Changing curricula: an evaluation from dentistry

Abstract

An evaluation of 1 year of an undergraduate child dental health course is reported. Students generally perceived teaching to be of a high standard, but some organizational aspects having an impact on the curriulum were rated less highly. Wider issues raised by the evaluation include the place of orthodontics in the undergraduate curriculum; availability and effect of suitable and sufficient patients; and the impact of differing numbers of procedures being required for assessment. Several findings of the evaluation lend support to aspects of research in teaching, learning and curriculum studies in the wider fields of higher and professional education. The curriculum is judged to be well into a process of development, reflecting changes in knowledge, culture, professional practice and individual needs; changes which impact on all curricula in the health care professions.