Nikos Mattheos, Martin Schittek, Klaus Maag, Anders Nattestad and Rolf Attstrøm
Universities in Copenhagen, Denmark, Malmø, Sweden and Munich, Germany

ABSTRACT:

Virtual classrooms, patient simulations, and Internet based database driven applications represent the latest promising development in distance learning for health care education. This panel will discus different approaches of open and distance learning, focusing not only in the technology, but also in the various methodological aspects and current research results.

The terms "Virtual Classroom", "Integrated Distance Learning Environment", or "virtual Learning Environment" have been increasingly used to describe learning environments created on the Internet or intranets. These learning facilities resemble, in terms of interaction, method and function, an in-campus academic classroom. Although still in its infancy, the "Virtual Classroom" Classroom represents a promising new potential in distance learning in health education. However, the important issues raised by the introduction of Virtual Classrooms are currently not related to technology, but rather to the methodological framework of the medium. The Virtual Classrooms have introduced a number of new methodological considerations that can determine the success or failure of the distant course.

The presentation aims at providing a deeper understanding of the Virtual Classrooms and their potential in health education. Main design considerations, current research evidence and the several factors of importance will be presented and discussed in this process.

Orthodontics, a discipline of dentistry, deals with the treatment of abnormal developments of orofacial structures. In collaboration with other disciplines, orthodontics specialists plan and carry out treatments that aim to prevent and correct abnormal development and function of orofacial structures. The medical record of a patient corresponds to a large amount of information that is collected throughout the long-term orthodontic treatment. It represents a rich, essential, and invaluable educational resource. Presentation of cases as well as self-review of already treated cases are an integral part of the orthodontic education that allows postgraduate students to understand different aspects of treatment procedures that are scarcely found in textbooks or scientific papers.

To support and to increase the value of this established case-based education in Orthodontics and to supplement the traditional synchronous curriculum not only at the University of Munich, but also at collaborating institutes within Europe, a web-based open distance learning environment was introduced at the University of Munich, comprising two basic elements:

A web-based database as a multi-national, multi-institutional archive and presentation tool for good sample cases of treatments for learning from all over Europe together with a Web-based authoring environment for the development of intensive case-based learning courses derived from the materials in the database.

Learning On-line and Computer Assisted Virtual Examination

Patient simulation programmes appear to be a very important supplement to traditional health education, focusing in the development of decision making and problem solving ability of health professionals. As these programmes have the ability to record in detail every user activity, apart from their educational role, they can serve as an effective assessment instrument. Learning online (LEO) and Computer Assisted Virtual Examination (CAVE) are Internet based, database driven patient simulations, which can be used for education as well as assessing students competence and problem solving ability. The assessment tool is supplemented by an Internet based authoring facility, which allows content experts to design the assessment case. CAVE aims at simulating a patient encounter, similar to the ones the clinicians might face during their practice. The user is presented with the possibility to ask questions and request clinical or laboratory diagnostic tests. The user is expected to design a treatment plan, the outcome of which will be simulated by the programme.

Virtual classrooms, patient simulations, and Internet based database driven applications represent the latest promising development in distance learning for health care education. This panel will discus different approaches of open and distance learning, focusing not only in the technology, but also in the various methodological aspects and current research results.

Klaus P. Maag
Ludwig Maximilian University Munich
Department of Orthodontics
Goethestr. 70
D-80336 Munich
GERMANY

Phone: +49 89 5160 3224
Fax: +49 89 532 8550
Email: maag@ibe.med.uni-muencehn.de

CO-AUTHORS:

1 Nikos Mattheos,
1 Martin Schittek,
1 Rolf Attstrom.
2 Anders Nattestad
Department of periodontology, Center for Oral Health Sciences
1. Malmø University,
Carl Gustafs veg 34, 214 21 Malmø, Sweden
2. Dental School, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen
Norre Alle 20, Copenhagen, Denmark,
Phone: +46 40 6658448
+4535326618,
Fax: +46 40 88 441
+4535326625
Email: an@odont.ku.dk
rolf.attstrom@od.mah.se