title: Online discussion boards in dental education: potential and challenges.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Online discussion boards may enhance critical analysis and reflection, and promote the acquisition of knowledge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of online discussion board as a pedagogical tool in augmenting face-to-face teaching in dental education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from a discussion archive offered through the E-course website of the School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK in 2008. A multi-component metric included; participation, social learning, cognitive processing, role of instructors, and quality of discussion. Messages were coded for 14 variables to evaluate these dimensions. Data were analyzed using content analysis methodology and a complete message was uses as the unit of analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant difference in participation between students and instructors (P<0.05). Social interaction with peers appeared only through students posting messages with open questions (27/135 messages). The discussion board was mainly used by students to understand concepts (27/102 messages) and apply procedural knowledge (17/102 messages). Instructors were mainly replying to students' messages with (49/120 messages) or without (54/120 messages) proposing another action.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online discussion boards were found to be successful pedagogical tools in dental education. Further development of instructor-led discussion approach is needed to promote higher level learning and collaborative thinking.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Linjawi
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D011476:Prosthodontics / Q000193:education*