Opinions and experiences of dental students and faculty concerning computer-assisted learning

This study assessed the opinions and attitudes of faculty and students concerning the use of computer-assisted learning (CAL) at three different dental schools on two continents (Manchester, U.K.; Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A.). In each school students and faculty received a questionnaire; faculty by internal mail, students at the end of a lecture. Response rates for students were 76 percent in Manchester, 64 percent in Nijmegen, and 91 percent in Lexington. The respective figures for faculty were: 42 percent, 47 percent, and 39 percent. In all three schools approximately 50 percent of students had a computer at home. Students in Lexington and Manchester seemed to be more advanced in the use of computers for self-instructional learning. Students and faculty in Lexington had more experience with interactive multimedia than did those in Manchester and Nijmegen. In general, Lexington students were somewhat more familiar with computers and CAL than Manchester students, with Nijmegen showing the lowest percentages. Few CAL programs were available at any school, with small numbers of dental students having been exposed to programs involving animation (vision, sound). The majority of students are of the opinion that the use of computers for learning is not impersonal, nor difficult, but challenging and motivating. There is good agreement that if a program is to be bought or developed, it should be a combination of text, images, and sound. It is postulated that concerted action by dental schools is required to realize the potential of CAL in dental education, and that international organizations should give consideration to coordinating this action.