Recent News

8:30–10:00 Symposium: Teaching and Assessing Surgical Competence - Participants will be able to describe the main steps for teaching and learning surgical processes, and deliver effective feedback about the surgical competence of a trainee.

14:00–15:30 Symposium: Innovative Formats for Teaching in Graduate Medical Education & CPD - This session will cover innovations for teaching including work-based learning, the use of surgical simulation, internet-based learning, use of portfolios, how to add metacognition to continuing professional development (CPD) and innovative assessment methods.

10:30–12:00 Symposium: Less is More: Focused Workplace Placement Based Assessments (WPBA) in Busy Disciplines - This session will define the rationale, structure, and implementation of Workplace Based Assessments (WBAs). Specific WBA examples for surgical skill, outpatient care, and professionalism will be described.

16:00–17:30 Symposium: Ophthalmic Education Based on Evidence: Today's Facts and Future Perspectives of Application - This session will cover the definition, importance, and need of evidence-based medical education and provide best-evidence examples to improve teaching.

As was previously announced, the ICO has formed a special interest group for ophthalmic educators, the ICO Ophthalmic Educators Group (ICO-OEG). The ICO-OEG supports educators and teachers of ophthalmology and recognizes ophthalmic education as a distinct subspecialty of ophthalmology.

As part of these efforts, the ICO has created an ICO-OEG LinkedIn group with the goal of creating a dynamic online space for ophthalmic educators to network, share resources, and discuss issues relevant to their profession. If you are an educator or involved in ophthalmic education, we are pleased to extend an invitation for you to join.

Join the new online course organized by the International Council of Ophthalmology: Learning and Teaching Critical Thinking.

The ability to think critically is an advantageous skill and is key to being a successful professional. This 8-week course is designed to improve analytical abilities, help you be more impactful in your decisions, and for teachers to become better equipped to support students in developing their own critical thinking skills.

There is no fee for the course, but proof of purchase of the reading material is required.

Learn more about the course.

Access these resources submitted by our Editorial Board:

• Simulation based CME learning course on dry eye disease: Can You Diagnose and Treat Dry Eye? (free user account required)
• Learning resource for ophthalmology residency students: Eyeguru
• A source of electronic materials aimed to support candidates in UK ophthalmology exams: Success in MRCOphth
• A tool demonstrating ocular movements in nine positions of gaze: Positions and Movements of the Eyes

Join us for the World Ophthalmic Education Colloquium (WOEC) series of symposia and workshops spotlighting a variety of educational techniques at the 2018 World Ophthalmology Congress, 16–19 June in Barcelona.

This month we would like to highlight two symposia: “Simulation for Teaching and Learning” on Sunday, 17 June, which will teach participants about surgical simulation and how to implement these low cost tools. “Less is More: Focused Workplace Placement Based Assessments (WPBA) in Busy Disciplines” on Tuesday, 19 June, will give examples of WPBA tools, and will teach participants the rationale and steps for implementation of WPBAs for their own programs.

We thank all the supporters of the ICO's Teaching the Teachers Initiative, including our 2018 WOEC sessions supporter Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, and the WOEC keynote luncheon supporter, the Alcon Foundation.

Learn more about the educator sessions and schedule during the WOEC. 

Register for the World Ophthalmology Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

These recently updated AAO Preferred Practice Pattern guidelines (“PPP”), focused on Pediatric Ophthalmology, are designed to identify characteristics and components of quality eye care.

Preferred Practice Pattern: Amblyopia

Preferred Practice Pattern: Esotropia and Exotropia

Preferred Practice Pattern: Pediatric Eye Evaluations

A new online course organized by the International Council of Ophthalmology will open for registration 23 March: Learning and Teaching Critical Thinking.

The ability to think critically is an advantageous skill and is key to being a successful professional. This 8-week course is designed to improve analytical abilities, help you be more impactful in your decisions, and for teachers to become better equipped to support students in developing their own critical thinking skills.

There is no fee for the course, but proof of purchase of the reading material is required.

Join us for the World Ophthalmic Education Colloquium (WOEC) series of symposia and workshops spotlighting a variety of educational techniques. The WOEC sessions are designed for a diverse audience, from trained educators to practicing ophthalmologists interested in education.

As part of the WOEC, the course “Beyond the Lecture: Using Concept Maps to Promote Deep Learning of Medical Knowledge” will cover evidence supporting the use of mind maps to stimulate deep learning. Participants will have a hands on experience on how to create concept maps and how to teach this skill.

The case study “Complex Cases of Problem Residents: Discussing Prevention and Remediation” discussion will equip educators and program directors with the appropriate tools to feel confident applying effective remediation plans to deal with a variety of difficult situations.

Funding for the 2018 World Ophthalmic Education Colloquium sessions is provided in part by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. Funding for the keynote luncheon of World Ophthalmic Education Colloquium is provided in part by the Alcon Foundation. We thank all of the supporters of the International Council of Ophthalmology's Teaching the Teachers Initiative.

Orbis International has launched three new courses on their telemedicine platform, Cybersight.org. A free Cybersight.org user account is required to access the courses.

These courses combine narrative, medical art and images, and surgical videos to optimize the learning experience, with downloadable articles, guidelines and practice manuals for reference. Full blended-learning curricula are available for the courses, which allow educators and residency program directors to combine the online content with in-person hands-on skills training sessions.