Dental education:
Computer-based learning in the School of Dentistry
by Nancy L. Yuen

This year incoming dental students were given three instructional CDs during orientation. The School of Dentistry has used computer-based learning courses since 2001, and CDs produced by Loma Linda University are being used by students in other dental schools across the country.

Today dental educators are faced with the challenge of teaching and performing research while becoming familiar with and implementing technology in the classroom that is growing and changing at an astounding rate.

Decisions must be made that will chart the course of education for years to come, impacting hundreds of faculty members and students.
Part of the equation is trying to predict which technology to use to present the information, when industry itself cannot predict with certainty what will come next.

This is a challenge in a world where leaders at companies such as Disney struggle to anticipate what is needed, investing in staff and technology and then later making adjustments in order to produce the best results, while prudently managing resources to get the job done.

At the School of Dentistry Charles J. Goodacre, SD'71, MSD, dean, is passionate about incorporating the best technology available into the educational process, with constant dialogue with and feedback from faculty and students.

"The goal," emphasizes Dr. Goodacre, "is to make the basic core curriculum available electronically. Now and in the future, valuable and limited ‘lecture time' will focus less on information dissemination and more on subject mastery."

As a bonus, Dr. Goodacre mentions that as CDs and DVDs begin to replace conventional textbooks in the School of Dentistry, students faced with increasing challenges of financing their dental education will have access to the most current information needed for class while purchasing fewer traditional textbooks.

Following are the steps that have been taken at the School of Dentistry so far to incorporate the new technology.

Charles J. Goodacre, SD'71, MSD, dean (right), hands Michael Erickson, SD'02, a new evidence-based interactive CD that was developed by the dean and Jaime Lozada, PG'87, PG'95, director of the implant dentistry program.

Milestones of computer-based learning in the School of Dentistry
The first step in the process of computer-based learning began in 2000 with an Internet-based continuing education program for dentists developed primarily by Dr. Jaime Lozada, PG'87; PG'95, director of the implant dentistry program.

The experiences associated with this endeavor identified limitations and challenges that became the foundations upon which improvements were made.

The first major step taken at the School of Dentistry toward the development of the current Implant Dentistry CD-ROM occurred during the year 2000. An evidence-based interactive CD was developed by Drs. Goodacre and Lozada. Dr. Lozada started the initial programming using Astound and his activities were completed by Leigh Ann Evans, also using the Astound program.

A CD-ROM was developed in the fall of 2000 and used in January, 2001 for a predoctoral student course in implant dentistry.

A revised CD (programmed using Macromedia Director) was developed using the exceptional programming expertise of Mr. Rob Holland, a member of the team in Educational Support Services for the School of Dentistry.

The revised CD was developed in the fall of 2001 and used for the third-year implant dentistry course beginning in January, 2002.

A third expanded version was completed in the spring of 2002, and this current version contains 21 topics in the form of evidence-based text, illustrations with captions (including 1,031 color photographs), video clips, references with synopses, and a self-assessment examination.

The program contains interactive links whereby students can study the material prior to class, and be prepared for a quiz each day.

Formal class time is then devoted to critical thinking and problem solving based on students asking questions and faculty facilitating discussion.

The students are encouraged to ask questions that challenge the principles, concepts, and clinical procedures being advocated on the CD.

Educational support services team members (pictured, from left): Richard Tinker, director, educational support services, Rob Holland and Sam Sadanala, graphic and multimedia designers, and Richard Cross, dental school photographer.

The following School of Dentistry faculty participated in the project: Dr. Charles Goodacre as editor, Drs. Jaime Lozada, Alan Herford, Philip Boyne, Suzanne McCormick, Tord Lundgren, Carlos Munoz, Joseph Kan, Kitichai Rungcharassaeng, Guillermo Bernal, and John Leyman representing the disciplines of dental anesthesia, dental radiology, implant dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, restorative dentistry.

Richard Tinker, director, educational support services, and his staff (Richard Cross and Sam Sadanala), completed a course in Macromedia Director at University of California, Riverside.

As a final project, Mr. Tinker approached Dr. Goodacre for material to use as a final class project. The resulting CD is titled, "Principles of Tooth Preparation."

In 2001, Rob Holland, graphic and multimedia designer, joined Educational Support Services, bringing programming and graphic design experience. Mr. Holland graduated from La Sierra University in 1998 with a BFA degree in graphic design. Prior to joining the School staff he worked for the La Sierra University School of Business, helping develop a website for E-commerce.

Mr. Tinker also attended a conference sponsored by Syllabus, where faculty and staff from many educational institutions gave presentations about how electronic media are being used in their universities. "Presenters showed a broad scope of what is possible," says Mr. Tinker. "This sharing of knowledge provided many ideas that are and soon will be implemented in our School."

• Nobel Biocare provided an educational grant to the School to produce an interactive CD, "Implant Dentistry, 2002."

This grant enabled the School of Dentistry to provide the CD to all dental students, advanced education students, and full-time faculty in North America at no charge and to continue developing even greater programming expertise that will greatly benefit students in the future.

• The School of Dentistry is collaborating with Brown & Herbranson Imaging and Stanford University on an educational three-dimensional CD on tooth morphology. Dr. Eric Herbranson is an alumnus of the School. He received his DDS degree in 1970, and completed the endodontic program in 1973.

Daniel E. Tan, SD'75A, professor, restorative dentistry, and Dr. Goodacre are contributing textual material and Dr. Goodacre is working with Robert Knabenbauer, an artist at Loma Linda University, to complete drawings of five views of each primary and secondary tooth.

The School of Dentistry has published a hard copy "Atlas of Tooth Morphology," that will be a companion to the CD and can be used by students in the laboratory setting. The book cover has been designed as an easel so that it will stand open while being used. See cover illustration.

• The CD series is a valuable resource for practicing dentists. To date, three CDs: Principles of Tooth Preparation, Version 1.0; Implant Dentistry 2002; and Personal Finance Series for Health Professionals, 1st edition, are available for purchase through the School of Dentistry continuing education department, and may be ordered on the School's continuing education web pages <http://www. llu.edu/dentistry/cde/>.

In addition to purchasing the courses on CD, dentists have the option of registering to take the courses for continuing education credit.

According to Eddie Glassford, assistant director, continuing dental education, the CDs are being used by increasing numbers of individuals and study clubs, and have been requested by individuals from as far away as Canada and Japan.

Conclusion
As an increasing number of courses in the core curriculum are enhanced through the use of interactive educational methods, students will be able to carry a laptop with them and use it as students used textbooks in the past.

 

Nancy L. Yuen serves as editorial coordinator for the School of Dentistry in addition to helping prepare for the School's 50th anniversary.

 

Educational CD series