Embedding Current Trends and Innovative Pedagogies in Education in Oral Health: Advancing Educational Practices and Research

In recent years, oral health educational research has gained momentum and recognition, with attention drawn toward its effectiveness. Pedagogy and research in pedagogy is no longer limited to pure educationalist but has reached all branches of higher education and in particular health and oral health faculties. Teaching and research in teaching is recognized in academic career pathways with curriculum development, design informed by research. Professionalism, ethics, management and leadership, communication, social behavior sciences, psychology and clinical humanities are taking up more and more shares of new oral health curricula to answer the demands of current dental care practice and oral health team members. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adoption of technology to maintain oral health education while lockdown hindered face to face teaching and patient care. This in turn required analysis and research in social and digital media, artificial intelligence, haptics and computer-assisted learning, virtual and augmented reality as applied to dental education. Considering this new landscape in oral health education, assessment and assessment strategies have had to evolve and meet new challenges. Assessment for learning, as learning and of learning have been designed to ensure graduation of safe beginners. The emphasis is on professional identity formation and acquiring lifelong learning skills revolving around feedback, reflection and reflective practice. The impact on student and staff welfare and wellbeing has been evident and has required research into management and prevention.

Oral health education has been changed forever and with it the profile of our graduates but also the academics and clinical academics who teach them. It is therefore essential to explore this exciting and growing field in a dedicated Research Topic. We are calling for original research papers which will look to shine light on current trends as well as innovations developing in the field of education research as applied to oral health professions.

The manuscripts submitted can pertain, but are not limited, to the following list of themes in oral health curriculum design, development and delivery:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Clinical Sciences
• Oral Health in Society:
o Sustainability
o Service Led Education
o Humanities
o Professional Identity
o Inter-Professional Education
o Health Systems/Health Policies
o Management and Leadership: Entrepreneurial/link with Industry
• Technology and Oral Health Education:
o Computer Assisted Learning
o e-Learning
o Haptics
o Virtual Reality
o Augmented Reality
o AI
• Assessment
o Design
o Delivery
o Quality assurance and Quality development
• Student voice
o Collaboration
o Co-Creation
• Student Welfare and Wellbeing