Negotiating the Maze: Case based, Collaborative Distance Learning in Dentistry

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Oral Rehabilitation
• E-learning

Background:

• Senior dental students require advanced training in comprehensive oral rehabilitation planning.
• Traditional curricula may lack exposure to diverse clinical philosophies and collaborative planning experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an elective online module designed to enhance senior dental students' oral rehabilitation planning skills.
• To assess the impact of international, web-based collaboration on student learning and confidence.

Main Methods:

• A web-based module involved 12 senior dental students from five universities, collaborating in international groups.
• Students utilized simulated patient case profiles with diagnostic casts and clinical/radiographic data.
• Group roles included 'Patient', 'Academic' (identifying treatments), and 'General Practitioner' (tailoring plans).

Main Results:

• All students reported increased confidence in oral rehabilitation planning.
• Key benefits included interaction with international peers and exposure to varied dental philosophies.
• Students recognized the importance of patient input in holistic treatment planning.

Conclusions:

• The online module successfully aimed to improve oral rehabilitation planning skills through collaborative e-learning.
• Enhancements are needed to address logistical challenges of distributed group work and technical issues.
• The program fostered valuable interdisciplinary and international learning experiences.