Development and Evaluation of Clinical Videos for Remote Learning in Dentistry and Oral Health Education

Project details

First supervisor: Dr Jonathan San Diego

Duration: 3 years

Mode of study: Full-time

Funding: Self-funded. Students will need to self-fund or secure sponsorship for non-clinical PhD annual fees shown at this page.

Eligibility: Home and Overseas applicants

Application deadline: Open until a suitable candidate is found

Reference number: 2026/JSD/Vid

Project description

The rapid expansion of remote and blended learning in higher education has transformed the delivery of clinical training in dentistry and oral health. Clinical video resources are increasingly used to support the teaching of complex procedures; however, their pedagogical effectiveness, optimal design, and impact on student learning remain insufficiently understood.

This PhD project will investigate how clinical videos can be systematically designed and implemented to enhance learning in dental education. The research will adopt a mixed-methods approach to develop and evaluate a suite of high-quality clinical video resources tailored to remote learning contexts. It will explore key instructional design features such as visualisation, narration, segmentation, and interactivity that support the acquisition of procedural knowledge and clinical reasoning.

The project will further evaluate the effectiveness of clinical videos in improving student understanding, skill development, and learning outcomes, comparing their impact with traditional face-to-face teaching approaches. In addition, the research will examine the experiences and perceptions of students and educators and assess the scalability and cost-effectiveness of video-based learning in dental curricula.

The findings will inform evidence-based guidelines for best practice in clinical video design and contribute to the advancement of digital and inclusive dental education.

Research training

• Educational research expertise (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches)
• Instructional design skills for digital and multimedia learning environments
• Video production and media development for clinical education
• Learning analytics and evaluation of educational interventions
• Statistical analysis and data interpretation
• Health professions education research methods
• Survey design and interview techniques
• Academic writing and dissemination (journal publications, conference presentations)
• Project management and independent research skills
• Understanding of digital pedagogy and innovation in clinical training

These skills will position the candidate for careers in academia, clinical education, educational technology, and health professions training.

Person specification

Any applicants with an interest in Dental Education, Learning Technology, Digital Education, or Health Professions Education research. To view entry requirements and further information, see the Dental and Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD.

Next steps

Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss the project with the first supervisor prior to submitting an application.

Please apply online at apply.kcl.ac.uk following these steps:

1. Register a new account/login.
2. Once logged in, select Create a new application.
3. Enter Dental and Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time) under Choose a programme.
4. Select your preferred start date 
5. Include the project reference number 2026/JSD/Vid in the Research Proposal section of the application.

Contact for further information

Dr Jonathan San Diego (jonathan.p.san_diego@kcl.ac.uk)

For further information on education research, see Centre for Oral, Clinical & Translational Sciences.

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