Microscopy without a microscope? Opportunities and limitations of dental studies in anatomy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Aim: Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the microscopy course as part of the dental medical training in Leipzig, Germany, was transformed from a classroom-only course into a purely digital and later hybrid course with reduced attendance time. Aim of this educational research study is the detailed evaluation of digital and hybrid courses regarding students' perception and learning outcome. Based on the findings current teaching should be critically scrutinised, resulting in a modern design of the histology curricula.

Methods: This is an educational research study. The students' subjective experiences are measured with the help of an evaluation survey and the learning success was objectively measured using a digital assessment course. Data was collected in two consecutive year groups of dentistry students, each after completion of the second semester. Cohort A consisted of 56 students, cohort B of 54 students. The sampling was purposive and the sample size equals the sample population (closed population of A+B = 110). A statistial analysis of the quantitative results were carried out and quantitative results were analysed using content-structuring qualitative content analysis.

Results: Students are predominantly positive about hybrid teaching approaches, although limitations such as perceived deterioration of the quality of teaching and insufficient learning success in cohort A can be identified. Hybrid teaching cohort B showed significantly better learning success than the purely digital cohort A.

Discussion: Particularly digital lecture formats and the CUVM have been valued by students. In addition, practical courses with appropriate resources (e.g. CUVM, digital identification course) can benefit from a blended approach. Regardless of the continued importance of practical training in dental studies, digital teaching formats developed as an emergency solution at the beginning of the pandemic should be evaluated in regard to their success and the existing potential should be further expanded in a targeted manner.