• Cristina Maresca, Carlos Barrero, Dereck Duggan, Enrique Platin, Eric Rivera, Wallace Hannum, and Frank Petrola.
• Dr. Maresca is a graduate resident, Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Barrero is Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Duggan is Assistant Professor, Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Platin is Clinical Professor, Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Rivera is Associate Professor, Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Hannum is Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Education; and Mr. Petrola is Research Assistant, Department of Prosthodontics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.
• J Dent Educ. 2014 Aug 1; 78 (8): 1194-204.

AbstractBlended learning (BL) is the integration of classroom learning with an online environment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dental students who experienced BL in a preclinical endodontic course demonstrated better manual skills, conceptual knowledge, and learning experience compared to those experiencing traditional learning. All eighty-one students (100 percent) in a preclinical endodontics course agreed to participate and were assigned to either the traditional or BL group. A root canal procedure was used to determine the level of manual skills gained by each group. Pre- and post-intervention quizzes were given to all students to evaluate conceptual knowledge gained, and the students' perspectives on the methods were evaluated with a survey. The BL group scored better than the traditional group on the manual skills exercise at a statistically significant level (p=0.0067). There were no differences in the post-intervention quiz scores between the two groups, and the students' opinions were positive regarding BL. With BL, the students were able to learn and demonstrate dental skills at a high level.

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