abdo COLLEGE Re:View Keeping excellence in your sights | February 2015 | Issue 20 Profile feature on Matthew Corbett We find out about Matthew and his research into dietary supplements for Age-related Macular Degeneration An interview with Jill Kemp ‘The students are our customers and will always come first’ Actively promoting continuous development John Hardman talks about Boots Opticians investment in student dispensing opticians Actively promoting continuous development John Hardman talks about Boots Opticians investment in student dispensing opticians which is well above the previous years’ John Hardman is the professional programmes tutor for dispensing figure of 24. It’s a huge investment by Boots, highlighting how strongly we at Boots Opticians. He says, “I’ve been in optics for 20 years and now view the role of dispensing opticians I am responsible for ‘all things dispensing related’, whether that be within the business. Boots actively student dispensing opticians (SDO) courses, training or support. I am promotes continuous development and also a National NVQ assessor and internal verifier, an ABDO examiner, it is wonderful to see so many of our practice visitor and supervisor. outstanding colleagues being rewarded following successful completion of their apprenticeships to now commence John started his working life in the covers both dispensing and optometry their course at ABDO College.” hospitality industry, but began to look for training. In my role I have taken on the John has helped build some very his next move. He says, “I reviewed my challenge of our student dispensing close relationships with ABDO whilst qualifications with a view to pursuing a opticians programme. We reviewed the fulfilling his roles as an ABDO practical career in a field that held great interest current processes in place and identified examiner and ABDO College trustee. for me. At the time Dollond & Aitchison, an opportunity to take on a greater He says, “Speaking with my peers, both which became part of Boots Opticians, number of students, with the help and within ABDO and within the industry as were advertising for student management support of ABDO College. This resulted a whole, I gathered feedback on student trainees. Following discussions with my in an intake of 63 students in December and employer experiences with the local family optician I found that I had the qualifications necessary, with maths and physics being my strongest subjects at school, to apply. I studied at Bradford College on a three-year course whilst working at the Liverpool city centre practice. I was more than comfortable working with the public and had many years’ experience in management so that aspect of the programme was beneficial in reinforcing my existing knowledge. The biggest learning curve for me was the technical aspect of the course, along with returning to study so long after I had left college. I had to be disciplined to allocate plenty of time for the weekly course papers, locking myself away on my days off!” Boots has been investing in the number of student dispensing opticians it employs. John says, “Professional John Hardman Programmes, where I am now based, Another milestone year various colleges. The standard of 2015 sees A new feature for Re :View is ‘Quick training and support with ABDO College ABDO College tips’, in the first of the series Gill is second to none, being purpose start the year Elstub outlines how to conduct a built to develop the best dispensing with its highest successful presentation. In our regular opticians for the future of our ever number profile feature you can read the profession. It helps both the business of students. findings of Matthew Corbett’s research and students to learn while working So it’s good into dietary supplements for AMD. as they can relate the theory with the to see the I also send my personal practical application, putting their profession congratulations to Joseph Smith knowledge into practice to the benefit has renewed commitment to investing on attaining the Stepper Prize – of customers and other colleagues. in student DOs and this is highlighted as featured on page 3. “At Boots we aim to employ the in the feature with John Hardman of Interest in ABDO College courses best colleagues with the highest Boots Opticians in this issue of Re :View . is currently running high and we hope possible standard of learning at any I would like to take this opportunity to that 2015 will prove to be another level. The quality of programme warmly welcome Jill Kemp to the ABDO milestone year. provided by ABDO College ticks College team. Jill joined us in November another box in Boots’ requirements. and takes over the role of head of Huntly Taylor FBDO, We need to look after the interests of operational services – you can find out Chairman, all parties, giving colleagues the best more about Jill on pages 8 & 9. ABDO College Board of Trustees possible experience. We also want them to learn together rather than spread them around the UK. This helps them to build relationships with their peers whilst ensuring the same high Contents standard is maintained for all.” 2–3 Quick tips John is excited about the future for 3 ABDO College student receives the Stepper Prize optical training. He says, “One of my aims is to continue developing close 4–5 Profile feature – Matthew Corbett relationships with ABDO and ABDO 5–7 Do lutein and zeaxanthin dietary supplements help to College, with a view to investing in the interests of both our current and slow the progression of Age-related Macular Degeneration? future dispensing opticians. A number 8–9 An interview Jill Kemp of ABDO colleagues have recently supported our annual Boots Conferences, helping in the delivery of a series of hugely successful ABDO College paediatric workshops around the Godmersham Park, Godmersham, Canterbury, Kent CT4 7DT country. I personally wish to thank tel: 01227 738 829 option 1 | fax: 01227 733 910 them all. There were some long [email protected] | www.abdocollege.org.uk journeys and some even longer days without lunch breaks!” www.twitter.com /abdocollege 1 Quick tips There is an enormous amount of expertise within ABDO College staff and ABDO members. In this new series of features for 2015 we draw on this knowledge to share tips, tricks and advice that will help you whether you are in practice or studying. We are all called upon to do of which can be covered by a traditional presentations, either as part of our slide presentation. Other people, however, studies or later when communicating learn through doing, which can be more about optics to local groups, or perhaps challenging. Think about how you can to promote a good cause. Here are get your audience to be more than tips from ABDO College lecturer Gill passive recipients of your talk. Can you Elstub about what works for her and create a quick poll at the start to find out the students on her course. how much people know about the Gill Elstub says, “I have sat through subject? Are there visual aids that you can some poor presentations and also some use to make your talk more memorable? Gill Elstub good presentations. The main thing Or is there something that you can pass need to have minimal information on regarding a presentation is to prepare, round to every participant, giving them a them. These should be cues for the as Geoff Petty ‘Teaching Today’ states: chance to have a hands on experience? speaker to talk. The speaker should “Fail to prepare and you prepare to fail ”. The other element to think about in know exactly what they want to add to I have seen many people think because your presentation is whether you are each slide but do not want to be in a they know a topic they will be able to telling a story. Every presentation, and situation where they are reading from deliver it well and this is not always the every story, needs a start, a middle and the slides.” Gill adds, “Make the slides case.” Preparation for a talk firstly may involve taking all the different topics and sub topics that you want to cover and ‘The slides which you are presenting from need to have noting them down. Use a mind map or minimal information on them. These should be cues for spider diagram to help you expand your the speaker to talk.’ ideas and check that you have covered everything. Think about the aim of your talk and what you want people to come an end. On top of that, a good story has clear, not overcrowded and aim for the away with. Most people will only retain two a plot, heroes, villains and cliffhangers. time to be approximately 1 –2 minutes or three key points from a presentation: Don’t let your presentation be a bland per slide.” make sure that you have planned the recital: think about how you can compel Alongside your slides you might main points to take this into account. the audience to listen to every word. want to create a script for yourself. Don’t Before you go straight in to creating Once you have done that, it’s time to read straight from this script, but practice your slides, think about how people start creating your slides. When preparing it out loud so you have in mind what learn. Some people learn through your slides, Gill Elstub advises, “The you are going to say. Incorporate some listening, others through vision, both slides which you are presenting from improvisation and leave room for 2 ABDO College student receives the Stepper Prize spontaneity.