Weekly Report #22 (2/23)

This week in ISM I have completed a mentor visit assessment, reflected on my speech, and continued researching for my final product. For my mentor visit assessment, I reflected on what I learned from my fourth and fifth mentor visits. During those visits, I took a close look into how computer software allows Dr. Lao to keep track of her patient data. As well, I helped Dr. Lao enter some of her patient data into the computer system when I was shadowing her. Lastly, during those visits, Dr. Lao and I came up with an idea for a final product. This week, I also reflected on my speech and watched videos of several of my classmates’ speeches. I was very impressed by my classmates’ speeches and learned a lot from watching their videos. Specifically, I was impressed by how well they paced themselves during their speeches and how their gestures helped them get their points across. The last thing I did this week was research a little into my final product. I looked into the general types of materials that glasses are made of. Overall, I would consider this week a success since I was able complete all assignments on time. Next week, will be the end of the six weeks so I will update my portfolio and continue to work on my final product.

Weekly Report #21 (2/16)

This week in ISM I have given my original work presentation, met with my mentor, and completed a final product proposal. For my original work presentation that I gave on Thursday, I shared with my class my experiences so far in ISM, my original work, and my S.M.A.R.T. goals for the year. I felt my presentation went alright and was definitely and improvement from last time. However, I felt I spoke a little too fast during the speech and could work a little more on my movement. This week, I also finished my final product proposal. For my final product, I plan on creating a pair of glasses that are specifically designed for children who play sports. The glasses must be durable, but also must look appealing so that children would want to wear them. As well, I plan on making the glasses be able to come apart easily so that the lenses can be switched. Overall, I think by creating this final product, I will learn a lot about how glasses are designed and made. I would consider this week a success since I was able to give my speech and also come up with a plan for my final product. Next week, I will work on another evidence of learning assessment and will also complete my speech reflection. 

Weekly Report #20 (2/9)

This week in ISM I have completed an evidence of learning assessment, shadowed my mentor, and begun working on my speech. For my evidence of learning assessment, I reflected on my experiences so far with Dr. Lao. So far, I have learned how to use two instruments which are the lensometer and phoropter. These are two important instruments for optometrists as they allow optometrists to check the prescription on glasses and to check a patient’s prescription. Through my experience shadowing Dr. Lao, I learned about how a typical eye exam is conducted. I was surprised by the amount of people involved in conducting an eye exam and how an eye exam is much more complicated than it may seem. This week, I also began preparing for my speech. For my speech, which I will give on Thursday, I want to share with my class my experiences so far in ISM, my original work, and the smart goals I have set for myself. So far, I have completed an outline for my speech and begun working on a power point for it. Next week, I will be working on a product proposal with Dr. Lao and will complete another evidence of learning assessment. As well, I will be giving my speech.

Weekly Report #19 (2/2)

This week in ISM I have mainly focused on finishing my original work. For my original work, I conducted a survey in order to see the effects of lifestyle on vision. Interestingly, through my survey, I learned that diet is the number one lifestyle factor that affects vision. Students in my survey who ate healthy diets tended to have better vision than those who didn’t have healthy diets. As well, through the survey, I also learned that the amount of sun exposure students receive plays a big part in determining their vision. Students in my survey who spent less time outdoors tended to have better vision. This week I also met with Dr. Lao. During my visit, we discussed the findings of my original work. As well, Dr. Lao showed me how to adjust glasses and also how to set up a phoropter. I would consider this week a success as I finally finished my original work and learned a lot about how your lifestyle affects your vision through it. As well, I was able to learn more about two instruments that optometrists use. Next week, I will be preparing for my original work speech and complete another evidence of learning assessment. Lastly, I will shadow Dr. Lao on Wednesday. 

Weekly Report #18 (1/16)

This week in ISM, I have completed a mentor visit assessment, written a mentor bio, shadowed my mentor, and begun analyzing my original work survey data. On my mentor visit assessment, I wrote about my first visit with Dr. Lao. During the visit, we had a discussion on color blindness, and I also learned how to use a lens spectrometer. In class, we had a group discussion on our original work and also brainstormed for our final products. For my final product, I want it to be something that makes vision care more accessible to everyday people. Through my original work, I will hopefully be able to pinpoint an area in people's lifestyles that they can change to help improve their vision. This week on Wednesday, I also shadowed Dr. Lao and got to see how she conducts eye exams. I was surprised by the amount of things Dr. Lao checked for during her eye exams and how she was able to multi task very well. She often had to keep track of two patients at once as she waited for one of her patient's eyes to become dilated. Next week, I will finish my original work and visit again with my mentor.

Weekly Report #17 (1/19)

This week in ISM, I met with my mentor for the first time, started my original work, and had a student teacher conference. I was very excited to meet with Dr. Lao and learned a lot through my visit. During the visit, we made a tentative schedule, discussed about color blindness, and also checked the power on glasses. I really enjoyed the hands on experience from the visit as I learned how to use two instruments to check for the power on a lens. This week, I also made a survey for my original work. The survey asked questions about your exposure to the sun, your diet, and the amount of time you spend on electronic devices. My goal for my original work is to see if there is any correlation between lifestyle and vision. So far, I have received 30 responses for the survey. Lastly, I conferenced with my teacher, and set goals for myself to work on throughout the rest of the year. My ultimate goal is to deliver a solid presentation at final presentation night and have a good final product. Next week, I will be meeting again with my mentor and will write up a report for my original work.

Weekly Report #16 (1/12)

This week in ISM I have completed a research assessment and made S.M.A.R.T. goals for myself. Through my research assessment, I researched the causes, effects, and types of color blindness. Learning about color blindness helped broaden my perspective of optometry as it made me aware of problems people face beyond just blurry vision. By creating S.M.A.R.T. goals for myself, I was able to think deeply on what I want to do with my life and the steps I must take in order to reach my goals. For my short term goals, I want to finish the year strong and learn as much as I can about optometry. For my mid-term goals, I want to attain a biochemistry degree within four years and eventually go to a top medical school. And lastly, for my long term goals, I want to become a doctor and have started a family by the time I am 32. As well, I hope to contribute to the medical community and publish a few research papers by the time I am 40.  I would consider this week a success in that I was able to complete all assignments on time and set goals for myself. Next week, I will be meeting with my mentor for the first time.  As well, I will begin working on my original work and hopefully have completed my survey by the end of next week.