A Moodle Lesson for Pre-Simulation Endodontic Training for Third-Year Dental Students: A Preliminary Satisfaction Study

Simulation-based education plays an increasingly important role in dental curricula, supporting the acquisition of psychomotor and cognitive skills in a controlled, low-risk environment. Learning management systems such as Moodle can further enhance this process by providing structured, interactive learning units that prepare students for hands-on training on high-fidelity simulators. This study describes the development and preliminary evaluation of an interactive Moodle lesson used as pre-simulation preparation in Endodontics for thirdyear dental students at the Medical University of Plovdiv. An interactive learning unit titled “Endodontic Access Cavity Preparation” was developed using the Lesson activity in Moodle. The learning unit included clearly defined objectives, nonlinear navigation paths, and multimodal content (text, images, and short video clips), and embedded formative questions to maintain interactivity. It was implemented in both Bulgarian- and English-taught groups of third-year dental students. Student satisfaction was assessed via an anonymous electronic questionnaire following lesson completion. Data was exported and analyzed quantitatively using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Results indicate high levels of student satisfaction across both language groups. Participants reported that the structure and multimodal presentation made the material interesting and engaging, and the nonlinear pathways supported a sense of personalization and choice in learning. Students also stated that the lesson was suitable for self-directed preparation before working with a high-technology dental simulator and helped them better understand key steps in endodontic access cavity preparation. No significant difference in satisfaction levels was observed between Bulgarian- and English-speaking cohorts Integrating interactive Moodle lessons as preparatory tools for simulation-based training in dental education positively influences student engagement and learning satisfaction. The approach supports personalized learning and serves as an effective bridge between theoretical instruction and practical application on high-fidelity simulators.