TELMA: Technology-enhanced learning environment for minimally invasive surgery.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive skills training for minimally invasive surgery has traditionally relied upon diverse tools, such as seminars or lectures. Web technologies for e-learning have been adopted to provide ubiquitous training and serve as structured repositories for the vast amount of laparoscopic video sources available. However, these technologies fail to offer such features as formative and summative evaluation, guided learning, or collaborative interaction between users.


METHODS
The "TELMA" environment is presented as a new technology-enhanced learning platform that increases the user's experience using a four-pillared architecture: (1) an authoring tool for the creation of didactic contents; (2) a learning content and knowledge management system that incorporates a modular and scalable system to capture, catalogue, search, and retrieve multimedia content; (3) an evaluation module that provides learning feedback to users; and (4) a professional network for collaborative learning between users. Face validation of the environment and the authoring tool are presented.


RESULTS
Face validation of TELMA reveals the positive perception of surgeons regarding the implementation of TELMA and their willingness to use it as a cognitive skills training tool. Preliminary validation data also reflect the importance of providing an easy-to-use, functional authoring tool to create didactic content.


CONCLUSIONS
The TELMA environment is currently installed and used at the Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre and several other Spanish hospitals. Face validation results ascertain the acceptance and usefulness of this new minimally invasive surgery training environment.
Bioengineering and Telemedicine Centre (GBT), ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain. psanchez@gbt.tfo.upm.es
Patricia
P
Sánchez-González
Daniel
D
Burgos
Ignacio
I
Oropesa
Vicente
V
Romero
Antonio
A
Albacete
Luisa F
LF
Sánchez-Peralta
José F
JF
Noguera
Francisco M
FM
Sánchez-Margallo
Enrique J
EJ
Gómez
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D018961:Educational Technology / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D019212:Multimedia; D010820:Physicians; D013030:Spain; D014741:Video Recording