Going the Distance
Inside Dental Technology delivers updates on digital workflows, materials, lab techniques, and innovation in dental technology through expert articles and videos.
September 1, 2012
Volume 3, Issue 8, September 2012
Page(s):
Online education, or distance learning, has exploded over the past decade. According to Babson Survey Research Group, the numbers of college students enrolled in at least one online course has risen dramatically, increasing from over 2 million in 2002 to more than 6 million in 2010. And for postgraduate professionals in any field of endeavor, online opportunities to further expand knowledge or maintain accreditation abound with offerings that range from online CE courses, articles, webinars, to technical videos.
Certainly, dentistry is no exception. According to a survey conducted three years ago by the Wealthy Dentist (www.wealthydentist.com), more and more dentists were using the Internet as part of their formal education. A majority (57%) of dentists in the United States reported that they are using web-based learning to fulfill CE requirements. On the dental technology side, over 35,700 CE credits were awarded in 2011, according to the NADL. Of those 35,700 credits awarded, 10% of the CE modules were earned online.
Although nothing replaces the heightened and highly personal learning environment of a hands-on course or lecture at a regional or specialty meeting, when that meeting conflicts with your schedule or your pocketbook, online learning is available 24/7 and can be an excellent way to pick up necessary credits or to simply get exposure to a new product, technique, or fabrication protocol.
IDT has been offering in-print and online-only CE for the past 12 months. If you need to fulfill a credit or two, please visit www.cdeworld.com and click on the laboratory technician section of the website. Each CE module is worth either one-half or one-hour credit and is free-of-charge. This month and next we also will be featuring two webinars on the website. On September 12th, at 7:00 PM EST, Heraeus Dental will offer a webinar presented by Dr. Gerard Kugel on the benefits of precious metal scrap refining. This is an important topic for your clients so be sure to spread the word. On October 15th, at 7 PM EST, Zahn Dental will offer a webinar presented by Uri Yarovesky on the Hilla™ Digital Transfer. He will demonstrate how this new transfer fuses to any ceramic material to give a crown or bridge the look and depth of a highly esthetic multi-layered restoration. So mark your calendars. Tell your dentists that in order to register for the Heraeus Webinar they should visit dentalaegis.com/webreg2. To register for the October 15th, Zahn Dental webinar and receive 1 CE credit, visit dentalaegis.com/go/webreg3.
Pam Johnson
Editor-in-Chief
pjohnson@aegiscomm.com
