Learning on the Fly

Christian Veillette M.D., M.Sc., FRCSCAssistant Professor, University of TorontoShoulder & Elbow Reconstructive Surgery

Toronto Western Hospital University Health NetworkEmail: orthonet@gmail.com

Everything Changes

By 10 years out of residency 80% of procedures used different technique

Lifelong Learning

The Reality

• Surgeons increasingly work within fast-paced, time-consuming & demanding practice settings

• No matter how committed to lifelong learning

• Do not feel they realistically have time to devote to learning or their CPD

How to keep up?

• Read the journals• Which ones? Which articles?

• Traditional medical education• Conferences• Courses• Seminars/Journal Clubs

• Commercial/Industry resources

• Learning on the fly

Journals

• 112 Orthopaedic, Hand Surgery & Sports Medicine journals listed in Medline

• Assume 8 issues/year, 20 articles, 5 mins to skim one article

• 1493 hours [62 (24 hour) days] continuous reading

• Must be selective of journals– Reject a (large) percentage of the Literature

Learning stimulated by practice

• Unintentional/Opportunistic– learning occurs without a previously identified need

• Intentional/Planned– learning is motivated by an identified need

• Learning occurs on a regular basis throughout residents/surgeons’ work routines– Office– Operating room/Scrub sink– Emergency room– Surgeon lounge– Locker room

How adults learn

• Learning on the fly is a prime example of how adults learn– identify and formulate ideas/questions that reflect

their need to solve problems– determine how and in what order learning will occur– determine how learning contributes to their

knowledge, skills, competence, performance

How to practically implement learning on the fly?

Strategies for Learning on the Fly

Four strategies

1. Capture ideas and questions as they happen

2. Determine what questions to pursue

3. Share learning on the fly experiences

4. Use learning on the fly to improve practice

Royal College Outlook, Fall 2006http://rcpsc.medical.org/publications/outlook/fall2006/index.php

Internet & Learning on the Fly

• Fast• Readily available• Cheap• Multiple resources• Interactive

• Not routine• Lack of search

strategies• Unfamiliar resources• Uncertain quality

– Commercial bias

Difficult to find high level orthopaedic information

Using Google Notebook for Learning on the Fly

http://www.google.com/notebook

Thank you

The Orthopaedic Internet:

A Collaborative Resource