Establishing a multidisciplinary PBL curriculum in the School of Stomatology at Wuhan University.

Full Abstract

This article describes how a multidisciplinary problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum was established at the School of Stomatology at Wuhan University (WHUSS) in China for preclinical education in a seven-year dental school program. Based on positive feedback from a modified PBL program implemented in one discipline, a multidisciplinary PBL curriculum was established. PBL training for facilitators and students, development of resource materials, curriculum design, and case writing were done in a manner that is consistent with the characteristics and learning style preferences of Chinese dental students. About 80 percent of the lectures were kept in the new PBL program. The multidisciplinary PBL curriculum has been successful in helping dental students mentally construct an understanding of the interrelationship between dental knowledge and basic science concepts. The experience at WHUSS indicates that there are clear benefits for students in the PBL format. A benefit to faculty is that PBL tutorial facilitators were partly liberated from their traditional roles and developed additional skills for facilitating. However, conflict arises when PBL-trained students encounter the traditional exam-centered education system.

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Author information

Author/s: Wang, Ge (G); Tai, Baojun (B); Huang, Cui (C); Bian, Zhuan (Z); Shang, Zhenjun (Z); Wang, Qian (Q); Song, Guangtai (G);

Affiliation: Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, PR China;. wenda_wanggeinus@126.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of dental education (J Dent Educ), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-May; vol 72 (issue 5) : pp 610-5

Dates: Created 2008/05/02; Completed 2008/06/17;

PMID: 18451085, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

China
Curriculum
Education, Dental - methods
Humans
Models, Educational

Oral Medicine - education
Organizational Innovation
Problem-Based Learning - methods
Program Evaluation
Schools, Dental - organization & administration

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