On the 30th September 12 enthusiastic educational researchers met for the inaugural meeting of DERG – the Dental Education Research Group.
The meeting started with everyone introducing themselves and giving a summary of their previous experience within educational research. It very quickly became apparent that whilst the nature and experience of our research varied enormously, there was a considerable amount of activity within the School of Dental Sciences and a real enthusiasm and passion within the staff present. The meeting then went on to describe our mission and define our objectives.
DERG’s mission is to establish the School of Dental Sciences as a leading contributor to dental educational research whilst also informing the enhancement, development and delivery of high quality dental education.
In so doing DERG aspires to improve our own students’ learners experience and the quality of dental graduates.
In order to achieve this aim the following objectives have been identified;
- To create a ‘forum’ for educational research within the School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University that will promote, support and facilitate the delivery of high quality educational research in the context of the study of dentistry.
- To identify strategic research priorities, funding opportunities and complimentary collaborations.
- To nurture ‘dental educators’ who are new to educational research through shared experience.
The Dental Education Research Group initially aims to embrace three very broad themes – in order to be as inclusive as possible;
The Individual Learner & Teacher; including learner wellbeing, peer learning & team working, developing and assessing professional qualities, educational transitions, developing the teacher
The Curriculum; including integration, theory, development, delivery and assessment
The Wider World; including internationalisation, patient involvement in assessment, feedback and selection.
In order to establish these aims we have set up a Virtual Research Environment and arranged a session were we can all meet to upload our individual profiles and understand how best to use this facility. We are arranging local workshops on ethical considerations and educational research guidelines and are already providing mentoring and support to junior colleagues setting out on their first educational research.
Key to our objectives is our wish to establish complimentary collaborations and to build on the good practice and experience of colleagues within the Faculty, the ERDP and the University.
We would very much welcome contact from anyone interested in collaborative working in the future.
Professor Janice Ellis, School of Dental Sciences