A survey of instructional technology in dental education

Little is known about current use of hardware and non-hardware instructional technologies in dental education. To address this area, the investigators designed a questionnaire to assess support for the development of instructional technology and determine the extent to which different instructional technologies are used in North American dental schools. Responses were received from 59 of 65 dental schools (91 percent). Respondents at most schools judged the administration at their school to be supportive of the development of instructional technology, but in general, did not feel faculty were enthusiastic about or rewarded for developing innovative methods. The most common computer-based application involves testing and record keeping, which is used extensively in about half the dental schools. Individualized instruction and paper and pencil simulations are used in at least some courses at a majority of dental schools. Schools with available support services apply certain technologies to a significantly greater extent than schools without available support services.