Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics: The Core of Active Teaching Methodologies

Abstract

The study and manufacturing of prostheses and orthotics have been developed over the years based on the need to enable people with disabilities. The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics has stimulated technology improvement, scientific meetings, P&O curriculum program recognition. The P&O B.Sc. degree at the University of the Algarve has four academic years structured with a logical gradual increase in the acquisition of general and specific skills, through different teaching methods. The first two years are dedicated to general content with expositive methodologies. The syllabus more related with the specific formation areas is developed in the third academic year, where the autonomy of the students is stimulated, and the main teaching methods focus on active strategies. The fourth year is entirely dedicated to clinical practice, which promotes the autonomy of students in professional environment. Throughout the academic course, applied research is also encouraged and valued as a way of integrating knowledge from different areas.