Acta Scientific Dental Sciences (ISSN: 2581-4893)
Volume 6 Issue 10 October 2022
Group Discussion in Dental Education has Great Potential-An Overview
Review Article
Pradeep Dathan
1
, K Chandrasekharan Nair
2
*, Bheemalingeswara Rao
3
,
Mohan Kumar T
4
, Lovely M Annamma
5
and Murukan PA
6
1
Professor and Head of the Department of Prosthodontics, Sri Sankara Dental
College, Akathumuri, Thiruvavananthapuram, Kerala, India
2
Professor Emeritus, Department of Prosthodontics, Sri Sankara Dental College,
Akathumuri, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
3
Professor of Prosthodontics, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh,
India
4
Professor of Prosthodontics, College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Rau, Indore,
India
5
Visiting Faculty, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Dentistry Ajman
University, Ajman, UAE
6
Former Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Annoor Dental College,
Muvattupuzha, Kerala
*Corresponding Author: K Chandrasekharan Nair, Professor Emeritus, Department
of Prosthodontics, Sri Sankara Dental College, Akathumuri, Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala, India.
Received: September 12, 2022
Published: September 30, 2022
© All rights are reserved by
K Chandrasekharan Nair., et al.
Abstract
Students are very passive while attending a lecture. Because of the diversity in learning preferences lecture is not liked by all the
students. Some students may like active participation in the learning process and group discussion provides an avenue for that. A
fruitful academic environment is obtained in small group teaching, which optimises learning, particularly in the professional col-
leges of health sciences. In group discussions students get an opportunity to work collaboratively and to build a team. Teacher has
an important role of the facilitator in the group. This article is aimed at students of dental colleges and teachers who lead group
discussions.
Keywords: Small Group Learning; Team Building Skills; Facilitation; Students of Dental Profession; Problem-Based Learning (PBL);
Case-Based Learning (CBL); Dental Education; Buzz Group; Fish Bowl
Introduction
Conventionally dental colleges in India adopted lecture as the
popular teaching method. Though it is an efficient and economical
way to teach large groups of students, student involvement in the
learning process is highly restricted and they tend to be very pas-
sive. Presently the emphasis is on student centred learning rather
than the teacher centred learning practices. This does not mean
that the didactic lecture is totally eliminated from dental education
system.
DOI: 10.31080/ASDS.2022.06.1480
Citation: K Chandrasekharan Nair., et al. “Group Discussion in Dental Education has Great Potential-An Overview". Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 6.10
(2022): 115-120.