A preliminary study to investigate the potential of plasma screen technology in small group teaching for dental undergraduates.

Aim: This preliminary study was devised to ascertain whether students considered that they had an adequate view of demonstrated procedures, while observing these directly at the workbench, or indirectly on a remote plasma screen. In addition, this study sought to identify whether the students observing remotely believed that they had been disadvantaged by the inability to question the demonstrator during the demonstration.

Methods: Seventeen students divided into two groups observed a live demonstration of a laboratory technical procedure either at the workbench, or remotely at a plasma screen with the aid of video cameras.