Department of Plastic Surgery, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, United Kingdom.
J Surg Educ. 2012 Sep-Oct;69(5):665-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2012.06.005. Epub 2012 Jul 15.
The advances in Internet and computer technology offer many solutions that can enhance surgical education and increase the effectiveness of surgical teaching. E-learning plays an important role in surgical education today, with many e-learning projects already available on the Internet.
E-learning is based on a mixture of educational theories that derive from behaviorist, cognitivist, and constructivist educational theoretical frameworks. CAN EDUCATIONAL THEORY IMPROVE E-LEARNING?: Conventional educational theory can be applied to improve the quality and effectiveness of e-learning. The theory of "threshold concepts" and educational theories on reflection, motivation, and communities of practice can be applied when designing e-learning material. E-LEARNING IN SURGICAL EDUCATION: E-learning has many advantages but also has weaknesses. Studies have shown that e-learning is an effective teaching method that offers high levels of learner satisfaction. Instead of trying to compare e-learning with traditional methods of teaching, it is better to integrate in e-learning elements of traditional teaching that have been proven to be effective.
E-learning can play an important role in surgical education as a blended approach, combined with more traditional methods of teaching, which offer better face-to-interaction with patients and colleagues in different circumstances and hands on practice of practical skills. National provision of e-learning can make evaluation easier. The correct utilization of Internet and computer resources combined with the application of valid conventional educational theory to design e-learning relevant to the various levels of surgical training can be effective in the training of future surgeons.
互联网和计算机技术的进步提供了许多解决方案，可以增强外科教育并提高外科教学的效果。如今，电子学习在外科教育中扮演着重要的角色，互联网上已经有许多电子学习项目。
电子学习基于多种教育理论的混合，这些理论源自行为主义、认知主义和建构主义的教育理论框架。教育理论能否提高电子学习的效果？传统的教育理论可以应用于提高电子学习的质量和效果。“核心概念”理论以及关于反思、动机和实践共同体的教育理论，可以在设计电子学习材料时应用。
电子学习有很多优点，但也有缺点。研究表明，电子学习是一种有效的教学方法，可提供高水平的学习者满意度。与其试图将电子学习与传统的教学方法进行比较，不如将已被证明有效的传统教学方法中的元素融入电子学习中。
电子学习可以作为一种混合方法在外科教育中发挥重要作用，与更传统的教学方法相结合，为不同情况下与患者和同事的面对面互动以及实践技能的实际操作提供了更好的机会。国家提供电子学习可以使评估变得更容易。正确利用互联网和计算机资源，并将有效的传统教育理论应用于设计与外科培训各个层次相关的电子学习，可以有效地培训未来的外科医生。
