ASCO and AAO Holds Joint Workshop on Optometric Education Research

ASCO and AAO Holds Joint Workshop on Optometric Education Research

ASCO’s Research Committee, in collaboration with the Optometric Education Section of the American Academy of Optometry, held the inaugural joint workshop on Optometric Education Research on October 17. The half-day virtual workshop was attended by more than 50 faculty members from optometric institutions around the country. Most of the attendees had identified that their research interest fell under the categories of curriculum design, instructional technology, learning strategies and student evaluation prior to the workshop.   

The workshop included instructional talks on topics relating to research gaps in optometric education, research designs, and data analysis and publishing by the following presenters: Dr. David Heath, State University of New York; Dr. Daniel Taylor, Ferris State University; Dr. John Shatzer, Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Robert Massof, Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Michael Grant, University of South Carolina and Dr. Aurora Denial, New England College of Optometry.

The attendees interacted with the workshop instructors in breakout sessions and have the opportunity to seek ongoing guidance from other volunteers with research expertise who have agreed to serve as potential mentors. The workshop organizing committee will periodically contact the attendees to monitor their study progress. It is expected that, at the conclusion of the study, the attendees will submit a manuscript for consideration for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.