Dental students' perceptions of an online learning

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• E-learning
• Medical Education Technology

Background:

• The integration of online learning in dental education is increasing.
• Assessing student readiness and preferences is crucial for effective e-learning implementation.
• Understanding perceptions of online tutorial quality is essential for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate dental students' preparedness for online learning environments.
• To explore student preferences and perceptions regarding online dental tutorials.
• To assess the perceived quality of online learning resources in preclinical orthodontics.

Main Methods:

• A 14-statement Likert scale questionnaire was administered to fourth-year undergraduate dental students at King Saud University.
• The study focused on students who had completed a preclinical orthodontic course.
• Data were collected to assess computer skills, internet access, and learning preferences.

Main Results:

• Students reported high levels of computer skills and internet access.
• A majority found online flash lectures (59.2%) and procedural videos (64.8%) beneficial.
• While few preferred purely online formats, most (70.4%) favored a blend of traditional and online learning.

Conclusions:

• Dental students generally exhibit positive attitudes towards online learning.
• Online learning is perceived as a valuable supplement, not a replacement, for traditional dental education methods.
• A blended learning approach is preferred by the majority of dental students surveyed.