The utility of adaptive eLearning data in predicting dental students' learning performance in a blended learning course.

Objectives: To examine the impact of dental students' usage patterns within an adaptive learning platform (ALP), using ALP-related indicators, on their final exam performance. Methods: Track usage data from the ALP, combined with demographic and academic data including age, gender, pre- and post-test scores, and cumulative grade point average (GPA) were retrospectively collected from 115 second-year dental students enrolled in a blended learning review course. Learning performance was measured by post-test scores. Data were analyzed using correlation coefficients and linear regression tests. Results: The ALP-related variables (without controlling for background demographics and academic data) accounted for 29.6% of student final exam performance (R2=0.296, F(10,104)=4.37, p=0.000). Positive significant ALP-related predictors of post-test scores were improvement after activities (ß=0.507, t(104)=2.101, p=0.038), timely completed objectives (ß=0.391, t(104)=2.418, p=0.017), and number of revisions (ß=0.127, t(104)=3.240, p=0.002). Number of total activities, regardless of learning improvement, negatively predicted post-test scores (ß= -0.088, t(104)=-4.447, p=0.000). The significant R2 change following the addition of gender, GPA, and pre-test score (R2=0.689, F(13, 101)=17.24, p=0.000), indicated that these predictors explained an additional 39% of the variance in student performance beyond that explained by ALP-related variables, which were no longer significant. Inclusion of cumulative GPA and pre-test scores showed to be the strongest and only predictors of post-test scores (ß=18.708, t(101)=4.815, p=0.038) and (ß=0.449, t(101)=6.513, p=0.038), respectively. Conclusions: Track ALP-related data can be valuable indicators of learning behavior. Careful and contextual analysis of ALP data can guide future studies to examine practical and scalable interventions.

Two-dimensional upper airway normative values in children aged 7 to 17 years.

OBJECTIVE: To develop two-dimensional (2D) upper airway normative values in pediatric patients and correlate upper airway measurements with age. METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography scans of 3738 patients were examined, and a sample of 61 patients, divided into two age groups (7-11 and 12-17 years), was used to reconstruct lateral cephalograms. RESULTS: The mean adenoid-nasopharynx (A/N) ratio was 0.45 and 0.44 for age groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean PNS-ad1 and PNS-ad2 were 24 and 18.7 mm, respectively, for age group 1, and 26.7 and 21.2 mm, respectively, for age group 2. Additional normative values for the hyoid bone, airway space, uvula, and tongue are presented. The highest correlation with age was the upper airway length (r = 0.557, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although cephalometric radiographs remain 2D reconstructions of three-dimensional structures, they have significant value and can aid clinicians in the screening process for pediatric sleep apnea.

Parental Satisfaction with Their Children's Rapid Palatal Expansion Treatment Provided by Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists.

BACKGROUND: Dentofacial problems have a definitive impact on patients' psychological well-being, quality of life, and satisfaction. Therefore, patients' satisfaction with their dentition should be an essential goal for dental caregivers. AIM: To compare parental satisfaction with their children's rapid palatal expansion treatment outcome provided by orthodontists and pediatric dentists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed 605 medical records and contacted 134 parents whose children received early orthodontic treatment from orthodontists and pediatric dentists using a rapid palatal expander. Eighty-eight parents (65.7%) responded to a validated questionnaire about patients' satisfaction with orthodontic treatment outcomes. RESULTS: At baseline; there were no significant differences in relation to parent-related demographic variables. However, there were statistically significant differences between patients' ages and treatment duration (p < 0.001). Independent t-tests showed statistically significant differences in the means for the subscales of doctor-patient relationship and situational aspects (p < 0.05). Spearman's rho correlation coefficients and multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the overall satisfaction is significantly related to, and can be predicted by, parents' educational level, child's gender, and the specialty of the dentist who provided the treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Overall parental satisfaction with their children's rapid palatal expansion treatment is significantly higher when provided by pediatric dentists as compared with orthodontists. Factors related to doctor-patient relationship and situational aspects (ie, office location and design, appointment waiting, and treatment duration) significantly impacted parental satisfaction.

Effectiveness of an adaptive eLearning intervention on dental students' learning in comparison to traditional instruction.

There is a great deal of excitement in higher education about the value of adaptive learning to personalize learning paths according to students' individual needs. The authors explored the impact of an Adaptive Learning Platform (ALP) on learning, by comparing learning effectiveness between dental students who used the ALP in a blended learning environment formatively and summatively compared with students who did not use the ALP (i.e., face-to-face), as measured by students' performance on the final exam in a single review preparatory course during the academic years 2013-2018. Paired t-tests showed significant improvement in post-test scores across different course instructional modalities (P < 0.01). The learning gain was greater for students who studied using the ALP summatively (t = 26.20) than those who used it formatively or studied using a face-to-face format (t = 13.10 and 14.13, respectively). Controlling for pre-test scores, analysis of covariance tests indicate that: (1) intervention groups (formative and summative ALP) scored significantly higher than the traditional group (B = 9.34 points, P < 0.01, for summative ALP group) and (B = 4.47 points, P < 0.05, for formative ALP group), and (2) summative ALP group scored significantly higher than formative ALP group (B = 4.84 points, P < 0.05). This study provides empirical evidence that an adaptive learning intervention can have a significant impact on student learning performance. The success of any adaptive learning system relies mainly on sound instructional design. Technology will continue to grow at an overwhelming pace; the cautionary note the authors highlight is that conceptions of pedagogy, complemented by technology, must guide the development of adaptive learning systems.

Developing pediatric three-dimensional upper airway normative values using fixed and interactive thresholds.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and compare pediatric upper airway three-dimensional normative values using the two most commonly used cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) software: Invivo5 (fixed threshold) and Dolphin 3D (interactive threshold). STUDY DESIGN: Out of 3738 CBCT scans, scans of 81 pediatric patients were utilized after applying strict exclusion criteria. The sample was grouped into two age groups (7-11 and 12-17 years). Intra-class correlation coefficient was used to test intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and showed coefficients greater than 0.9 indicating good reliability of the methods used. RESULTS: Paired t tests showed that volumetric and area measurements obtained using Dolphin 3D were significantly larger than those obtained using Invivo5 (p < 0.05). The mean minimal cross-sectional areas (MCSA) for Dolphin 3D were 151 mm2 and 177 mm2 for age groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean MCSA values for Invivo5 for age groups 1 and 2 were 120 mm2 and 145 mm2, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pediatric upper airway volumetric, area, and linear measurements were reported after applying strict exclusion criteria including a validated sleep questionnaire. Our goal is that clinicians utilize the proposed-here normative values for screening and assist in the timely diagnosis and management of pediatric sleep apnea.