Course Information
Registration for the course is done online and all the modules are
taken online in the comfort of your home, at your convenience and your
pace. You may pause and restart at any time and will want to break up
your learning into several shorter sessions. The learning is
self-directed. It is estimated that the entire course will take about
25 hours to complete, or about 5-6 hours for each module; however, you
can take as much time as you need. Although the course is set up in a
linear fashion, the development of a business plan and the learning
that accompanies its development does not happen linearly. Expect to
go back to previous modules following their completion to reconfirm
your understanding or to revise aspects of your business plan.
The module handouts can be downloaded and printed as a complement to
the textbook. It is a valuable learning tool with the learning
outcomes, journal entries, learning activities, and resources such as
links to websites, etc. It is important that your participation
includes these learning activities because they have been designed to
contribute to the knowledge required to develop your business plan.
You will require basic study supplies including pens and pencils, a
notebook, calculator, and paper to complete the course. Expect to do
additional research beyond the suggestions offered in the course and
network with other business owners to learn what has contributed to
their success.
The required textbook for this course is the following:
Skinner JR, Champion T.
Business Plan, Business Reality: Starting and Managing Your Own
Business in Canada
[eBook, 5th ed]. Toronto (ON): Pearson; 2021.
The fifth edition is available electronically and may be ordered
online from
Pearson
or
Vital Source. There is also a list of resources and reference materials in your
handouts. Please note that the use of earlier editions is not advised
to ensure relevancy with most current business-related concepts in
Canada. References cited throughout the handouts in this course direct
you to sections in the fifth edition.
A short quiz accompanies each module. This formative assessment will
support retention of business concepts along the way and offer you
opportunity to apply your learning. There is no final summative
examination. The summative learning you achieve from the course will
be the anticipated final product: your business plan! A certificate of
completion issued by CDHA may be printed from your computer upon
completion of the module 5 quiz.
Relevance to Practice
Entrepreneurs generally have strong beliefs about the services they
will offer and are willing to accept a level of personal and
professional risk to bring their dream to reality. Entrepreneurship is
often difficult and tricky, as many new ventures fail. This online
course will provide the resources and skills needed to meet these
challenges and allow dental hygienists to prosper as business owners
and practitioners working independently.
Course Developers
Melissa Chaulk, MEd, BSc, RDH
Melissa completed a Bachelor of Science specializing in biomedical
biology in 2008 at Laurentian University prior to receiving her
diploma in Dental Hygiene from Cambrian College in 2010. She most
recently completed a Master of Education in teaching and learning
in 2020 at the University of Ottawa. Her synthesis research paper
focused on dental hygiene leadership development and the role of
emotional intelligence and transformative learning theory. She
also holds a Certificate in Adult Education from the Canadian
College of Educators and is passionate about teaching adult
learners.
Her passion for education led her to CDHA where she manages
learning opportunities for Canadian dental hygienists as manager
of professional development. Over the past decade, she has worked
primarily in general clinical practice and education as clinical
coordinator and faculty member at the Canadian National Institute
of Health prior to her joining CDHA in 2018.
Donna Wells, RDH, BA
Donna is a graduate of the dental hygiene program at the Canadian
National Institute of Health and holds a Bachelor of Arts in
psychology from Carleton University. After working several years
in both general and periodontal practice, Donna became a faculty
member, and most recently held the position of preclinical
coordinator at the Canadian National Institute of Health. She
holds a certificate in Teaching and Training Adults from Algonquin
College. Donna is the manager of professional practice at the
Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and is passionate about her
role of providing guidance to members of the Independent Practice
Network and to CDHA members on healthy and respectful workplace
concerns.
CDHA would also like to recognize the following dental hygienists
who assisted with course development:
- Roma Czech
- Paulette Dahlseide
- Wanda Fedora
- Sophie Freeman
- Tammy Gulevich
- Wendy Jobs
- Shelly Lambe
- Leona Le Lievre
- Marcy Skribe
- Gerrard Weinberger
Special thanks are extended to CDHA Writer/Editor, Megan
Sproule-Jones and Dental Hygiene Practice Director, Sylvie Martel,
for their assistance with content review.