How can I make Medical studies easier (optimize the brain)?

[Wheatley]

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VARK test will help you figure out what kind of learner you are. That's the number 1 thing I would say. If you aren't studying to how you learn you won't learn anything.

There is no evidence to support this VARK "learning styles" shenanigans at all. Below is a review.

http://psi.sagepub.com/content/9/3/105.abstract

 

[Lbgem]

There is no evidence to support this VARK "learning styles" shenanigans at all. Below is a review.

http://psi.sagepub.com/content/9/3/105.abstract

I can't access the whole paper so I can't see if they analyzed VARK specifically or not.

"Although the literature on learning styles is enormous, very few studies have even used an experimental methodology capable of testing the validity of learning styles applied to education. Moreover, of those that did use an appropriate method, several found results that flatly contradict the popular meshing hypothesis. "

To me, this just says there's not enough testing to say whether or not it's effective. And some studies found that SOME styles don't help (but again I can't see which ones they looked at).

That site was recommend by BU's profs, and speaking from personal experience it helped me out a lot. It also helped me realize why when an entire lecture was done visually I had a super difficult time understanding it, but when I learned it a different way it absolutely made more sense to me. I just think the paper doesn't go far enough, it's a review, and I'd rather see a paper analyzing VARK specifically. To each their own though.

If you don't find learning styles helpful then don't use it 😛. But everyone has to find a way that works for them in med school.

 

[CaptainSSO]

I can't access the whole paper so I can't see if they analyzed VARK specifically or not.

"Although the literature on learning styles is enormous, very few studies have even used an experimental methodology capable of testing the validity of learning styles applied to education. Moreover, of those that did use an appropriate method, several found results that flatly contradict the popular meshing hypothesis. "

To me, this just says there's not enough testing to say whether or not it's effective. And some studies found that SOME styles don't help (but again I can't see which ones they looked at).

That site was recommend by BU's profs, and speaking from personal experience it helped me out a lot. It also helped me realize why when an entire lecture was done visually I had a super difficult time understanding it, but when I learned it a different way it absolutely made more sense to me. I just think the paper doesn't go far enough, it's a review, and I'd rather see a paper analyzing VARK specifically. To each their own though.

If you don't find learning styles helpful then don't use it 😛. But everyone has to find a way that works for them in med school.

http://www.changemag.org/Archives/Back Issues/September-October 2010/the-myth-of-learning-full.html

Students do have preferences about how they learn. Many students will report preferring to study visually and others through an auditory channel. However, when these tendencies are put to the test under controlled conditions, they make no difference—learning is equivalent whether students learn in the preferred mode or not.

It's all been tested. Specifically VARK wouldn't matter because that is just one specific program that emphasizes learning styles. For example, if eating cake is bad for you it doesn't matter whether it's Pepperidge Farms or Betty Crocker, you know they're both cake.

I also think that VARK questionnaire is flawed--e.g., a salesperson would probably be most likely to convince me to buy the phone, in a peer pressure sort of way, even though I would prefer to read about the particular components of the phone. Therefore for that question it would tell me I prefer auditory learning, which I don't.

But my point is not that we can't prefer one learning style over another, it's just that using our preferred learning style hasn't been shown to be effective. The only way learning preference would matter, would be, if you dislike one style of learning so much that you actually will procrastinate and not study, that would affect your learning.

However, I have been told that everyone retains more and learns more through reading, rather than lectures. Don't have a source for that, I'll try to find one as long as it's on the first page of google. 🙂

 

[ebbandflow83]

Sorry guys. I don't know about all the post history (I don't care enough to go into it) but I think GladifImakeit wins this one at least. Initially, she posted the suggestion as a question (curiosity, civil discussion... imagine that!). Then she keeps cool as she is pounced on by a number of different people. Finally, as the flaming is reaching a really nasty point, she delivers an epic lit search smackdown, to no real response from previously referred to flamers. I'm calling this one at midnight PDT. Gladiflmakeit, first past the post. Interesting suggestion Glad. Keep 'em coming. Always good to hear a new idea. That's how we move forward to new treatments and healthier people. Thanks!

 

[CaptainSSO]

Sorry guys. I don't know about all the post history (I don't care enough to go into it) but I think GladifImakeit wins this one at least. Initially, she posted the suggestion as a question (curiosity, civil discussion... imagine that!). Then she keeps cool as she is pounced on by a number of different people. Finally, as the flaming is reaching a really nasty point, she delivers an epic lit search smackdown, to no real response from previously referred to flamers. I'm calling this one at midnight PDT. Gladiflmakeit, first past the post. Interesting suggestion Glad. Keep 'em coming. Always good to hear a new idea. That's how we move forward to new treatments and healthier people. Thanks!

 

[GladifImakeit]

Awww you made my day! I've got tiger blood baby! Thanks🙂