A system to assist in at least one of the evaluation of or the improvement of skills to perform minimally invasive surgery includes a minimally invasive surgical system, a video system arranged to record at least one of a user's interaction with the minimally invasive surgical system or tasks performed with the minimally invasive surgical system, and a data storage and processing system in communication with the minimally invasive surgical system and in communication with the video system. The minimally invasive surgical system provides at least one of motion data, ergonomics adjustment data, electrical interface interaction data or mechanical interface interaction data of at least a component of the minimally invasive surgical system in conjunction with time registered video signals from the video system. The data storage and processing system processes the at least one of motion data, ergonomics adjustment data, electrical interface interaction data or mechanical interface interaction data to provide a performance metric in conjunction with the time registered video signals to be made available to an expert for evaluation.