I enthusiastically agree with Dr. Gordon Christensen’s July JADA article, "Continuing Education: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." As one who has been lecturing for 32 years and conducting hands-on courses for 15, I can attest to the profound value of hands-on courses in simulated clinical situations.
Not only does this enhance the education of the participants but, as Dr. Christensen so aptly pointed out, it enables the educator to evaluate the effectiveness of his or her teaching efforts.
From the hands-on course I conducted at the Academy of General Dentistry meeting in New York in July 1989 ("Creating the Super Smile With Porcelain Laminates: Success Without Stress") to the courses I presided over at the ADA 2003 annual session in New Orleans and the Greater New York Dental Meeting this past December, there are constant changes in the content of the lectures and audiovisuals, dictated not only by advances in dental materials and techniques, but also by observations of how aptly the participants can apply the information.
I would like to add one point: it is of great importance to quality continuing education for the participant to take the time to fill out the course evaluations afterward. This information, both positive and negative, is very vital to both the educator and the sponsoring institution to continually improve our dental continuing education.
