Review of the Kamijo Grant Prize Lecture, 2011
Introduction of Learner-centered Education at Showa University School of Dentistry
2012 Volume 32 Issue 3 Pages 162-167
Details
2012 Volume 32 Issue 3 Pages 162-167
Problem-based learning (PBL) derives from the principle that problems can be used as the starting point for acquiring new knowledge. In 2003, this method was introduced to dental education in Showa University School of Dentistry, as part of a wave of dynamic changes to the educational style, from teacher- to learner-centered education. Faculty members invested substantial time and effort in adopting and integrating PBL into the dental curriculum, and PBL is now used as the major method for the interdisciplinary education of first- to sixth-year students of 4 schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences). In this review, I first describe the history of PBL in Showa University School of Dentistry, and then evaluate the role of PBL in future dental education.
