Professional Experience in Times of COVID-19

This study examined the preparedness and capabilities of pre-service teachers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when many schools were teaching online. The university curriculum was adapted to enable pre-service teachers to explore suitable pedagogies to not only teach remotely but to engage their students using contemporary technology-based learning materials. The school in this study was in a low socio-economic area with diverse students, many with a language back-ground other than English. This study was thus positioned at the intersection of what is known as trauma-informed education, professional learning and the resilience of both practising and pre-service teachers. The study used a case-study method-ology with data collected from online surveys and group interviews on Zoom. The participants were pre-service teachers from the university and staff, including super-vising teachers, from the school. The data from both the surveys and the group inter-views were analysed thematically, guided by a theoretical framework addressing the intersection of resilience, trauma-informed education, and professional learning. Resilience in coping with the unusual classroom context was enhanced by the smaller number of students in class;the greater range of life experiences of the more mature pre-service teachers;and the skills and experience of the school's teachers to support and mentor the pre-service teachers. The guidance provided by the university in conjunction with the experience of the school's teachers enhanced the pre-service teachers' ability to manage trauma-affected students. The greatest source of trauma was when students who were learning remotely returned to school as they struggled to catch up on work missed and the mental-health issues that resulted. Pre-service teachers stated that as a result of the combination of the adapted university course work and the practical learning during professional experience their preparedness was significantly enhanced. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023, corrected publication 2023.

Considerations in the use of slit lamp shields to reduce the risk of respiratory virus transmission in coronavirus disease 2019.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The use of slit lamp shields has been recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology as an infection control measure during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. However, there is limited evidence regarding its efficacy to reduce viral transmission risks. We aim to provide an evidence-based approach to optimize the use of slit lamp shields during clinical examination. RECENT FINDINGS: Respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing can travel up to 50 m/s and over a distance of 2 m, with a potential area of spread of 616 cm. Slit lamp shields confer added protection against large droplets but are limited against smaller particles. A larger shield curved toward the ophthalmologist and positioned closer to the patient increases protection against large droplets. A potential improvement to the design of such shields is the use of hydrophilic materials with antiviral properties which may help to minimize splashing of infectious droplets, reducing transmission risks. These include gold or silver nanoparticles and graphene oxide. SUMMARY: Slit lamp shields serve as a barrier for large droplets, but its protection against smaller droplets is undetermined. It should be large, positioned close to the patient, and used in tandem with routine basic disinfection practices.