abdo COLLEGE Re:View Keeping excellence in your sights | October 2015 | Issue 23 Mastering Optics Launch of a neW MSc programme for dispensing opticians Top tips for postgraduate study success Profile feature on Daniel Palfrey We find out about Daniel and his research into Whether the academic performance of children can be improVed bY Wearing spectacles Mastering Optics of theorY, research, policy and legislation ABDO College and Canterbury Christ Church UniVersity (CCCU) professionals taking part in the course Will be supported to adVance scholarship announce the launch of a new level of optical education, a Masters and practice. programme for dispensing opticians as part of the CCCU MSc in The course has three main aims: Health and Wellbeing. to allow students to explore the philosophical, theoretical, ethical and legal perspectiVes and parameters ABDO College will be supporting this has enrolled. This is only the beginning, that influence professional practice, programme and has been inVolVed the Association has established an to evaluate how research approaches in its development. The MSc Health Academic Research Fund to support and methods of critical enquiry can and Wellbeing proVides a different waY students wishing to further develop be best utilised to create and interpret of gaining an MSc qualification to help their optical studies for the benefit of knowledge and evidence for the practitioners address future policy patients and the profession.” improVement and development of changes in optical practice and Jo Underwood, principal of ABDO practice, and to develop as an primary care. College says, “The course is designed autonomous and self-directed learner Sir Antony Garratt, general secretarY to be flexible and responsiVe to your who is able to sustain and enhance of ABDO says, “The ABDO board has learning and development needs and knowledge and skills to meet personal, recognised the need for the dispensing those of your practice. You will be able professional and organisation’s needs. profession to keep moVing forward. to devise your own bespoke route Jo Underwood explains, “The MSc One of the best ways of achieving this through the programme and nominate Health and Wellbeing offers a objectiVe is to continually increase the an aWard title that reflects Your indiVidual personalised learning programme. learning opportunities for DOs and to programme of studY, such as MSc Students will initially undertake a module widen and extend the knowledge base. Health and Wellbeing (Ophthalmic to introduce the core concepts related For any profession to grow and expand Dispensing), MSc Health and Wellbeing to the promotion and enhancement of it has to haVe a sold academic (Low Vision).” health and wellbeing. They will also be underpinning. The Association started The programme emphasises the encouraged to reflect upon their careers, by getting all of its qualifications need to develop high quality health identifYing their learning and deVelopment assessed and benchmarked by QCA and wellbeing serVices for all ages needs and aspirations. These reflections (now Ofqual). We then developed our across the health and social care sector. will inform the plan for an indiVidualised BSc (Hons) programme with CanterburY It is devised to help participants foster learning journeY through the programme. Christ Church UniVersitY. We haVe noW a culture of collaboration with others HaVing planned this programme of moVed to a new Masters programme from different disciplines and study if students wish to seek a named at the UniVersity and our first student professions. Through critical analysis endorsement in ophthalmic dispensing they will be guided to managing the formal process of gaining approVal for Find out more about who can apply and request an application form call this. Each student will then undertake 01227 782 418, or email [email protected] the identified modules that form their For further information about the MSc Health and Wellbeing please contact indiVidual programme. Students can Jeannette Head on 01634 894 433, or email [email protected] also choose from a range of modules offered Within the uniVersitY postgraduate A Master Milestone proVision to form a personalised During mY foundation degree some time ago learning programme. All taught tenure as and his research feature makes very modules will require some attendance chairman of interesting and useful reading. at Canterbury Christ Church UniVersitY, the ABDO board He mentions the important point that but every effort will be made to keep of trustees I’Ve paediatric dispensing is a protected this to a manageable level.” often mentioned function and Alicia Thompson, in the The MSc programme is designed ‘milestones’ in ‘Top tips for postgraduate study success’ with flexibility for a motiVated my introductorY feature, also mentions that paediatric professional to follow their