Use of elaborate feedback and an audience-response-system in dental education

INTRODUCTION The aim of the study was to examine the effect of an elaborate feedback and an audience response system (ARS) on learning success. METHODS Students of the 1st clinical semester were randomly assigned to a study and a control group. The randomization was carried out considering the factors of age, gender and power spectrum during preliminary dental examination. Within 10 lectures 5 multiple-choice questions were asked about the learning objectives and answered by the students using an ARS. Only the study group received an immediate comprehensive feedback on the results. A final exam at the end was carried out in order to evaluate whether the elaborate feedback leads to a successful learning. Furthermore the effect of the ARS on the lecture atmosphere was investigated. RESULT The results of the final exams showed no significant difference between the study and the control group regarding the learning success. CONCLUSION Although no significant effect on learning success was found, the ARS creates a more interactive, positive learning environment.