List of Articles by Author

1. Packer ME, Coward TJ, Wakeley R, Fenlon MR. The Potential of Plasma Screen Technology in Small Group Teaching for Dental Undergraduates. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2002;36(3):326-7.
    [details]
    [close]
   Full Text

   Title in English:	The Potential of Plasma Screen Technology in Small Group Teaching for Dental Undergraduates
   Title in Croatian:	nema
   Type of Article:	congress abstract
   MeSH:	EDUCATION, DENTAL
   Abstract:	AIM: This study was devised to ascertain the opinion of dental undergraduate students as to whether they preferred observing a live demonstration as a group directly at the workbench or indirectly on a remote Plasma Screen. In addition, to identify whether the students observing remotely believed that they had been disadvantaged by the inability to question the demonstrator during thedemonstration.METHOD: 17 students divided into two groups observed a live demonstration of a laboratory technical procedure either at the workbench, or remotely on a Plasma Screen with the aid of video cameras. They subsequently observed a second demonstration with the roles reversed. Questionnaires were used to obtain the students’views of their ability to see and interact with the demonstrator.RESULTS: The responses of the students observing the demonstration on the Plasma Screen indicated that they felt that they were able to see the demonstration more clearly than those observing at the workbench (p=0.04). Those observing on the Plasma Screen first, indicated this in particular (p=0.03). The majority of students acknowledged their inability to ask questions when observing on the Plasma Screen and supported the idea that the Plasma Screen should be used to complement the demonstrationat the workbench.CONCLUSION: Plasma Screen technology has considerable potential as a teaching tool for small groups of student, where it can afford significantly superior views of practicalprocedures. The students considered that the Plasma Screen would be best employed to provide close up views to supplement a live demonstration. The apparatus may be used remotely more successfully if videoconferencing technology were also employed to facilitateinteraction with the demonstrator.