Medical education requires a strong foundation in the principles of learning.
Becoming a physician is a long and challenging process. Requiring years of dedication, emotional maturity, and intellectual curiosity, undertaking a career in medicine necessitates a lifetime of learning. Teaching learning principles in medical school is essential for the professional development of future physicians.
Instructions
Principles of Learning
1. Establish student's prior knowledge on subject. Also known as the law of primacy, learning theory suggests that the first exposure to material often creates the longest-lasting impression. Students should be taught to recognize false information that was learned in the past as they are exposed to new material in medical school.
2. Teach students mentally organize facts and information. With the vast volumes of material and terminology taught in medical school, it is vital for students to be presented information in a logical, organized manner. This will help students make connections between facts and develop a higher level of medical comprehension. When knowledge is connected inaccurately, students will fail to apply it correctly. Also, as students continue through their career, they will have the skills to apply and integrate new information within this basic foundation acquired in medical school.
3. Teach students to recognize the importance of motivation. The principle of readiness suggests that students learn best when they are physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared. Student must learn to recognize the importance of the material they are learning; this skill will enhance retention and initiative to continue learning throughout their careers.
4. Demonstrate to students integrate and apply information. As future medical professionals, autonomy and fluency in techniques and knowledge will be essential for medical students. In order to carry out medical tasks, physicians must have proper demonstration and opportunities to practice integration of skills and information. Many medical schools accomplish this goal by giving students exposure to clinical settings early in training in order to demonstrate how basic science and pathology are applied in practice.
5. Emphasize the importance of goal setting and attention to feedback. Physicians must be lifelong learners, which is why it is referred to the "practice" of medicine. The ability to exercise current knowledge, set goals, and integrate feedback into modifying future behaviors will be a critical skill during residency and beyond.
6. Encourage a positive emotional learning environment. Known as the law of effect, positive reinforcement has been shown to be the most effective learning environment. Students are often energized by encouragement and reward for success rather than punishment or negativity for failure. Students should enjoy the learning process for, as physicians, they will constantly be exposed to new information, modifications of previous theories, and advanced learning environments throughout their career.
7. Teach students to monitor and adjust their approach to learning. In order to encourage self-directed learning, medical student should have the skills to evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses, plan their learning strategies, and apply past experiences to improve their effectiveness as learners. These are not necessarily natural skills and should be emphasized in medical school.
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