Teaching and testing technical skills
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2026
A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills
Published on: February 13, 2020
1Department of Surgery, Toronto Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Teaching technical skills is one of the most important tasks of a surgeon. This article discusses current issues in teaching and testing technical skills. For the most part, the level of technical skills cannot be predicted before a surgical resident starts a program. Different methods of teaching technical skills are reviewed (in and out of the operating room). For optimal effectiveness in teaching residents, we must apply principles of adult learning to the surgical domain. A methodologic framework for skill acquisition, adapted from the educational psychology literature, is discussed. Five methods of assessing technical skills are presented. Structuring the assessment process has resulted in higher levels of reliability and improved validity.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching III: Evaluation and Documentation
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
01:24Critical Thinking I
01:24Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching II: Planning and Implementation
01:24Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data from the...
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution itself.