Information and communication technologies in dental education: students’ perceptions

Resumo

Among teaching and learning methods, those using
Information and Communication Technologies as new dental education
possibilities are based on the student’s knowledge construction and
the development of new capabilities such as innovation, creativity,
autonomy and communication. Objective: To demonstrate the use of
information and communication technologies (ICTs) as support tools
for teaching-learning process in Dentistry by using an application
that manages dental caries determinants. Material and methods:
An application was used by students from a Dentistry Undergraduate
Program from a public university in southern Brazil. Data collection
comprised a qualitative study with Dentistry undergraduates, through
focus group technique. Data analysis was performed according to
Bardin’s content analysis. Results and Discussion: Results are
presented in categories: 1. Use of ICTs in Dentistry teaching; 2.
Students’ perceptions on the application; 3. The application as a
teaching-learning tool in Dentistry. Data analysis showed advantages
of using ICTs in dental teaching as key tools and process facilitators.
The application is a decision-taking and action-planning tool, guiding
students’ clinical reasoning towards recognition of local reality.
Conclusion: Relevance and potential use of ICTs in Dentistry teaching
was detected, making them auxiliary tools in students’ education in
the face of their need to adapt to the current context of technological
advances and the rapid expansion of scientific knowledge.