The output is now available to download from The College of Optometrists website.
SPOKE is a cross-sector collaboration funded by the General Optical Council (GOC), led by The College of Optometrists, and managed by a steering group comprising representatives from the College, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and the Optometry Schools Council (OSC).
Project Five is entitled Developing autonomy in student optical professionals. It has been developed through desk-based research, and a series of sector meetings in consultation with a wide range of sector stakeholders.
The resulting web-based toolkit focuses on how students can best be encouraged and supported to become fully independent practitioners, and the kinds of mentorship and preceptorship that might continue to support that journey into roles undertaken as a new registrant.
Research has shown that encouraging and enabling students to become autonomous learners, through supporting them to develop their critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills, is an economical and effective way of improving their progress.
Once these students advance into employment, this enhanced workplace autonomy means they are able to work with less supervision or guidance, so will be valuable in enhancing productivity.