Uso de mídias digitais para complementação da aprendizagem em Endodontia pelos estudantes de Odontologia de Universidade Privada em Pelotas

Abstract

Society has undergone several transformations in recent years, whether due to rapid technological advancements leading to the accelerated intellectual development of new generations, or due to the COVID-19 pandemic that emerged five years ago. The increased reliance on technology combined with the need for social isolation during the pandemic has ushered in an era of redefined education and digital learning. Both professors and students were required to quickly adapt to online learning and familiarize themselves with this new teaching-learning model. The aim of this study was to investigate which online platforms dental students from UCPel commonly use to search for complementary educational materials autonomously, as well as to assess the effectiveness of video-based learning by evaluating their performance on content-related questions before and after watching a YouTube educational video. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 undergraduate dental students from UCPel. Students completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and a knowledge assessment questionnaire administered before and after watching an educational video. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and chi-square tests (P ≤ 0.05). YouTube and Google were the most frequently used platforms; students preferred videos longer than five minutes and expressed concern about the reliability of online content. A significant increase in correct answers was observed after watching the video (P < 0.001). The results indicate that faculty-produced educational videos are effective in enhancing knowledge in endodontics and that educators should guide students in selecting reliable digital learning resources.