A study of information and communication technology competencies for learning of dental students at Naresuan University, Thailand

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate and compare the differences of information and communication technology (ICT) competencies for learning of undergraduate dental students at the Naresuan University, Thailand. Three online versions of questionnaires were developed by the researchers for evaluating generic and specific ICT competencies for preclinical and clinical dental students. A total of 351 undergraduate dental students, in the 2018 academic year, were asked to complete the online version of the questionnaires. Both preclinical and clinical dental students assessed most of their generic ICT competencies in terms of domain mean scores, as "at moderately high level". There was no statistically significant difference in generic ICT competencies among participants from each class year of the preclinical level. However, a significant difference was found between the fourth-and the sixth-year clinical level, in domain 4 of knowledge dimension (p < 0.05). Regarding the most specific ICT competencies, both levels of dental students assessed their competencies in term of domain mean scores as between "average and moderately high level". The first-year dental students assessed their specific ICT knowledge and skill as "low level" compared to the second-and third-year dental students (p < 0.01). A significant difference of specific ICT competency was also found between the fourth-and the sixth-year dental students in domain 2 of knowledge and skill dimension (p < 0.05). The results of this study can be used to develop the educational management and systems based on ICT in the Faculty for enhancing quality of education. © 2019 University of Dicle.