interests. piece for dispensing is a GOC core competency Alongside the range of modules on Re:View. However, one of the most for DOs and the topic that relates directlY offer, you can opt to study topics of major milestones, indeed a ‘master’ to the research Work she has undertaken your choice in a bespoke manner bY milestone, both for ABDO College and with a view to attaining a PhD. undertaking a Negotiated Learning the dispensing profession as a whole, Another milestone is ABDO College’s module. This can proVide you with is the announcement in this issue of the publication of the WCSM Courses the opportunity to gain academic launch of a new Masters programme prospectus. What both milestones credit for learning and development for dispensing opticians. This offers DOs highlight is the educational pathwaY in the workplace. Jo explains, “You a new dimension for personal career now aVailable now aVailable to those may also bring adVanced qualifications development and I encourage all those seeking a structured career in optics, in contact lenses or low vision into interested after reading the information which is fully supported by courses from the programme by portfolio entry within this issue, particularly former ABDO College, leading to qualifications accompanied by details of how ABDO College students, to embrace from Level 2 up to Level 7. this learning has been applied and this valuable opportunitY. consolidated in the workplace. You I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Huntly Taylor FBDO, Chairman, may also study modules on other Dan Palfrey when he receiVed his ABDO College Board of Trustees MSc programmes and bring those into this programme by negotiation. A key part to complete the MSc programme is the research modules. Contents These modules will enable you to 2–3 Foundation Degree aWards eVent develop a sound knowledge and 4–5 Profile feature – Daniel PalfreY understanding of different research approaches and methods supporting 6–10 Can the academic performance of children be improVed you to plan and undertake your bY Wearing spectacles? research dissertation.” The course takes at least two years 11–13 Top tips for postgraduate studY success part time and is suitable for graduates of the BSc (Hons) in Ophthalmic Dispensing collaboratiVe degree that ABDO College runs in partnership with CCCU and Godmersham Park, Godmersham, CanterburY, Kent CT4 7DT ABDO College along with other tel: 01227 738 829 option 1 | faX: 01227 733 910 relevant degrees at 2i level. [email protected] | WWW.abdocollege.org.uk Foundation Degree aWards eVent On the 8th September, ABDO College held its sixth Foundation Degree awards event for students attending Godmersham on their final 3rd Year block release session. Hosted bY College Principal, Jo UnderWood, the successful students Were aWarded their CanterburY Christ Church UniVersitY (CCCU) foundation degree certificates bY Professor Kate Springett (Head of the School of Applied Health Professions at CCCU) and HuntlY TaYlor (Chairman of the ABDO College board of trustees). 2 FolloWing the aWards presentation the eVent concluded With a celebration partY. 3 PROFILE FEATURE Daniel PalfreY We find out about Daniel and his research were asked by customers or other staff, and I wanted to be like them.” Signing This issue’s research paper is the work of Daniel Palfrey, who up for the DO course was a logical next qualified as a DO in 2014 and practices in the Leckwith branch step for Dan. He says, “I wanted to knoW of SpecsaVers in Cardiff. the science behind what we were doing and haVe a better understanding of what the numbers and figures meant. I wanted to end up like my colleagues and be the kind of person who could answer the questions.” Dan studied with ABDO College via block release. Discussing his experience of combining work and studY, he says, “It wasn’t easy to do both, but I never felt oVerwhelmed, I just had to keep an hour or two a week set aside for fun! Block release worked really well for me: I’m even thinking of taking the same approach for driVing lessons and booking to go away for a week to learn to driVe! For me, the toughest bits of the course Was essaY Writing, I’m more of a numbers person. My first essay was awful, I scraped a pass, but my final piece was awarded a first, I learnt a lot along the waY. For me, and I suspect for many students, the best bits were the social Daniel PalfreY receiVing his Foundation Degree from HuntlY TaYlor (Chairman, ABDO College Board of Trustees) elements, and I don’t just mean nights out! Going on block for two weeks and Dan explains how he entered the world a product that met their needs, whether learning with people who are interested of optics. He says, “I was simply looking they wanted a rucksack and boots that like you are was a really positiVe way to for a new job! I haVe always worked in would take them round the globe or for do things.