Developing an Innovative Team-Based Learning Protocol by Incorporating Stakeholder Feedback in a Dental School in the United Arab Emirates

Introducing a new teaching method into the curriculum is challenging and requires stakeholder agreement, involvement and training. A concurrent, coordinated and innovative team-based learning (TBL) protocol was developed and applied to a cohort of 199 students. TBL sessions in restorative dentistry were conducted simultaneously in different rooms. More than 80% of the students who responded to the feedback questionnaires either agreed or strongly agreed that the TBL sessions helped improve their knowledge, information gathering and critical thinking skills. Open comments indicated that the TBL sessions were beneficial in the group discussion that ensued, as they embraced varying or differing opinions and enhanced critical thinking skills. A stepwise approach was used to integrate the innovative protocol into the curriculum. A cycle of faculty training, standardisation, implementation, student feedback, modification and closing the loop was established with favourable student feedback.