A Novel Team-Based Approach to Oral Diagnosis Education: Case of the Week

Traditional oral diagnosis education often relies on passive lectures and individual case assessments. Team-based learning (TBL) offers an interactive alternative, but implementation challenges can exist. The 'Case of the Week (COW)' method presents a potentially modified TBL approach for oral diagnosis education.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the COW method in enhancing student engagement for acquiring knowledge and diagnostic skills in oral diagnosis. Additionally, we seek to explore its impact on promoting teamwork and collaboration among students, as well as assessing overall student satisfaction with this learning approach.

Students were invited to participate in a post-COW questionnaire. This questionnaire utilised a five-point Likert scale to gather student ratings across five distinct domains: Knowledge acquisition, Learning environment, Student preparedness for assessment, Student preparedness as a clinician and overall student experience with the COW activity.

The response rate was 75%, with 140 responses gathered from two groups of 70 students in each. The majority of students found COW activity valuable for acquiring knowledge (intellectual stimulation, critical thinking), teamwork and presentation skills and creating a comfortable learning environment. Furthermore, students indicated that the COW was more effective than traditional lectures in preparing them for future clinical practice. Furthermore, students reported that the COW motivated independent learning, facilitated research skills development and enhanced communication abilities.

The COW method has the potential to be an effective and engaging modified TBL approach for oral diagnosis education. By fostering knowledge acquisition, promoting teamwork and enhancing student satisfaction, it offers a dynamic and impactful learning experience.