title: Massive Open Online Courses in Dental Education: Two Viewpoints: Viewpoint 1: Massive Open Online Courses Offer Transformative Technology for Dental Education and Viewpoint 2: Massive Open Online Courses Are Not Ready for Primetime.
abstract: This point/counterpoint article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of incorporating Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) into dental education, focusing on whether this relatively new educational modality could impact traditional dental curricula. Viewpoint 1 asserts that MOOCs can be useful in dental education because they offer an opportunity for students to learn through content and assessment that is delivered online. While specific research on MOOCs is limited, some evidence shows that online courses may produce similar learning outcomes to those in face-to-face courses. Given that MOOCs are intended to be open source, there could be opportunities for dental schools with faculty shortages and financial constraints to incorporate these courses into their curricula. In addition to saving money, dental schools could use MOOCs as revenue sources in areas such as continuing education. Viewpoint 2 argues that the hype over MOOCs is subsiding due in part to weaker than expected evidence about their value. Because direct contact between students, instructors, and patients is essential to the dental curriculum, MOOCs have yet to demonstrate their usefulness in replacing more than a subset of didactic courses. Additionally, learning professionalism, a key component of health professions education, is best supported by mentorship that provides significant interpersonal interaction. In spite of the potential of early MOOC ideology, MOOCs in their current form require either further development or altered expectations to significantly impact dental education.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Kearney is Assistant Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Dr. Premaraj is Associate Professor and Program Director, Department of Growth and Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Olson is Associate Professor, Orthodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Departments, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Williamson is Associate Professor and Program Director of Advanced Education in Endodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics; and Dr. Romanos is Professor, Department of Periodontology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. kearney.19@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.affiliation: Prof. Kearney is Assistant Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Dr. Premaraj is Associate Professor and Program Director, Department of Growth and Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Olson is Associate Professor, Orthodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Departments, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Williamson is Associate Professor and Program Director of Advanced Education in Endodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics; and Dr. Romanos is Professor, Department of Periodontology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Sundaralingam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Premaraj
authors.affiliation: Prof. Kearney is Assistant Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Dr. Premaraj is Associate Professor and Program Director, Department of Growth and Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Olson is Associate Professor, Orthodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Departments, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Williamson is Associate Professor and Program Director of Advanced Education in Endodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics; and Dr. Romanos is Professor, Department of Periodontology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Becky M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Prof. Kearney is Assistant Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Dr. Premaraj is Associate Professor and Program Director, Department of Growth and Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Olson is Associate Professor, Orthodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Departments, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Williamson is Associate Professor and Program Director of Advanced Education in Endodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics; and Dr. Romanos is Professor, Department of Periodontology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.affiliation: Prof. Kearney is Assistant Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Dr. Premaraj is Associate Professor and Program Director, Department of Growth and Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Olson is Associate Professor, Orthodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Departments, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Williamson is Associate Professor and Program Director of Advanced Education in Endodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics; and Dr. Romanos is Professor, Department of Periodontology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Prof. Kearney is Assistant Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Dr. Premaraj is Associate Professor and Program Director, Department of Growth and Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Olson is Associate Professor, Orthodontic and Pediatric Dentistry Departments, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Williamson is Associate Professor and Program Director of Advanced Education in Endodontics, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics; and Dr. Romanos is Professor, Department of Periodontology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romanos
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D002017:Budgets; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D017046:Cost Savings; D003479:Curriculum; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing / Q000191:economics; D020375:Education, Distance; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D018961:Educational Technology; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D009862:Online Systems; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000191:economics; D013335:Students, Dental
keywords: MOOCs; computer-assisted instruction; dental education; distance education; educational technology; massive open online course; online learning