OPB201 Foundations of Optometric Practice

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit will provide you with foundation generic skills and key optometric knowledge to prepare you for your journey towards becoming an optometrist. In this unit appropriate foundation knowledge that underpins the profession (ocular anatomy and physiology, ophthalmic optics and visual science), scope of practice and competencies relevant to practice (ethics, digital citizenship, law, communication, cultural safety, and evidence-based practice) will be covered. The unit also introduces and applies the concepts of professional identity and skills required when working in a health care setting (professional skills, reflective skills, and research skills). Students will learn the value of teamwork, reflect on their learning and develop lifelong learning skills. Topics introduced in this unit will provide foundation materials for later units in the optometry program, through which you will further develop core knowledge and competencies. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Understand and describe the scope of practice and skill competencies required for successful practice within the optometric profession;
2. Apply knowledge of the ethical and legal framework underpinning the optometry profession;
3. Demonstrate effective communication skills with a diverse range of patients and have a beginning understanding in cultural safety;
4. Answer questions on basic ocular anatomy and physiology, ophthalmic optics, visual science.

Content

Learning Approaches

You will be guided through the development of foundational optometric knowledge with a strong theoretical basis. Both lectures and activity-based methods will be used. You will be taught about the value of evidence, gather research information using a systematic approach, reference literature and present a coherent report based on the research process. You will also be taught foundation knowledge in key ocular and vision fields.

This learning will be supported by a face-to-face lecture series and also digital learning resources and activities. These will collectively advance your understanding of each week's learning concepts. The content of these resources has been carefully designed to meet your course and discipline needs in optometry. Resources developed by the Student Success Group and the Library are embedded within this unit to support your success. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

This unit will involve both a lecture series, digital content and activities. You will gain feedback on your learning development through a range of interactive tools used during learning activities, and through timely feedback on assessment materials. You will receive written feedback by teachers of the unit on assessment pieces. Some assessment topics will involve you reflecting on what you have learnt by completing a task. Some topics will include formative quizzes that are automatically marked so you can gauge your progress. You should use these resources to identify areas you might need to focus on or to modify your learning approach. You are also encouraged to communicate with the unit coordinator and academic staff member presenting each module if you have any questions or concerns about the assessment items.

During the semester and at the end of semester you will be provided with opportunities to provide feedback on the teaching and learning content of this unit. This is for your benefit and future students who will enrol in and complete this unit. Your feedback, comments and suggestions will be used to make improvements and modifications to the unit where possible to improve the learning outcomes for everyone.

Assessment

Overview

Summative Assessment

Your assessment consists of three main assessment tasks, each of which focuses on a different module or group of related modules.

The first assessment, Reflection on the Profession, will allow you to demonstrate what you know about optometry as a profession, using your newly acquired abilities to research the field, and at the same time show your understanding of teamwork (CLO1). 

The second assessment is an analysis of case scenarios where you will show your understanding of the ethics and legal framework that underpin the profession, and your knowledge of situations that affect communicating with patients and your understanding of cultural safety (CLO2 + CLO3).

The third assessment is an exam to be held in the central exam period at the end of semester and will assess your depth of understanding of ocular anatomy, ophthalmic optics and visual science (CLO4).

Detailed information on each of these assessments is provided on the Canvas site. To assist your exam preparation a session that includes sample questions and how to tackle answering these questions is provided. Assessment items 2 and 3 are threshold assessments, where you are required to complete each assessment to a satisfactory level to pass the unit. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Reflection on the Profession

You will be required to reflect on your understanding of your future profession, what your role within the profession might be and identify important skills that will be required for professional practice. You will do these reflections and information seeking as a group task, that all students must participate in and contribute to. There is also an individual component to the reflection about your personal journey as an optometrist. Learning the skill of reflecting on your learning is an important professional competency. It is a yearly task optometrists complete on reflecting about their learning when completing continuing professional development activities. 

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Case Study Analysis

You will show your knowledge in this area by answering questions about the case studies requiring insight and critical thought.

Threshold Assessment:

The case scenarios will be related to optometric practice and the thought process in their analysis is a skill required by professionals. This task must be completed to a satisfactory level. A school-based resit will be available for students that do not satisfactorily complete this task, i.e with a mark of 40-49%. 

Assessment: Examination (written)

You will be assessed on your knowledge of ocular anatomy and physiology, visual science, and ophthalmic lenses.

Threshold Assessment:

This task must be completed to a satisfactory level, this means that a pass mark must be obtained on this exam. A school-based resit will be available for students that do not satisfactorily complete this task, i.e with a mark of 40-49%. 

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no-out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry 2014

1: Professional Responsibilities

1. 
   Relates to: Examination (written)
2. 
   Relates to: Reflection on the Profession
3. 
   Relates to: Case Study Analysis
4. 
   Relates to: Case Study Analysis
5. 
   Relates to: Case Study Analysis
6. 
   Relates to: Case Study Analysis
7. 
   Relates to: Case Study Analysis
8. 
   Relates to: Reflection on the Profession

5: Health Information Management

1. 
   Relates to: Case Study Analysis

Course Learning Outcomes

OP45 Bachelor of Vision Science

1. Theoretical knowledge in optometry and vision science, introductory clinical and technical skills
   Relates to: Case Study Analysis
2. Apply critical thinking and knowledge of vision science, ocular anatomy and clinical methods to generate solutions in clinical and scientific settings
   Relates to: Examination (written)
3. Articulate knowledge and problem solving to specialist and non specialist audiences through oral and written formats to standards expected by the profession
   Relates to: Reflection on the Profession