The Ophthalmology Teacher's Library - New URL

Dear Colleagues:

We announce you that our blog has moved to a new URL.

This decision was made due to some problems participants had to access the blog and post comments.

The blog's new url is http://icoword-library.ophthalmologyblogs.org/

All the previous posts have been published in the new blog, so you may post a comment on any of them.

Kind regards,

Generational Learning Styles

Generational Learning Styles

Author: Julie Coates

Publisher: LERN Books, a division of Learning Resources Network.

USA 2007

This book describes the generational characteristics and learning preferences of the 4 groups of generations living and working together today: those that are older than 65 years old ("Traditionalists"), those between 45 and 65 years old ("Baby Boomers"), those between 31 and 44 years old ("Generation X"), and "Generation Y", our present generation of ophthalmology residents.

Although this model cannot be applied to generations worlwide (it describes mostly generational characteristics in the United States' generations), it provides a useful classification and description of the 4 groups of people we can find sharing life today.

The author provides also a good analysis of the sociology of learning, and how historical and social events model the character, preferences, and also learning styles of people.

The book offers an interesting perspective to those willing to have a better understanding not only of their residents and how to help them learn better, but also of themselves and their own vision of the world.

You can buy it at LERN or at Amazon.com (u$s 20)

(I have no financial interest in this book. GP)

Use of Effective Feedback to Facilitate Adult Learning

Author: Ajit K. Sachdeva



(Sahchdeva AK. Use of Effective Feedback to Facilitate Adult Learning. J Cancer Educ 1996;11:106-108).

Formative feedback is a process by which we let residents know how they are performing, with the objective that they change poor habits, keep desirable behaviours, and improve their general performance. Delivery of effective formative feedback has become a crucial process for enhancing residents' education.
In this thorough review about the formative feedback process, Prof. Sachdeva develops the following topics:

• The Underpinnings of Effective Feedback: in this section he describes, among other topics, types and sources of feedback, impact of feedback on behaviour, the timing of feedback, use of different modes for providing feedback.
• The Process of Feedback: in this section you can read how to prepare for the feedback session, how to establish an appropriate environment and climate for the feedback session, and how to efectively start, conduct and close a feedback session.
• Other interesting sections develop the delivery of feedback in special situations, improvement of feedback skills of faculty members, etc.

The narrative is clear and interesting, and examples abound.

You can order it to your librarian or buy it clicking here.

(I have no commercial interest in this product. GP)

Curriculum Development for Medical Education - A Six-Step Approach

Authors: David E. Kern, Patricia A. Thomas, Mark T. Hughes.
2nd Edition. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009.


Whether you need to modify your existing curriculum or create a new one from scratch, this books offers detailed guidelines for a step-wise development of curriculum.
Kern, Thomas and Hughes suggest developing the curriculum folllowing 6 steps: 1) Problem identification and general needs assessment; 2) Targetes needs assessment; 3) Goals and objectives; 4) Educational strategies; 5) Implementation; 6) Evaluation and feedback.
This second revised edition provides many examples, references and tools that may help develop a competency-based curriculum for an ophthalmology residency considering every possible detail.

You can buy it online clicking at:

• Johns Hopkins University Press (u$s 75)
• Amazon.com (u$s 33.71 + shipping)

(I have no financial interests in this product. GP)