Remember the days in the old school yard: from lectures to online learning

Key Points Gives an overview of the impact of e-learning on teaching practice and introduces themes which will be developed in the next five papers in the current series. Suggests that the impact of ICT systems and services has and will continue to transform teaching practice at all levels of education. Suggests that in some ways tertiary education, has been slow to grasp the opportunities that e-learning offers. Claims have been made that the traditional classroom/lecture-room mode of teaching is under threat with the future being purely online-based. There is no doubt that the impact of ICT systems and services have and will continue to transform teaching practice. From PowerPoint slides introduced to enliven lectures to virtual reality models accessed remotely, technology is bringing about new educational paradigms. The result is the emergence of new forms of distance learning with terms such as flexible learning, blended learning and full online instruction. All are making major contributions to the student experience, allowing access to more information and greater resources as well as opportunities for learning in a manner and timescale that is more attuned to their aims, abilities and lifestyles. In dental education the transition is providing undergraduates, postgraduates and CPD students with a greater variety of courses, access to more expertise and the opportunity for lifetime learning.