title: Recommendations for the development of e-modules for the continuing professional development of European dentists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide evidence-based and peer-reviewed recommendations for the development of dental continuing professional development (CPD) learning e-modules.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present recommendations are consensus recommendations of the DentCPD project team and were informed by a literature research, consultations from e-learning and IT expert, discussions amongst the participants attending a special interest group during the 2012 ADEE meeting, and feedback from the evaluation procedures of the exemplar e-module (as described in a companion paper within this Supplement). The main focus of these recommendations is on the courses and modules organised and offered by dental schools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-modules for dental CPD, as well as for other health professionals' continuing education, have been implemented and evaluated for a number of years. Research shows that the development of e-modules is a team process, undertaken by academics, subject experts, pedagogists, IT and web designers, learning technologists and librarians. The e-module must have clear learning objectives (outcomes), addressing the learners' individual needs, and must be visually attractive, relevant, interactive, promoting critical thinking and providing feedback. The text, graphics and animations must support the objectives and enable the learning process by creating an attractive, easy to navigate and interactive electronic environment. Technology is usually a concern for learners and tutors; therefore, it must be kept simple and interoperable within different systems and software. The pedagogical and technological proficiency of educators is of paramount importance, yet remains a challenge in many instances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of e-courses and modules for dental CPD is an endeavour undertaken by a group of professionals. It must be underpinned by sound pedagogical and e-learning principles and must incorporate elements for effective visual learning and visual design and a simple, consistent technology.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. akavad@dent.uoa.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kavadella
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kossioni
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsiklakis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cowpe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karaharju-Suvanto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suomalainen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Povel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Soboleva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liepa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akota
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D032921:Consensus; D003479:Curriculum; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D020375:Education, Distance; D018961:Educational Technology; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry / Q000193:education; D005246:Feedback; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D019212:Multimedia; D010380:Peer Review; D012984:Software; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013850:Thinking