Students at the UNC School of Dentistry have been benefiting from a well-planned and carefully managed electronic curriculum since 1998.  The sophisticated information technology infrastructure in place is made up of a network of educational and clinical resources designed to provide students with instant access to classroom and clinic materials.  The goal is to provide a strong grounding in the use of computer technology to manage information, enhance teaching/learning initiatives, support patient care decisions, select appropriate treatments, and develop abilities as lifelong learners.  To this end the E-syllabus and computer-based educational strategies are combined with traditional strategies—a digital library replaces paper textbooks, an electronic patient record replaces paper records and digital imaging replaces traditional radiography.

A wireless network throughout the dental school allows students to capitalize on the power of the required laptop computer—accessing and retrieving a greater range of information resources than ever before. The commitment the UNC School of Dentistry has made to the latest information technology systems will better prepare the dental students of today for the dental professionals they are to become, regardless of the ultimate career path.

During your four years in dental school you will use your laptop and related technology to access:

• Faculty-created instructional materials
• Lecture slides and presentations
• Instructional videos
• Journal articles and library resources
• Web-based forums and information boards
• UNC Digital Library--dental textbooks and medical/dental references
• Electronic Patient Record (EPR)
• Email

IT support is available to students through the Office of Computing and Information Systems.  Support for the electronic curriculum is provided by the Center for Educational Development and Informatics.