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MODULE 1 - ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Welcome to the first module!
Our goal in this module is to help you fine-tune your study skills and become more aware of the tools used by other successful medical students.
Your assigned Educational Learning Specialist (Colorado Campus) or (Utah Campus) can assist you in
Now that you have reflected on what active learning can look like, please check out this video summary of the book, “Make it Stick,” to help you re-think how you study. enhancing study and test-taking strategies, board preparation and time management, as well as providing resources to assist in achieving educational and professional goals. They can also refer students in need of ADA accommodations.
SELF ASSESSMENT
You will be in a better position to succeed if you fully understand yourself, including your strengths, weaknesses, learning preferences, and more. Prior to attending Orientation, please complete the following 2 assessments:
1. LASSI (Learning & Study Strategies Inventory)
The LASSI is a powerful 10-scale, 60-item assessment of student’s awareness about and use of learning and study strategies related to skill, will and self-regulation components of strategic learning. The focus is on both covert and overt thoughts, behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that relate to successful learning and that can be altered through educational interventions. Complete the survey by following this link and entering the following information:
|
Program |
School Number |
Username |
Password |
|
Colorado |
80966 | cghw | gkx8 |
|
Utah |
80959 | nchx | gw4y |
|
MSBS + PA |
88221 | mpkk | wjyy |
2. VARK Questionnaire
The VARK Questionnaire, as a learning preference assessment tool, consists of 16 multiple choice questions, each having four choices. All choices correspond to the four sensory modalities which are measured by VARK (Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic). Complete the questionnaire by following this link. You will see your results in a small box on the right side of the screen after you hit the submit button. Write down your results, and enter your four modalities by completing this online form.
Now that you have taken the assessments and had time to reflect on your learning preferences, please check out this video summary of the book, “Make it Stick,” to help you think about how you study.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Tell us something you discovered about the way you learn.
Read and engage with your classmates' answers! You can return to this page at any time to carry on the conversation.
I learned that I am more of a visual and kinesthetic learner. I also learned that I have some anxiety with testing and I know I need to work on that.
Tell us something you discovered about the way you learn. I discovered that I am an aural and kinesthetic learner. I learn best by hearing directions, talking problems out, and physically doing the tasks in order to grasp them,
I learned that I am a multimodal learner and learn best by using a variety of different methods. I also need to actively practice the material instead of passively listening or looking at text or diagrams
I learned that I am a very heavy sided kinesthetic learner. I always thought I was only a visual learner, but this module has helped me see that I can benefit from other learning tecniques.
I learned that I do not do well listening to lectures.
I learned that I do very well with visualizing lecture material, while also reading/writing about it.
When taking the LASSI assessment, I figured out how I learned in great detail. I learned that I am a very anxious student and this can sometimes get in the way of my studies. Although I was somewhat aware of this, having this at a lower percentile showed me that I need to work on it. It can lead to my concentration wavering. I don’t see this as a weakness, however I will still improve it and become more confident in myself. I also learned that I don’t use academic resources as much as I should. With medical school starting, I will try to use the resources given to me more. Usually I like to work with peers and ask professors for help, but I shy away from tutoring and other academic support by my school. With RVU, I will take advantage of these resources.
I learn better when I am able to talk out difficult concepts with a couple of other students.
My biggest takeaway was the importance of having a growth mindset and gaining more confidence as I try harder with difficult concepts.
I learned that the most efficient way to study is through challenging myself by constantly testing my mastery of a topic. I realized that I tend to take the “easy way out” when studying. Constantly reviewing my notes or powerpoint slides is not enough to master a topic. I need to change my study techniques during medical school to ensure that I fully understand the material.
It has been reiterated to me that time management is my biggest weakness when studying. While usually I haven’t suffered from this trait, the challenges of med school may be a different story so I will actively try to get it under control.
After watching the video, my biggest take-away was realizing how much I rely on active retrieval for my studying and how important this skill will be during medical school. I find this method to be very helpful to recall and retain information and will continue to work to improve this skill throughout school.
I learned that passive learning is not very beneficial. That is why I have transitioned to active study methods such as white boarding and flashcards which helps me to retain the information better.
Interleaving curves is a huge piece of mastering information and its something I don’t do as much, I do more of the big chunks of studying and time invested into a subject rather than taking time away and coming back to master the idea of something, so therefore is something I can do to improve my learning skills!
After watching the video and taking the assessments, I think I will be able to grow using more active retrieval. This would help my “Self-Testing” skill.
