Journal of dental education
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Comparative Study
Effect of Computer-Assisted Learning on Students' Dental Anatomy Waxing Performance.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of computer-assisted learning on first-year dental students' waxing abilities and self-evaluation skills. Additionally, this study sought to determine how well digital evaluation software performed compared to faculty grading with respect to students' technical scores on a practical competency examination. First-year students at one U. ⋯ Overall correlations between visual and digital assessment scores were modest though statistically significant (5% level of significance). Analysis of survey responses completed by students in the technology groups showed that profiles for the two groups were similar and not favorable towards digital technology. The study concluded that technology-assisted training did not affect these students' waxing performance or self-evaluation skills and that visual scores given by faculty and digital assessment scores correlated moderately.
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The aims of this study were to describe the processes used to train dental faculty members in case-based learning (CBL) and to determine their beliefs about the anticipated implementation of CBL and perceptions of actual implementation following use of the CBL approach. Participants were dental faculty members at the University of Florida who received a four-day intensive training course in the use of CBL. Two focus groups were conducted. ⋯ The findings showed that initially the faculty members were hesitant and uncertain about using CBL. Following implementation, those issues dissipated, as the participants began to consider how to optimize the effectiveness of CBL as a legitimate method for fostering student ownership of learning and active participation. Understanding what CBL means for individual educators at varying stages of change will likely allow the dental education community to better anticipate and address tensions and challenges that faculty members are likely to experience.