The Importance of e-learning

e-learning platforms have a huge potential in the transfer and monitoring of curricula and learning content in surgical training programs; e-learning environments should be validated with the same rigor as virtual reality simulators. e-learning should not be seen as an alternative to traditional face-to-face training, but rather as a tool to improve and facilitate the learning process. e-content should refer to knowledge already acquired, should allow learners to interact with the proposed materials and to solve problems in order to better retain new information. Furthermore, the integration of proficiency-based progression methodology could drastically improve the results of these new training methodologies, both in terms of quality and time. Learners’ performance should be continuously assessed formatively with feedback to the trainees. At the end of the e-learning component of the curriculum, a summative assessment should be carried out, allowing only students who have reached the required performance level to progress to the next part of the curriculum.