Students' perception on flipped classroom with formative assessment: A focus group study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore students' perception on the implementation of flipped classroom (FC) combined with formative assessment during the undergraduate teaching of orthodontic wire-bending skills. METHODS: Third-year undergraduate dental students were taught wire-bending skills via FC teaching method using a series of pre-recorded online video demonstrations. As part of the formative assessment, the students were given the results and assessment rubrics of their prior wire-bending assessment before every subsequent session. Purposive sampling method for focus group discussion was used to recruit eight students comprising four high achievers and four low achievers. Strengths, weaknesses and suggestions for improvement of the FC with formative assessment were explored. Data were transcribed and thematically analysed. RESULTS: Students perceived that FC allowed for a more convenient and flexible learning experience with personalised learning and improved in-class teaching efficiency. The pre-recorded online videos were useful to aid in teaching wire-bending skills but lacked three-dimensional representation of the wire-bending process. Students suggested better standardisation of instructions and access to the marking rubric before and after assessment. CONCLUSIONS: FC teaching with continuous formative assessment and constructive feedback as a form of personalised learning was viewed favourably by students. The implementation of periodic individual feedback can further enhance their learning experience.

Students' perception on flipped classroom in contrast to live demonstration for teaching orthodontic wire-bending skills: A focus group study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore students' perceptions of flipped classroom (FC) compared to live demonstration (LD) in transferring skills of fabricating orthodontic wire components for orthodontic removable appliances. METHODS: Forty third-year undergraduate dental students were randomly assigned to two groups: FC (n = 20) and LD (n = 20). Students in group FC attended FC, while students in group LD attended LD. Both groups underwent a series of standardized teaching sessions to acquire skills in fabricating six types of orthodontic wire components. Eight students (four high achievers and four low achievers) from each group were randomly selected to attend separate focus group discussion (FGD) sessions. Students' perceptions on the strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement on each teaching method were explored. Audio and video recordings of FGD were transcribed and thematically analyzed using NVivo version 12 software. RESULTS: Promoting personalized learning, improvement in teaching efficacy, inaccuracy of three-dimensional demonstration from online video, and lack of standardization among instructors and video demonstration were among the themes identified. Similarly, lack of standardization among instructors was one of the themes identified for LD, in addition to other themes such as enabling immediate clarification and vantage point affected by seating arrangement and class size. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, FC outperformed LD in fostering personalized learning and improving the efficacy of physical class time. LD was more advantageous than FC in allowing immediate question and answer. However, seating arrangement and class size affected LD in contrast to FC.

Social media use, professional behaviors online, and perceptions toward e-professionalism among dental students.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess self-reported social media use, professional behaviors online, and perceptions on e-professionalism while using social media among dental students in two Southeast Asian universities. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved clinical dental students at University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia (n = 150) and Airlangga University (AU), Indonesia (n = 150). A questionnaire was distributed using Google Form via WhatsApp network. Data were analyzed using descriptive, Chi-square, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: All students responded (n = 300) and reported as active social media users. Majority spent ≥ 1 h a day on social media and checked their social media > 6 times a day. Most commonly used social media accounts were Instagram (UM: 92.7%, AU: 95.3%) and Facebook (UM: 94.7%, AU: 59.3%). A small proportion of UM and AU students admitted to posting clinical photographs, patient records, and comments about patients on social media. UM students had significantly better scores in terms of their professionalism behaviors on maintaining the integrity of the profession compared to AU students (p < 0.001). Meanwhile AU students had better scores than UM students on behaviors related to upholding colleagues' professional image on social media (p = 0.421). Most students in UM and AU shared similar positive perceptions toward online professionalism behavior statements. Majority reported concerns over unprofessional posts online. CONCLUSION: Self-reported behaviors online sometimes contradict with students' perceptions and concerns about being unprofessional online. There is a need for clearer educational guidelines on how to instill e-professionalism values and behaviors among dental students.

Comparing flipped classroom and conventional live demonstration for teaching orthodontic wire-bending skill.

