Education Forum

Mark your calendars for the IOA Education Forum, an official part of the XII International Orthoptic Congress

Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Westin Harbor Castle Convention Centre
Toronto, Canada

The IOA Education Forum is an opportunity for those involved in orthoptic education to collaborate with educators from around the world.

• Meet some of the educators and thinkers who are shaping our profession.
• Learn about orthoptic education developments.

The IOA Education Forum welcomes all orthoptists, medical professionals, and visual scientists involved in or interested in being involved in the teaching of orthoptic students, other orthoptists, or other eye professionals.

In keeping with the theme for the 2012 Toronto IOA Congress — "Prisms in the Northern Lights: The Science of Orthoptics" — the first half of the Education Forum is entitled "Evidence-based Practice in Orthoptic Teaching and Instructor Education: What is It? What is the Rationale? What are the Issues?"

There is rising international interest in developing health care systems that are built on the basis of best evidence. However, it is a challenge to integrate evidence-based practice skills into existing educational courses in a manner that enables students to interpret and use such skills effectively. IOA Education Forum participants will discuss strategies for teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) in different settings, including clinical practice, and develop the means to evaluate transfer of evidence into clinical practice.

"Teaching 101" is the topic for the second portion of the Education Forum. This session is designed to increase orthoptic educators’ effectiveness and efficiency. Basic best-evidence-based principles and theories of health profession education will be presented. Practical approaches and strategies for immediate use will be discussed. Topics will include: education theory, small group teaching, giving feedback, evaluation, and teaching professionalism.

We look forward to seeing you!