Developer Resources: Shape Tools for Module Developers
Why Build a SELF Module?
Becoming a SELF developer means turning your clinical experience into a practical, step-by-step training tool that others can use to build real skills. With your involvement, you will:
Make a Global Impact: Your work can directly improve patient outcomes by empowering clinicians and practitioners around the world with the skills they need to deliver high-quality care.
Design for Real-World Practice: SELF modules are grounded in real clinical scenarios and tailored for environments with limited resources, enabling equitable and scalable procedural skills training.
Collaborate with Purpose: Each module is built by a small interdisciplinary team (typically a clinician, educator, and simulation specialist), supported by the SELF community’s tools and frameworks.
Innovate on Your Terms: Whether you're adapting a commonly taught skill or documenting a neglected one, the SELF Developer Playbook gives you a step-by-step path to transform your expertise into a teaching module.
What Does Development Involve?
As a developer, you’ll:
Define the procedure and the target learner: Identify the exact skill your module will teach and who it’s for, including their clinical background and practice environment.
Break down tasks and skills into teachable steps: Deconstruct the skill into a logical sequence of psychomotor actions and decisions that can be taught and assessed.
Design low-cost physical simulators and feedback methods: Specify how the skill can be practiced independently using affordable, locally available materials.
Build assessments and clinical scenarios to guide learning: Outline the essential knowledge that supports clinical decision-making and create simple assessments to help learners track their own progress.
Create openly shareable training materials using SELF templates: Help learners build judgment by walking through real-world situations that reflect when, why, and how to apply the skill.
Our comprehensive tools are here to support developers every step of the way. Collaborate with the community to shape the tools developers use to build simulation-based training modules.
Developer Toolbox
Training module developers are never alone. They have access to a diverse set of resources for creating their training modules including a comprehensive library of guides and digital tools.
ENTRUST Platform
A digital tool for creating case scenarios in SELF modules.
The tool is designed to facilitate authoring and deployment of surgical case scenarios to assess surgical decision-making competence in resource-constrained settings.
Mentorship Program
Get guidance and technical support from experienced surgical simulation experts to work through challenges.
The mentorship program is a collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Peer Review
A video-based tool that allows practitioners to share their progress with other learners, and receive formative, structured feedback.
SELF training module called ALL-SAFE developed both a video and AI-powered method for self-administered skills assessment.
Explore Our Example Simulation-Based Training Modules
Tibial Fracture Fixation
Hemorrhage Control Techniques
Laparoscopic Surgical Skills
Z-Plasty Local Flap
Available Developer Resources
Peer Review
A mobile application that allows learners to upload videos of their practice on simulators. These videos are reviewed by an online community of learners and clinicians who provide targeted assessment and feedback.
Led by Abstract Partners
Tissues & Simulator Database
A searchable digital database that helps SELF training module developers find cost-effective simulation materials. The tool includes an index of existing simulators and tissue-simulating materials.
Led by Tissues & Simulator Database Working Group
Tiger Team
A specialized group of clinical and educational experts providing guidance to module developers. The team will support the application of the SELF training framework and ensure high-quality module development.
Led by Patrick Diamond from Intuitive Foundation
Registry
A data collection system designed to evaluate learning outcomes from SELF training modules. It builds on existing training module studies and will include protocols for evidence-based improvements.
Led by Dr. Dimitrios Stefanidis
Developer Course
An educational course based on the SELF Developer Playbook that teaches both the theory and practice of developing simulation-based training in resource-constrained settings.
Led by a working group from the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)
Recommendation Engine
A digital tool designed to help learners find relevant skills training content based on their learning goals. Integrated with the SURGhub platform, it aims to prototype an AI-powered recommendation engine.
Led by Jiva.ai
