VIRTUAL MADRID FOCUS ON PEDAGOGY
Abstract
This presentation showcases an innovative approach to dental education by integrating 3D-printed teeth into a gamified learning environment. Designed and delivered by a facilitator, the workshop leverages the realism of 3D-printed dental models to teach students about tooth morphology and anatomical variation in an engaging and interactive way. Gamification, embedding elements of play, challenge, and competition into learning has been shown to improve student motivation, engagement, and knowledge retention. This study explores how combining gamification with tactile 3D models enhances students’ understanding of complex anatomical features, making abstract concepts more accessible and memorable. A mixed-methods design underpins the research, combining qualitative feedback and quantitative data to evaluate the impact of this approach. Students actively engage in evaluating the learning experience, offering insights into its effectiveness and how it compares with traditional teaching methods. The workshop is underpinned by Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, ensuring diverse learning preferences are accommodated through hands-on interaction, visual-spatial reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving. By creating a low-stakes, high-engagement learning space, the project promotes deep learning while reducing performance anxiety. This approach aligns with current shifts in health professions education toward experiential, inclusive, and student-centred pedagogies. The findings provide practical insights for educators seeking to incorporate 3D technologies and game-based strategies into their teaching to improve anatomical understanding and student experience.
Mutahira Lone, B.D.S., Ph.D., is a lecturer and the Director for the Masters in Human Anatomy in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. She teaches anatomy to MSc students and tooth morphology, oral embryology/histology to dental students. Her research interests lie in looking at innovative ways to teach anatomy to dental and medical students, teaching students to use AI with academic integrity, and using UDL principles for teaching anatomy.
Jose Monagas is a third-year dental student who is interested in researching areas of how students learn anatomy.
Asma Zulfiqar is a fourth-year dental student who is interested in researching areas of how students learn anatomy.
Dr. Andre Toulouse is a senior lecturer. He is currently involved in teaching systematic anatomy, human development, and molecular neuroscience to students in medicine, dentistry, and biological sciences. His research is focused on the development of cellular models for the study of the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in polyglutamine disorders and the role of retinoic acid in brain cancer biology.