In 2004, the Student Trial Exam was conducted at 46 institutions in 15 countries for 1335 students.

WHY AREN'T MY STUDENTS TAKING THE STUDENT TRIAL EXAM?

The IACLE Student Trial Exam (STE) is a valuable educational tool. Educators can conduct this exam for students nearing completion of their final theory course in contact lenses. The exam then aids students in preparing for their final contact lens exams, while at the same time assisting them in identifying their own areas of knowledge strength and weakness, and hence where further study is required. The exam results also provide educators with a measure of how effectively their students are learning and understanding the knowledge imparted to them. This assessment and feedback drive the learning process, as it also allows educators to gauge where further emphasis is required in their curricula, and to tailor their teaching accordingly.

The STE paper consists of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Thirty of these 100 questions are Visual Recognition Identification Case Studies (VRICs) questions. For these types of questions, the student has to recognize/identify a certain type of lens fit or eye condition, also in multiple-choice form.

IACLE encourages you to conduct the STE at your institution in 2005. This is a valuable tool that is available to you at no cost currently. The data that is made available from the exam results will help direct your teaching. It is one of IACLEs priorities in 2005 that we increase the number of members participating in this project. Show your active participation in IACLE by conducting the STE this year.

QUICK LINK LEADING YOU TO MORE STE INFORMATION

http://www.iacle.org/education_page/programs/student_trial_examination.asp

If you are interested in conducting the STE at your institution, please visit the IACLE website for further information and contact the IACLE Secretariat to register. Online enrollment is also available at

http://www.iacle.org/education_page/programs/Student_trial_examination_faq.asp

CHINA CONSULTANT RE-JOINS IACLE TEAM

We are happy to announce that Chen Hao has accepted the voluntary position of consultant for IACLE in China. Hao has returned from the USA where he furthered his studies for the last two years. Hao will be working closely with Qu Xiaomei, (IACLE Country Coordinator for China) to identify potential contact lens educators and educational institutions in China, and recruit appropriate educators for IACLE membership - with particular emphasis on educators involved in 2-year and 3-year training programs. He will also maintain ongoing communication with all industry sponsors in China regarding IACLE's activities. Welcome back to the IACLE Team, Chen Hao!

UPCOMING IACLE MEETINGS

Current IACLE scheduled meetings until end of June 2005

27-28 March 2005 IACLE Educators' Meeting, India: Pune

14 May 2005 IACLE European Meeting, Poland: Krakow, in conjunction with a meeting of the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) and European Association of Universities, Schools and Colleges of Optometry (AEUSCO), 13-15 May 2005

May 2005 IACLE Intensive Training Meeting, China (Specific dates to be confirmed)

2 June 2005 IACLE Europe Update, UK: Brighton, in conjunction with the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) Annual Meeting, 3-5 June 2005

IACLE would like to thank the industry sponsors who support global contact lens education
CIBA Vision
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc.
Bausch & Lomb
AMO
Ocular Science Inc.
Alcon Laboratories
CooperVision Inc.
Menicon Europe