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Table 2 Items from Delegate action plans drawn up at the end of the second 3-day course

From: Cascading training the trainers in ophthalmology across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa

Time scale

Action Plan for the individual/unit/country

2 weeks

give feedback using the four step technique [14]

perform an appraisal with at least one trainee

discuss learning from the course with local trainers

discuss progress with one other delegate by telephone

enter each action point onto an personal development plan listing: objective, action required and outcome/evaluation, all with dates

COECSA Administrator to coordinate circulating e-mails to the group to keep them in touch regularly.

2 months

write aims and objectives for their own existing lectures and rework lectures to address these

plan teaching sessions to incorporate a variety of styles and techniques, including preparation by audience and increasing interaction

use the four-step technique for teaching practical skills [13]

apply teaching methodologies to all professions, eg: including OCOs nurses, to roll out a change in ethos

use evaluation forms to collect feedback on teaching

create a comfortable learning environment in theatres, including storing the vitrector in the theatre for ease of access and communication

communicate what has been learned on the course to the rest of the department, and work out how to get them on board, possibly using existing departmental meetings

incorporate teaching on training into existing teaching sessions

review current training systems in the unit and identify which parts would be easiest to modify first

allocate an educational supervisor to each trainee, and ensure they know they have a role in the career development of those trainees

introduce a trainee portfolio

develop an appraisal system for trainees with the necessary tools, and communicate its implementation to trainers and trainees

2 years

RCOphth is helping design the curriculum with WBAs to include in the trainee portfolio

develop an appraisal system for trainers

evaluate the quality of the training programme and list areas for improvement

evaluate specific training areas, eg: cataract outcomes

use evidence collected to influence any difficulties in cascading which may occur at country level

design methods for cascading Training the Trainers

Ophthalmic Committee Meetings for COECSA or Ophthalmic Societies to be used as a focus for further Training the Trainers sessions

COECSA Annual Conference to have a session on training each year

  1. Delegates were asked to write down actions at individual, unit and COECSA levels, which they wanted to undertake by 2 weeks, 2 months and 2 years
  2. OCO Ophthalmic Clinical Officer, WBA Work-place Based Assessment