Dental health training is open wide for new teaching methods

New technology and teaching methods are enabling trainee dental hygienists and therapists to study together – while based at opposite ends of Scotland.

Now the innovative work of the Inverness-based School of Oral Health Science, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), is to be discussed at the first in a new series of free public lectures focusing on teaching and research within the UHI partnership.

First up is Dr Isobel Madden, head of the university’s UHI School of Oral Health Science, on the use of “blended learning” which enables students to link up from Inverness, the Isle of Lewis, and Dumfries and Galloway.

Dr Madden’s lecture is being held on Monday, 31 October, from 5.15pm to 7pm at the Centre for Health Science, Inverness, where the school has state-of-the-art facilities. Seats should be reserved with the university events team on 01463 279344 or email events@uhi.ac.uk. The team can also advise on video-conferencing availability at other UHI locations.

The UHI School of Oral Health Science was set up in 2008 to provide degree-level teaching for dental hygienists and therapists. It has teaching facilities at three sites - the Centre for Health Science, Inverness; the Dumfries Dental Centre at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, and the Western Isles Dental Centre at Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway.

Teaching embraces the blended methods of synchronised online tutorials, clinical skills training by video conferencing (VC) and face-to-face clinical teaching in primary dental care units in the patient treatment areas at each centre.

Dr Madden explained: “Our university is a dispersed network requiring new approaches to education. The use of blended learning has been developed at UHI over several years, and its use for education in healthcare provides an opportunity of advancing methods of teaching in this discipline.”

A recent study providing feedback from staff and students showed they adapted positively to the study methods for the BSc oral health science degree. Results will inform improvements in course delivery.

Media contact

Glenda Johnson
University of the Highlands and Islands media relations officer
01463 279222
Glenda.johnson@uhi.ac.uk