The Flexible Learning Advisory Group

As a primary concern of the International College of Dentists (ICD) has always been to spread knowledge of our subject as widely as possible, and modern methods of communication have greatly catalysed our abilities in this regard, The Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG) was set up by the Board of Regents of the European Section of ICD established The Flexible Learning Advisory Group  (FLAG) at their Winter Board meeting in November 2008.  At the annual meeting of the European Section in Lisbon in June 2009, over forty Fellows from several countries attended a special FLAG meeting and enthusiastically endorsed the work done by FLAG during its initial nine months and encouraged its continued efforts to advance the educational aims of ICD.

FLAG’s Remit

• To identify those parts of Flexible Learning (FL) programmes which can be implemented to enhance Continuing Education in Central and Eastern European Countries and elsewhere as need is determined, in cooperation with our sister societies.

• Where possible, to support through Flexible Learning (FL), , humanitarian projects in which Fellows are already or intend to become involved.

• To determine a key humanitarian project which the European Section as a whole might embrace.

FLAG’s Definition of Flexible Learning (FL)

Flexible Learning allows learning resources to be stored and shared between colleagues - worldwide. This can be in many formats: teaching CD-Roms linked to computers; sharing of existing online courses between institutes of dental education; developing and using Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) such as IVIDENT; and not least, by distance learning, observing actual clinical and laboratory work

Some Practical Projects discussed and agreed in principle at the FLAG meeting in Lisbon:

• The development of a series of CD- ROMs on
• OHI / TBI / Caries Prevention
• Sterilisation / Disinfection / Cross Infection Control
• Dental Anatomy including dental eruption dates
• Early diagnosis and referral of all oral cancers. 

Sources for these CD-ROMs would come from a workbook written by Fellow Dr.Isobel Madden of Scotland formerly used in India, and from work done in Nepal by Fellow Dr. Richard Vaughan of England. Once successfully developed, these CD-ROMs will have obvious relevance for OHI in many other parts of the world

• Possible e-Education Link between Brescia and Odessa

Dr. Corrado Paganelli, ICD Regent for Italy and Dean of the Dental School, University of Brescia, is considering sharing dental learning resources via an e-link up between the University of Brescia and the Academy of Medical Sciences in Odessa.

• ICD Input into ‘Educating the Educators’ in the Dental Schools of Southern and East Africa

Dr. Peter Owen, FICD, Johannesburg, RSA, has recently had to examine immigrant dentists from other African countries: Zimbabwe, Angola, Tanzania, Kenya, DRC, and Nigeria.  When CE courses were provided, it became apparent that the cognitive and psychomotor skills of most of the group were very low: appallingly low in some cases. The exiting competency of the dentists from some of the dental schools concerned has to be raised. It was Dr. Owen’s opinion that it would be a positive development in these countries if a common curriculum for specialities could be introduced, much as has happened/is happening with the Code of Ethics for dentists in the European Union as standards vary similarly in Europe. It was considered highly likely by the FLAG Group that  that were this to be effected  by the ICD developing an ‘ICD Ambassador Role’ as an outside and respected organisation and using Flexible Learning, it would be less threatening to the dental schools involved. The Group considered, that in line with ICD aims, FLAG could offer constructive support to our colleagues and at negligible cost to them.   

• Contributing to the Development of the IVIDENT Project

In 2007, King’s College London secured £2.3 million funding for three years for the development of an innovative online learning solution for international dental training and established the International Virtual Dental School (IVIDENT). The initiative, led by Fellow Dr. Patricia Reynolds of King’s College London, is largely funded by HEFCE (the Higher Educational Funding Council for England) and the UK Government Department of Health..

IVIDENT aims to address current shortages in dental clinical academic teaching staff by supporting the complete dental education cycle through a Flexible Learning Environment and to improve dental education globally, especially in developing countries.  

     Dr. P. Reynolds commented that ICD could contribute to IVIDENT by:

• advising on the development of IVIDENT for developing countries
• translating and donating learning objects
• contributing to the quality assurance of learning objects
• encouraging of postgraduate study and Continuing Professional Development
• promoting humanitarian activities in oral health education

European Section Annual Meeting Maastricht 2010  - Focus on Flexible Learning

President of the European Section of ICD, Dr Frans Kroon, has planned to arrange that the whole of his Scientific Day in Maastricht in June 2010 will be conducted online. This radical step will allow for in-depth discussion of the projects listed in this brief report. It will also provide a timely opportunity for forward thinking on all aspects of Flexible and Blended learning following the Lisbon meeting of FLAG.

FLAG Committee Members

Dr. Phillip Dowell (Surrey, England)

Dr. Frans Kroon (The Netherlands)

Dr. Cecil Linehan (Ireland) Chair

Dr. Isobel Madden (Scotland),

Dr. Hubert Newman (England)

Dr. Peter Owen (Johannesburg RSA)

Dr. Corrado Paganelli (Italy)

Dr. Pat Reynolds (London)

Dr. Dov Sydney (Israel)

Dr. Walter van Driel (The Netherlands) 

Dr. Richard Vaughan (England)