The role of CBL combined with network teaching method in clinical ability training of orthodontic postgraduate students

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of case-based learning (CBL) teaching method combined with network on orthodontic postgraduate clinical ability training. Methods Totally 40 orthodontic postgraduates were randomly divided into 2 groups (20 per group) named as experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). EG involved in CBL combined with network teaching method, while CG with CBL method only. after 5 teaching cycles, test scores of two groups were analyzed with SPSS 22.0. Results Average scores were (86.60±9.71) in EG and (85.45±10.79) in CG, without statistical differences (P=0.73). Pass rate of two groups were 95.00% and 90.00%, without statistical differences (P=1.00); As for the questionnaire survey, most of the students (90.00%) in EG considered CBL combined with network teaching method had no confliction with the clinical time, and helped to carry out in-depth clinical topic discussion. What was more, all of them (100.00%) in EG believed network facilitate their learning. Only part of them (60.00%) in EG thought that they spent a lot of time on reference material preparation. Conclusions Both CBL combined with network teaching method and CBL method can improve the clinical ability of orthodontic postgraduates significantly. However, CBL combined with network teaching method has advantages over time management, knowledge learning and resource sharing. Key words: Case-based learning; Network teaching method; Postgraduate training; Orthodontic