A learner-control instructional multimedia program is as effective as a program-control version in undergraduate orthodontic teaching.
METHODS
A randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in a dental school in Belgium.


METHODS
Undergraduate dental students were randomly assigned to a learner-control, multimedia learning-environment, courseware package (module) or the same module but structured in a program-control form. The learning objectives of learner- and program-control versions of the appliances module were identical. Both groups received the same materials covering the principles of orthodontic appliances that are normally provided at this stage of the undergraduate orthodontic curriculum. Both modules have didactic, interactive and simple animation components.


METHODS
Students were evaluated by means of a 15-item multiple-choice test covering knowledge, understanding and application. They were carried out at baseline and 15 min after finishing studying the modules. The tests were assessed by calculating the total score of the correct answers.


RESULTS
Of 39 undergraduate dental students invited to take part, 30 students participated, 15 in each group. There was no significant difference in prior knowledge in the groups at baseline. Although both groups significantly improved their scores after studying the course, no significant difference was found between both groups in relation to answers to questions about knowledge, understanding and application.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the learner-control instructional multimedia program was found to be as effective as the program-control version when teaching principles of the orthodontic appliances to undergraduate students. Future work should focus on how to improve the value of computer-assisted learning (CAL), and comparative evaluations are still needed of how different CAL approaches compare with or complement one another.
Bearn
David
D
Unit of Orthodontics, Oral Health and Development, Department of Dental Medicine and Surgery, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.