Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is a technology hat is used to treat children with respiratory or cardiac failure to recovery or organ transplantation. The ECLS technology is complex and requires specialized care. In 2011a team of clinician and education experts were tasked with re-developing the ECMO Specialist Training Activities and Resources (E-STAR programme)

Kern's framework was used for curriculum development. Data from the needs assessment, variety of instructional methods, simulation and feedback from performance audits were used to develop E-STAR. The two module course uses on-line self directed learning, assignments and flipped classroom, interactive problem-based learning and simulation training as instructional methods to teach the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for an ECMO specialist.

An evaluation tool using a 5 point Likert scale (anchored at 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree) as well as open-ended question was used for programme evaluation. A pre and post MSC exam was also administered to all participants. Participants for the first course included 2 physicians, 3 respiratpry therapists and 6 nurses. Scores on the post-test were higher than in pre-test: 89.1 (SD 8.9) vs 76.4 (SD 11.2). The difference was significant t(19)=2, p=0.008. Survey questios scored a mean of 4.7, with a programme as a whole being rated very good to excellent. The themes from the open-ended comments: "simulation and hands-on learning were extremely useful".

E redesigned ECLS curricula (E-STAR) using Kern's framework was higly evaluated. Using a variety of instructional methods improve performance of ECMO provediers. Next step inculde a work-based performance.