SAGES Reimagining Education & Learning (REAL) Project

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) has virtualized hands-on (HO) continuing professional development courses at its annual meeting through the Re-imaging Education & Learning (REAL) project. As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and in-person meetings were canceled, the development of REAL led SAGES to restructure HO courses using already available concepts, including the flipped classroom, longitudinal mentorship and community of practice. The flipped classroom format provides enrollees with online, Web-based pre-course assignments. Following the virtual course, the mentorship relationship continues longitudinally through calls, webinars, emails, phone conferences and similar interactions. These interactions establish a community of practice that delivers legitimate peripheral learning for participants. REAL was implemented via tele-collaboration using simulation-based training. Planners used REAL elements to develop the At-Home Hands-On Hernia Acquisition of Data and Outcomes for Procedure Transfer course. The initial HO virtual training session was well received by participants, who considered it successful in meeting their needs and learning goals. The authors assert the pilot program creates "a new paradigm for continuing professional development for this period of social distancing and disruption."

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