Distance education in the U.S. and Canadian undergraduate dental curriculum.
A major trend at all levels of education in recent years has been the advent of distance learning and, more specifically, the use of computers and communications capabilities to provide online learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which distance learning and online technologies are being employed by dental schools in the United States and Canada. Two groups were surveyed: academic deans and faculty members of U.S. and Canadian dental schools. Thirty-eight academic deans responded to a paper-based survey, and more than 400 faculty members responded to a web-based survey. The results of these surveys indicate that online delivery of content and information has a bright future in the delivery of the dental school curriculum. At the same time, formidable obstacles must be addressed for this approach to be successful.
Division of Distributed Learning, Department of Academic Informatics Services, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. andrewsk@uthscsa.edu
Kenneth G
KG
Andrews
Elaine L
EL
Demps
D000288:Administrative Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D020375:Education, Distance; D018961:Educational Technology; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012575:Schools, Dental; D014481:United States