Current scenario of problem-based learning in medical and dental education in India

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the transition of dental education from chair-side clinical teachings to virtual didactic lectures. The future of dental education is not clear in these uncertain times. Objectives: This survey-based study aimed to evaluate the current scenario and preparedness of dental colleges/universities and faculty in adapting to the new situation and understanding the challenges faced during this phase. The survey also explored the opinions, limitations, and possible solutions in dental academics through open-ended qualitative questions. Methods: This survey-based study utilized exploratory mixed methods through both open- and closed-ended questions. The survey was distributed electronically to the majority of dental colleges across India to be answered voluntarily by the dental academicians involved in COVID-19 planning. The survey was inspired by the pre-existing questionnaire proposed by the Association of Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), and it was modified by the committee consisting of the study authors. Validation and piloting of the study were done through in-house dental faculty. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and expressed in percentages. Broad themes for qualitative data were derived by two independent authors and collated by the third author to finalize the results. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 89 dental schools from all parts of the country with varying stages of COVID-19 prevalence. Quantitative data revealed 100% adaptation of dental schools to online teaching, uncertainty regarding online (31.46%) and offline (10.11%) exams, and assessment of clinical competence. Qualitative analysis indicated uncertainty, ambiguity, and lack of direction among study respondents regarding how best to deal with the current situation. Conclusions: According to our results, collaborative effort from governing bodies was urgently required at this point to prevent dental education from being divided into multi-directional, incoherent, and isolated units.

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Current scenario of higher education in India – An overview

ACADEMICIA An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal ◽

10.5958/2249-7137.2021.02033.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 982-988

Author(s):

S. Binduja ◽

V. J. R. Emerlson Moses

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Education In India ◽

Current Scenario

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Deaf Education in India

Deaf Education Beyond the Western World ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190880514.003.0014 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 261-284

Author(s):

Kalyani Mandke ◽

Prerna Chandekar

Keyword(s):

Nongovernmental Organizations ◽

Sign Language ◽

Deaf Education ◽

Fast Growing ◽

The Disabled ◽

Education In India ◽

Current Scenario ◽

The Government ◽

Future Of Education ◽

Growing Population

Given that India is a multicultural and multilingual country, there have always been challenges in educating the deaf. After independence, many legislative policies were put forth for the rights of the disabled, but the country’s fast-growing population made it difficult to cope with the demand. In the current scenario, the government of India and many nongovernmental organizations have partnered to overcome this challenge. There is more research being done in the field, and many methods of communication and educational approaches that were previously suppressed, like sign language and bilingualism, have been brought forth. Further developments in this arena are being made. This chapter throws light on the past, present, and future of education of the deaf and hard of hearing in India, the challenges that remain, and the prospects that we envisage.

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