinical evaluation systems, developed policies, created forms, and wrote the clinical evaluation criteria. Feedback from the dental hygiene team and beta testing was incorporated throughout the process.
She also developed the training program. In collaboration with the JCCC Professional Development Department and the Kansas Dental Board, the dental hygiene faculty received 7 Continuing Education Credits for the training.
Maggie collaborated with JCCC Librarian Barry Bailey to create this Dental Hygiene Library Guide to connect students with resources. This guide can be embedded into learning management software.
Through correspondence with CRDTS, the agency that administers the dental hygiene clinical licensure exam, and collaboration with the dental hygiene faculty team, Maggie revised the intraoral and extraoral examination protocol and documentation criteria viewable here: Extraoral and Intraoral Examinations.
The Dental Hygiene Honors Pathway was launched in 2017-2018. To encourage more honors participation, all qualifying dental hygiene interviewees received the brochure. Maggie received the 2018 Extra Effort Award for her work in developing the pathway. Link to Brochure
Maggie and Andrew Johnson, Executive Director of the Pilgrim Center, developed and implemented the plan for the Pilgrim Labyrinth & Butterfly Garden, a permanent public space for walking meditation and pollinator habitat in the middle of Hyde Park at 37th and Gillham in Kansas City, Missouri. The $25,000 project was a collaboration between the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department and the Pilgrim Center. The project was funded through grants from the Mader Foundation, the Urasyz Family Fund, the Home Depot Foundation, and support from community donors and volunteers.
Maggie speaking at the September 2017 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, photos by Kate Moore
By Kayde Geisbauer, RDH
Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene, JCCC
For this assignment, I interviewed Maggie Curry-Chiu, who is an Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene at Johnson County Community College (JCCC). Maggie began her love of learning as a child, and education was always on her radar. Maggie graduated from JCCC and then completed her master’s degree at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. She has been teaching at JCCC for four years now. I first met Maggie about two years ago when I began working at JCCC as adjunct faculty. Since then, she’s graciously been mentoring me as I’ve begun my fulltime teaching journey. It’s safe to say I’ve learned a lot from Maggie. Most importantly, she’s allowed me to learn to teach in a forgiving and safe environment as I’ve asked her numerous questions. In the Spring of 2018, I’m excited to teach a class taught by Maggie prior and gain a glimpse into her innovative and 21st century thinking.
According to Maggie, teaching 21st century dental hygiene involves a plethora of student learning experiences, which includes service learning, technology, community involvement, case studies, online learning, and clinical application. Maggie stated that 21st century learning “extends the classroom beyond its traditional walls and cubicles.” She also acknowledged that we need to equip our students with learning opportunities to be critical consumers and critical thinkers. One of the most valuable concepts I have gained from Maggie is her approach to fostering the development of emotional intelligent and soft skills in student learning. Many times, the student’s perceptions and factors outside of the educational setting influence their behavior. As educators, we must recognize when this is happening and allow perspective and reflection to guide our actions. Maggie also has an interesting approach to limiting anxiety in her classroom through the use of open book testing and gamification. Rather than emphasizing summative testing, she’s moved her students’ focus towards familiarity and informal assessment.
As Maggie has mentored me, she’s given me a firsthand experience with the importance of teacher education. By being a peer mentor, she’s helped me to self-assess, reflect, and grow in my teaching journey. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from Maggie regarding 21st century thinking is that education is continually evolving. Many times, change requires effort, calibration, and hard work. Likewise, change is not always welcomed. In the pursuit of what is best for our students’ futures, however, we must be diligent in our pursuit to continue improving their educational journey. As educational leaders in the 21st century, we must embrace technology, critical thinking, and flexibility to meet the ever changing needs of students.
Maggie’s 2016 class of DHYG 225 General and Oral Pathology developed and performed this short performance in front of a small audience.
Video by JCCC’s Sam Tady:
Maggie waits for patients to arrive at the 2015 Kansas City CARE Clinic- a one-day health safety net event at the Kansas City Convention Center.
She volunteered among other dental professionals to administer local anesthesia to patients in need of dental care.
Maggie and Casey Buchanan, JCCC Counselor, presented their work on mindfulness and dental hygiene students at the Fall 2016 Professional Development Days. Casey has studied Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction extensively and collaborated with Maggie to incorporate mindfulness into her courses. In DHYG 135 Dental Materials (Fall), Maggie introduces the growth mindset. She revisits growth mindset through journal entries, lab reports, and discussion throughout the semester. In Spring’s DHYG 140 Clinic II, Maggie continues working on mindfulness with the same group of students. Together with Casey, she incorporates reading, discussion, and guided meditation on a weekly basis with students. Two years of survey responses and data comparison from pre- and post- Mindfulness Awareness Scales indicate students have more focus and sense of well-being.
This article was published in the August 2015 issue of the Journal of Dental Education, a peer-reviewed journal. In 2016 Maggie was awarded the JCCC Publication Award for this article.