EDUCATION
Learning during lockdown In this article, Pauline Bradford explains how the CooperVision Learning Academy is supporting online skill building during isolation
Learning Academy project manager, Pauline Bradford
With many optical practices forced to unexpectedly close their doors due to Covid-19, CooperVision recently took the decision to bring forward the launch date of its new eLearning platform, the CooperVision Learning Academy, to support members of the contact lens profession during this time. With an unprecedented opportunity to reflect on business and plan for the future, there has never been a better time for practitioners and staff to invest in building their skills and knowledge.
ACCESS FOR ALL, ANY TIME The free-to-access site, available at academy.coopervision.co.uk, hosts a variety of online training courses aimed at developing the communication, clinical and technical skills of clinical and retail staff in optical practices across the UK and Ireland. Providing open access for all, the content is available to members of the profession who are not customers of CooperVision at the moment or who don’t have access to their account number from home. Locums and students are also able to access the site, in addition to employed practitioners and business owners. The Learning Academy initially launched with eight different training topics to reflect the best retail practice, latest clinical knowledge, and clinical practice across the contact lens profession. Training topics included: the selection of the right contact lenses for your customers; communication tips; contact lens prescribing and aftercare; and improvement of the customer experience in business. The major benefit of online learning is that it can be accessed by most devices, with or without sound, 24 hours a day, seven days
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Vision Now JUNE 2020
Professor James Wolffsohn kicked off the series
a week to help inform and develop knowledge at a time that suits the user. Each module only takes around 10 minutes to complete, allowing training to fit perfectly into anyone’s busy schedule. Users are simply required to create a learning account to help track progress as they work through the modules on each course. Covid-19 is having a significant impact on the profession right now. It’s always important to develop professionally and even more so now, to put this unexpected spare time to good use to improve and learn new skills along with boosting staff morale. We’re pleased that we can offer access to valuable training content to the wider optical community.
staff. When an online account is created, users can select their role in order to be shown the appropriate modules. As well as giving users a refresher on their contact lens knowledge, they can also review the way contact lenses are communicated within the practice setting in order to make the most of the business opportunity they present. Many practitioners have recently become more aware of the true value of their contact lens business by receiving an income that continues even when the doors are closed. Hopefully when doors are able to be reopened, this will help practices get back into a strong and sustainable business position whilst at the same time meeting the needs of more patients.
SELF-ISOLATION? SELF-EDUCATION Whilst the current situation is an unnerving period of change for everyone, time away from the daily routine is also an opportunity for self development, to improve expertise and focus on the future. The platform is designed to help upskill the whole practice team and, therefore, features modules designed for both clinical and non-clinical
INTERACTIVE TRAINING A major benefit of the site is the ability to take part in interactive webinars covering both CET-accredited sessions and retail business topics. Targeted at eyecare professionals, business owners and support staff, the sessions aim to support professional development through covering
