Drexel: IFM vs. PIL

[Dire Straits]

---

Members do not see this ad.

some questions:

which route is better for a person who is more of an independent learner?

is PIL basically another term for PBL (problem based learning) that other schools use?

what are the pros and cons of IFM vs. PIL?

 

[LivingOnAPrayer]

Hey, I am in Drexel's Post Bacc (IMS) program now, which mirrors the first year IFM curriculum. IFM is traditional classroom lecture learning. There are a series of module guides for the year where professors distribute their lecture notes. In class they have slides/other visual aids to facilitate explanation of what is laid out in the module guide. At the end of each module there are exams in each of the courses present in the module.

PIL is their problem based curriculum. It is about 40 students, and they learn primarily through research rather than through lecture. There is a facilitator who makes sure that the students learn what it is they need to know for each unit, but for the most part the students are on their own. At the beginning of a unit the class is given some information about a patient's condition, and it is the class' job to figure out a diagnosis based on available information and then decide the proper treatment. Each person in the group (5-6 students/group i believe) is given a task to complete over a certain amount of time, and at the next session they have to present their findings. Also, at each meeting, a little bit more information is given about the patient to steer groups in the right direction.

For an independent learner I would undoubtedly suggest IFM. All the lectures are taped and available on the web so if you miss one or want to come back to one you can always watch it later. Labs have group work, but none of the lecture-learning requires any dependence on groups to get the job done. PIL is a program for people who learn well in small groups.

hope this helps.

 

[Dire Straits]

livingonaprayer, i've sent you a pm.

 

[alhkim]

I am a graduating MD/PhD at Drexel, a former PIL student and current substitute faciliator for the PIL curriculum. I have to strongly disagree with Living's conclusion that IFM is best for the independent learner. PIL is as Living accurately described. In my eyes, as a person who will build my career as a researcher primarily, I wanted to be able to independently construct the paradigms that are used in medicine by using reference books and occasionally the primary literature. IFM is great because everything is wrapped up for you and is symptom-based, so your primary responsibility is to understand why things are. PIL really doesn't do that for you, so it is up to you and the group to crystallize the physiology/anatomy/whatever together to come up with a flowchart of how different biological processes mesh together, both in normal and in pathological conditions. This way, I feel that you not only look through the facts, but put it together, which really allows one to remember those facts. I would further claim that PIL's methodology of organization, something called a concept map which threads numerous facts together in a linear fashion, really helps you study for the USLME Step I, since that exam is based on second- and third-order questions (to be honest though, almost every year the IFM and PIL do equally well on the boards).

Ultimately the decision is yours. The PILs and IFMs always argue which curriculum is better, but neither is superior to one another. It just comes down to style of learning that you are comfortable with...I just think that the independent learner will thrive in the PIL environment. Perhaps the person who works by themselves is more suited for IFM, since PIL does require group interaction (just like in 3rd year, so if you can't work with others, you need to learn before the clinical part of your education). But if you mean learning in a more unstructured, less confining setting, PIL is great. Best of luck in the future...

Hey, I am in Drexel's Post Bacc (IMS) program now, which mirrors the first year IFM curriculum. IFM is traditional classroom lecture learning. There are a series of module guides for the year where professors distribute their lecture notes. In class they have slides/other visual aids to facilitate explanation of what is laid out in the module guide. At the end of each module there are exams in each of the courses present in the module.

PIL is their problem based curriculum. It is about 40 students, and they learn primarily through research rather than through lecture. There is a facilitator who makes sure that the students learn what it is they need to know for each unit, but for the most part the students are on their own. At the beginning of a unit the class is given some information about a patient's condition, and it is the class' job to figure out a diagnosis based on available information and then decide the proper treatment. Each person in the group (5-6 students/group i believe) is given a task to complete over a certain amount of time, and at the next session they have to present their findings. Also, at each meeting, a little bit more information is given about the patient to steer groups in the right direction.

For an independent learner I would undoubtedly suggest IFM. All the lectures are taped and available on the web so if you miss one or want to come back to one you can always watch it later. Labs have group work, but none of the lecture-learning requires any dependence on groups to get the job done. PIL is a program for people who learn well in small groups.

hope this helps.

 

[Dire Straits]

do IFM and PIL students take the exact same exams in years 1 and 2?

 

[LivingOnAPrayer]

nope, but i don't know the details on PIL examinations

 

[musicdr]

nope, but i don't know the details on PIL examinations

I'm a PIL MS1, we take many less exams than IFM. We have 4 blocks 1st year, with 2 exams in each block (with the except of the 4th block, our primary care practicum). The exams cover the basic science material of the block, along with other sections such as psych, stats, ethics, etc. The exams normally cover 2 days, and the basic science section is mostly essay but has a MCQ portion you MUST pass. anatomy, histo, and neuro have a practical portion as well. At the end of the year in June, we also have a final MCQ which covers all material. Dont' know much about this because we haven't taken it yet!

We also have what are called "IPAs". In short: You get a case, you have 24 hours to come up with learning issues, hypotheses, diagnose, etc. The next day you meet with a faculty member and you present everything you researched about the case. Very scary at first, but the second one goes much smoother because its not so bad.

PRO about PIL exams: not many MCQ. You usually get to 'choose' between essays, so if you dont' know something well you can choose a different topic. You are able to really explain the depth of your knowledge in the questions.

CON: LOOOOONG! Your poor hand by the end of them just wants to fall off. For some, the not many MCQ because they feel they need more practice or are better at them. It takes forever to get our grades because the faculty must read and grade each essay.


Hope that helps!