In dichotic listening, subjects are apparently unable to attend simultaneously to two concurrent, auditory speech messages. However, in two experiments reported here, it is shown that people can attend to and repeat back continuous speech at the same time as taking in complex, unrelated visual scenes, or even while sightreading piano music. In both cases performance with divided attention was very good, and in the case of sight-reading was as good as with undivided attention. There was little or no effect of the dual task on the accuracy of speech shadowing. These results are incompatible with the hypothesis that human attention is limited by the capacity of a general-purpose central processor in the nervous system. An alternative, "multi-channel", hypothesis is outlined.

These results suggest that BL is more likely than either F2FL or EL alone, to be both effective and accepted when delivering cephalometric education to undergraduates.

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This paper provides an overview of the diversity of tools available for online learning and identifies the drivers of online learning and directives for future research relating to online learning in dentistry. After an introduction and definitions of online learning, this paper considers the democracy of knowledge and tools and systems that have democratized knowledge. It identifies assessment systems and the challenges of online learning. This paper also identifies the drivers for online learning, including those for instructors, administrators and leaders, technology innovators, information and communications technology personnel, global dental associations and government. A consideration of the attitudes of the stakeholders and how they might work together follows, using the example of the unique achievement of the successful collaboration between the Universities of Adelaide, Australia and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The importance of the interaction of educational principles and research on online learning is discussed. The paper ends with final reflections and conclusions, advocating readers to move forward in adopting online learning as a solution to the increasing worldwide shortage of clinical academics to teach dental clinicians of the future.

Policy development Statement of policy No action is requiredThis document sets out our strategy and implementation plan for supporting higher education institutions to develop and embed e-learning over the next 10 years. It reflects responses to the consultation on our draft strategy, and has been developed jointly with the Higher Education Academy and the Joint Information Systems Committee. HEFCE strategy for e-learning Higher Education Funding Council for EnglandJoint Information Systems Committee Higher Education Academy Foreword'People use the internet and new technologies every day -for finding information, communicating, and seeking entertainment, goods and services. Learners are bringing new expectations of the power of technology into higher education. And the curiosity and innovation of those in higher education is driving them to explore new approaches to learning supported by technologies. It is the excitement and interest of learners, teachers and the sector in general that drives our e-learning strategy. Our goal is to help the sector use new technology as effectively as they can, so that it becomes a 'normal' or embedded part of their activities. That does not mean telling universities and colleges what their aims for e-learning should be, nor how they should go about reaching them. But it is about describing overall aspirations for how e-learning can transform learning and teaching, and about supporting institutions in setting their own visions and plans.'We recognise that we cannot deliver and develop our strategy alone. We will work closely with our implementation partners, the Higher Education Academy and the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC). We will seek to learn from and get the best out of joined-up approaches to the exploration of e-learning, working with the DfES e-learning strategy. Above all, we will put institutions, their teachers and learners, at the heart of our strategy, and ensure we review and develop it over its 10-year horizons, taking account of the real impact we have made on teaching and learning.' Liz Beaty Director, Learning and Teaching, HEFCE'Many universities and colleges we work with have highlighted the need to understand more about effective ways of using information and communications technology to enhance the student learning experience. This national strategy will provide a broad framework for bodies such as the Higher Education Academy and JISC to dovetail our efforts, to ensure that institutions carry forward strategies based on evidence of what works, advice and guidance from around the sector and beyond.' Cliff Allan Director of Programmes, Higher Education Academy'UK education and research has benefited enormously from its investment in ICT over many years and remains at the forefront of the innovative use of technology. HEFCE's e-Learning strategy, which emphasises many things central to JISC's own activities -such as the provision of personalised user experiences, supporting student progression, and supporting institutions in the innovative use of...

SummaryBackgroundFamily‐centered interactive on‐line games are increasingly popular in healthcare, but their effectiveness for preoperative preparation needs further research. www.scottga.org is the new on‐line version of a proven nonweb‐based game for children and parents/caregivers.AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate if www.scottga.org improved children's anxiety and families' satisfaction compared with controls.MethodsIn this phase III double‐blind randomized controlled trial, children/parents/caregivers received (i) www.scottga.org, (ii) standard care, or (iii) a placebo hand‐washing game. The intervention and placebo games were available online for home usage and provided again on the ward before surgery. All children were accompanied by parent/caregivers at induction and observed and scored using validated measures. Stratified randomization and generalized linear models were used. An intention‐to‐treat approach was adopted.ResultsOverall, 52/176 children had baseline “psychological disturbance.” Children's anxiety increased preinduction, but there were no differences between groups (Facial Image Scale: video‐standard OR = 1.08, P = .82, 95% CI [0.56, 2.1]; video‐placebo OR = 0.9, P = .77 95% CI [0.46, 1.8]). There were no differences in induction behavior (visual analog scale: video mean = 3.5; standard care mean = 3.5; placebo mean = 3.7: video‐standard OR = 2.0, P = .42, 95% CI [−0.6, 1.3]; video‐placebo OR = 1.53, P = .65, 95% CI [−0.8, 1.1]) or induction anxiety (modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale: video‐standard OR 1.02, P = .97, 95% CI [0.61, 2.6]; video‐placebo OR 1.38, P = .49, 95% CI [0.87, 3.81]). Families favored the intervention regarding the “child handling the visit better” (Treatment Evaluation Inventory: video‐standard OR = 12; 95% CI 4.7‐32; P < .001; video‐placebo OR = 8.2; 95% CI 3‐22; P < .001) and “improving the child's ability to cope” (Treatment Evaluation Inventory: video‐standard OR = 21; 95% CI 8‐56; P < .001 and video‐placebo OR = 13; 95% CI 5‐34; P < .001).ConclusionFamilies believed that a video‐game preparation helped their child's perioperative anxiety, but there were no objective measures of behavioral improvement associated with this intervention.

Serious games provide an option for healthcare and dental education but remain underutilised and researched. At best, they offer a similar experience to other methods in relation to educational outcome; however, they can provide a supplementary strategy to engage students and improve learner satisfaction.

This paper is the last in a series of 16 which have explored current uses of information communications technology (ICT) in all areas of dentistry in general, and in dental education in particular. In this paper the authors explore current developments, referring back to the previous 15 papers, and speculate on how ICT should increasingly contribute to dental education in the future. After describing a vision of dental education in the next 50 years, the paper considers how ICT can help to fulfil the vision. It then takes a brief look at three aspects of the use of ICT in the world in general and speculates how dentistry can learn from other areas of human endeavour. Barriers to the use of ICT in dental education are then discussed. The final section of the paper outlines new developments in haptics, immersive environments, the semantic web, the IVIDENT project, nanotechnology and ergonometrics. The paper concludes that ICT will offer great opportunities to dental education but questions whether or not human limitations will allow it to be used to maximum effect.