AOSpine is leading the way in online surgeon education. In its newest landmark project, AOSpine is currently finalizing a new "blended learning" module on Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) for spinal disorders. This new module will be available for all AOSpine regions in 2016, to be included into their upcoming educational offerings.

Blended learning

Blended learning refers to an educational program that uses a mixed teaching methods approach, where the face-to-face event is preceded by a number of online, precourse educational activities. The blended learning concept ensures that course participants hold comparable levels of prior knowledge and therefore allows the time spent at the course to be more focused and efficient. It also lets participants decide individually on when and where to complete the precourse activities.

Module information

The new AOSpine MIS module is being realized largely thanks to the enormous effort made by Dr Roger Härtl with support from Dr Daniel Gelb, AOSpine International, AO Education Institute and AO North America.

The module has been developed to require about three hours of studying and the material is made available for participants one month before the face-to-face event. Included in the extensive online material is:

• Pre course reading (chapters from the MIS Techniques, Evidence, and Controversies book)
• Videos of Transforminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
• Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide of the TLIF Procedure
• Online case discussion
• Archived webinar—Nuances of MIS TLIF
• Archived MIS lectures
• Precourse self-assessment questions and feedback (created by faculty members)

Trial courses

A very successful first trial of the new module was done in November 2015 at the "Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery and Navigation" course in Phoenix (US), chaired by Dr Roger Härtl and Dr Daniel Gelb. Through an extensive evaluation process, it became clear that both participants and faculty members thought that the blended learning concept worked extremely well and had a very positive impact on the overall learning experience. It was highly valued that the face-to-face course could be focused on the essentials, since the precourse material ensured that participants came to the course with similar levels of basic knowledge.

Some of the quotes from course participants were:

"Repetition is key, so the sequence of getting information in the precourse activities and then going to the lab to apply it, is perfect."

"I really like the blended learning concept, it helps you come away with so much more from the course."

"AOSpine really has something good here and I would definitely like to see more courses like this going forward."

The Chairpersons of the course said:

"As a result of the blended learning concept, we were able to focus less on lecturing and more on interactive case discussions," said course Chairperson Dr Daniel Gelb.

"Having shorter, more intense and interactive face-to-face courses, which means less time away from your hospital and your family, is something that I think is appealing to most surgeons," concluded Dr Härtl.

A second and final trail of the new module will be done in May 2016 at the "Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery and Navigation" course in Tampa (US), chaired by Dr Dean Chou and Dr Steven Ludwig. After this second trail course, the MIS module will be ready to be distributed globally to all AOSpine regions to use in their regional MIS courses.

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218 participants from over 50 countries attended AOSpine Davos Courses 2015. 11 educational modules were taught by 60 faculty members from 27 countries with the aim of achieving more effective patient care worldwide.

Participants at the Davos Courses were able to attend four spine modules from a choice of 11. A number of complementary practical exercises and keynote lectures covered the main areas and pathologies of spine surgery.

The level of face-to-face interaction between faculty and participants was very high. In addition, the teaching of a number of spine topics at Masters level, made the Davos Courses truly unique.

Participants were able to bring and discuss their own clinical cases with the world's leading spine experts.

Best clinical cases

We are pleased to announce that the winners of the best clinical cases are:

• Dr Marko Jug, Slovenia —Module Preventing and Managing Complications/Solutions for Complex Degenerative Cases
• Dr Jaime Segura, Colombia—Module Lumbar/Cervical Degenerative Disease
• Mr Jonathan Wasserberg, United Arab Emirates—Module Thoracolumbar/Cervical Trauma –Module Pediatric and Adult Deformity/The Aging Spine - Dr Kenny Kwan, Hong Kong
• Dr Pietari Kinnunen, Finland—Module Solutions for Complex Trauma Cases/Lumbar Degenerative Disease/Spinal Tumors and Oncology

"The Davos Courses 2015 were again an excellent opportunity for spine surgeons to network and to discuss different ways of treating patients from a global perspective. Participants benefit from the fully case-based course format in their daily practice. "

Mike Grevitt, Davos Courses Director

Participant evaluation

From the results of the evaluation survey, which participants completed during the courses, more than 95% of attendees stated that they would recommend the Davos Courses to their colleagues. The majority of the participants (97%) rated the content of the modules they participated in as either ‘useful’ or ‘very useful’ for their daily practice and 98% rated their faculty as 'effective' or 'very effective'.

Participants comments

''Excellent course. One of the best education courses I have taken. ''

''Very interesting course, well organized, with highly professional teachers and tutors.''

''It helped me to eliminate some of the doubts I had for some spine cases; the knowledge gained will be used in my practice for sure. Above all I met some good people whom I would be in touch professionally''

''Excellent course to share different practices in different countries at one platform''

Highli​ghts from the week

Global Spine Congress and World Forum for Spine Research Preliminary Program was launched at the Courses. View the program here.

The AO Thoracolumbar Classification System Toolkit, consisting of a pocket card, poster and video, was launched onsite. Click here to download the toolkit.

Furthermore, participants took the opportunity to get the latest AOSpine Masters Series Volumes 4 – 6 and receive a signature from authors Luiz Vialle and Cumhur Oner.

The brand new Cervical Spine Module for the AO Surgery Reference App also debuted. The module describes the complete surgical management process from diagnosis to aftercare of cervical spine pathologies. The Surgery Reference App, available to download in the AppStore, is free of charge.

For the first time in history, the Davos Courses were covered via live chat on Twitter, moderated by @AOSpine. During the course of the week, over 450 tweets with the hashtag #aodavos2015 were tweeted by AOSpine, Faculty members, Davos Course participants and the numerous followers from around the world. The activities at the Courses included pictures from the Keynote Lectures, the various sessions as well as comments, questions and feedback to faculty members and participants, offering a fantastic platform to interact, engage and communicate.

Visit the picture gallery to view the highlights from this fascinating week.

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Save the date for Davos Courses 2016!

Join us in Davos from December 11-15, 2016, where expert knowledge is enhanced, lifelong professional networks are created, and friendships are maintained!

More details about the registration process will be communicated soon.

We look forward to seeing you at our next Davos Courses.