Flipped classroom may overcome weaknesses of live demonstration in teaching orthodontic wire-bending. This study aims to compare the effectiveness between flipped classroom and live demonstration in transferring skills for fabricating Adams clasp. Forty third-year undergraduate dental students were assigned to two groups. The students in group LD (n = 20) attended a live demonstration while students in group FC (n = 20) attended a flipped classroom. Both groups were taught on skills to fabricate Adams clasp in a standardised way. Each student from both groups were asked to submit an Adams clasp for a blinded quality assessment by two trained and calibrated assessors using a 18-item rubric, followed by validated students' satisfaction questionnaires to evaluate their perceived satisfaction on the teaching method received. A crossover study was then conducted three weeks later where LD attended a flipped classroom while FC attended a live demonstration. Students' satisfaction questionnaires were again collected from each student for blinded analysis. Mean scores for the quality of Adams clasp were 9.775 and 9.125 for LD and FC, respectively. No significant difference was detected between the two groups. Statistically significant association was found for one statement on the questionnaire, "I found the classroom arrangements conducive for the wire-bending activity" (p = 0.010). No significant differences were found between the two groups for other statements (p > 0.05). In conclusion, within the limitations of the study, flipped classroom is equally effective as conventional live demonstration in transferring orthodontic wire-bending skills for fabrication of Adams clasp. However, students perceived the classroom arrangements during the flipped classroom significantly more conducive for teaching orthodontic wire-bending.

The effect of live demonstration and flipped classroom with continuous formative assessment on dental students' orthodontic wire-bending performance.

BACKGROUND: Wire-bending skills is commonly taught through live demonstrations (LD) though flipped classroom (FC) method has gained popularity. Continuous formative assessment promotes personalised learning via closely monitored progress, with the identification of students' strengths and weaknesses. This study aims to evaluate the effects of LD and FC teaching methods, supplemented with continuous formative assessment, on dental students' learning of wire-bending skills for six types of removable orthodontic appliance components. A deeper understanding of the relative effectiveness between LD and FC teaching methods can help identify the most appropriate method to achieve student learning objectives, which is especially important given the current Covid-19 pandemic. METHODS: Forty third-year undergraduate dental students were randomly assigned into FC (n = 20) or LD (n = 20) cohort. Each student attended six teaching sessions, each to teach students' competency in fabricating one type of wire component, for a total competency in fabricating six wire components over the course of six teaching sessions. Either LD or FC teaching methods were used. After each session, wire assignments had to be submitted. Wire assignments were then evaluated using a blinded wire-bending assessment protocol. As part of their formative assessment, the assessment results were distributed to students, lecturers, and technicians before the next session. After the first session (T0) and at the end of all six sessions (T1), students completed a self-reported questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean wire-bending scores for FC were significantly higher than LD for two of the six assignments, namely the Adams clasp (p < 0.01) and Z-spring (p = 0.03). Scores for both LD and FC increased significantly over time, which may be attributed to formative assessment. There was no statistically significant correlation between wire-bending scores and video usage. Students were satisfied with both teaching methods, according to T0 and T1 questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Both LD and FC are equally effective in transferring practical orthodontic wire-bending skills and well-received by students. Continuous formative assessment may have enhanced students' learning of orthodontic wire-bending skills. Further studies with control group are recommended to investigate the effect of formative assessment on teaching practical dental skills.

Chlorhexidine hexametaphosphate as a coating for elastomeric ligatures with sustained antimicrobial properties: A laboratory study.

INTRODUCTION: White spot lesions are a common side effect of orthodontic treatment. This laboratory study aimed to explore the suitability of chlorhexidine hexametaphosphate (CHX-HMP) as a coating for orthodontic elastomeric ligatures to provide sustained chlorhexidine (CHX) release. METHODS: Dissolution kinetics of CHX-HMP were firstly explored using spectroscopy and a colorimetric phosphate assay. Elastomeric ligatures were categorized into 3 groups-acetone-conditioned, ethanol-conditioned, and as received-and were then immersed in 5 mM CHX-HMP suspension or 5 mM chlorhexidine digluconate solution and rinsed. CHX release was measured over 8 weeks, and the effects of conditioning and immersion on elastomeric force and extension at rupture and surface topography were investigated. RESULTS: CHX-HMP exhibited a gradual equilibration that had not reached equilibrium within 8 weeks, releasing soluble CHX and a mixture of polyphosphate and orthophosphate. CHX digluconate-treated ligatures showed no CHX release, whereas CHX-HMP-treated ligatures showed varying degrees of release. As received, CHX-HMP-treated ligatures showed a modest release of CHX up to 7 days. Acetone conditioning did not enhance CHX-HMP uptake or subsequent CHX release and caused a deterioration in mechanical properties. Ethanol conditioning enhanced CHX-HMP uptake (6×) and led to a sustained CHX release over 8 weeks without affecting mechanical properties. CONCLUSIONS: Within the inherent limitations of this in-vitro study, CHX-HMP led to a sustained release of CHX from orthodontic elastomeric ligatures after ethanol conditioning. Conditioned and coated elastomeric ligatures may ultimately find application in the prevention of white spot lesions in orthodontic patients.