One thing that I discovered is that I am almost equally as much a kinesthetic learner as I am a visual learner. I always viewed myself as solely kinesthetic in terms of my learning style, but it is very interesting that visual learning is also something that benefits me.
After watching the video, I learned that I need to place a greater emphasis on making sure that I master topics and am not just becoming “fluent.”
1) One of the lessons in the video which was most pertinent to my personal life was the concept of explaining a concept to someone like they were five. One of my biggest sources of inspiration in my life was a high-school biology teacher I had who was a former medical student who failed out of his program due to deep personal trauma. One of the biggest pieces of advice he gave was that “if you can explain a concept to a first grader, then you know that you have truly learned the information rather than memorized it”. Ever since I heard this quote, I applied it to the way I studied which truly helped understand the concepts I learned on a deeper level.
2) I really enjoyed the difference between fluency and mastery. When I took my undergraduate Organic Chemistry course, the professor I had despised memorization to the point where his tests would actively punish students for memorizing the material. Instead, he taught his class with a focus on understanding the why behind everything in the course. If his students learned the underlying concepts behind the material, then on his tests he could expand on those concepts to include reactions that were never covered in the textbooks, and his students would be able to draw upon their deeper level of understanding to figure out the solution. While I initially did not like this method of teaching, I grew to appreciate how this style of instruction fostered a sense of mastery of the material rather than a fluency of it.
3) I also appreciated the tidbit about having a sufficient level of challenge. Throughout my life, I have struggled with a lot of material because I found it to be too easy, and as such, I was not motivated to do the busy work required to “learn” it. As such, I have always struggled with homework and tasks that I did not consider necessary because I already learned the concepts in class, despite me performing very well on tests. As such, myself and my family have always said that I would perform very well on medical school because I am in complete control of my studying, and tests are the way in which my learning is most heavily assessed.
I discovered that I was a kinesthetic learner; I always thought kinesthetic learning implied always working with your hands and tactile motion, but I learned that just learning by doing the thing yourself is included. Secondly, after watching the video, what I resonated with most was “think you can” since I think that’s a prerequisite for most things.
I learned that I would have never figured out how to improve my learning skills if I hadn’t watched the “Make It Stick” video.
After watching the video, I realized I have been studying to be fluent in subjects rather than actually master them. My biggest takeaway on how to improve my learning skills is using active recall as much as I can. I subconsciously do this while studying, but moving forward I need to be deliberate about it to master a subject.
I need to work on focusing on mastering concepts, rather than just re-reading my notes and highlighting for “fluency”. Additionally, I need to work on testing myself as I study and practicing interleave “curveballs” in my studying.
My biggest takeaway from the “Make It Stick” video is that I need to incorporate more active retrieval into my studying to accurately assess whether or not I have fully learned the material.
After watching the video, I realized that I need to incorporate revising multiple related topics at once into my study routine instead of working on each one in a silo. The video reaffirmed my belief in spaced repetition and highlighted the importance of being diligent in dedicating time to revising a topic over weeks/months. One thing I tend to not always actively do is connect new topics to previous ones that I learned a while ago. This would be able to be avoided if previous topics were constantly on the roster, being introduced. It was helpful to hear that learning techniques that are the most effective come from being uncomfortable in not knowing something. I liked how the video touched on the mental battle of learning, and the “if you think you can’t you wont” mindset. It is important for me to remember that If i have a negative internal monologue about my inability to learn something, I am working against myself.
With this module I learned how my learning style is multimodal, I have a preference for aural explanation, and the benefits of discussion to improve my learning.
I learn best through written instruction.
I think for me just applying everything I learn to the bigger picture is what will help me the most, as well as creating more ways to self-test. I do find that explaining concepts to others is a big help when it comes to retaining ideas.
Firstly, I was made aware of my weakness of asking for help. This means that I will need to work on swallowing my pride and ask classmates and professors and other individuals (such as librarians) for help.
Secondly, I learned that I do not test my knowledge enough (such as by trying to paraphrase, make sample test questions, review cards, etc). Much of my learning up until now I have been able to recall because of my good short term memory / cramming. But I realize that in order to make my learning stick, I need to work on making my learning more meaningful by relating it to what I already know, reviewing information often, and finding ways to teach it as if I was explaining it to a 5 year old.
Thirdly, I was reminded of my strengths: my ability to focus and concentrate when I want to, my attitude toward learning (doing hard things even when I don’t want to and sticking to the task at hand), and realizing that me education can be applied to my profession and real life.
I learn by doing, trial and error. I also struggle with procrastination.
I have learned that I need to set up an organized study schedule and manage my time better.