Learning analytics and the future of postgraduate medical training

Confronted by the many barriers and deficiencies which currently face those responsible for the training of doctors, the concept of a logic model applied in real time may seem aspirational. However, several of the necessary of logic-based practices are already in place — these include quantified training effect and performance, learning analytics, and applied reflective practice. A nationally or internationally co-ordinated effort is required to harness these disciplines (which currently exist disparately) to create a sustainable and effective training system which is adaptive to its own performance and to society’s changing needs. This will mean making better use of the data currently being generated by and around training, and its presentation in a timely and comprehensible form to the person(s) who is responsible, prepared, and able to use it to best effect.