ABSTRACT
This chapter considers where the experiences to initiate learning cycles come from and how they can be used to identify deficiencies and therefore educational needs. The dentist treating the patient has an experience, in the case a sense of unease derived from giving a dental block, which leads on to a learning cycle. However, he could just as easily initiate learning cycles from other types of experiences drawn from the range of methods shown around him. Patients may also provide feedback through avenues such as suggestions and complaints, by completing questionnaires or via patient participation groups. General dental practitioners could be involved in developing the educational objectives for the meeting and chairing the meeting to ensure that a generalist focus is maintained. Self-awareness, or using our opinion of our strengths and weaknesses in order to determine our educational needs, suffers from its lack of objectivity.
