Two new training labs with 38 networked simulation stations
The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is listed in Forbes' “America's Top Colleges” ranking – with over 22,000 students and more than 200,000 alumni. In July 2022, the College of Dental Medicine commissioned two new training labs. 38 simulation units from Dentsply Sirona are networked with the alphadidact® Digital multimedia system from EBS. A surgical room is connected to the training lab for presenting live treatments.
Instructor sends his signal to all 38 students.
Challenge
The system was to operate independently of the hardware and software used and be particularly easy to use. The lecturer should be able to send signals from camera, microscope or tablet to individual, groups or all screens. In addition, the work of a student should be available to everyone – and live treatments from the surgical room should be transmitted in real time.
Solution
All functions are controlled via a room-specific user interface on a 10-inch touchscreen. At the touch of a button, the lecturer sends signals to the students. Pressing the participant number (e.g. S1) transfers the student's work to everyone – the lecturer can comment live. A 70 m fibre optic link connects the training lab and the treatment room; live treatments can be activated either from the touchscreen in the simulation lab or directly from the surgical room.
Signal from S1 is transmitted to the instructor and to places S13–S18.
The live treatment signal is transmitted from the surgical room to all 38 screens in the simulation lab.
Results
Students are trained in a practice-oriented and professional way. Any workstation can act as a signal source; participants in the back rows follow the training content in optimum quality.