Study Skills for Medical Study Skills for Medical Students: Part IStudents: Part I

Latha Chandran MD, MPHLatha Chandran MD, MPHAssociate Dean, Academic Associate Dean, Academic AdvisingAdvisingInterim Chair. Dept of PediatricsInterim Chair. Dept of PediatricsSUNY at Stony BrookSUNY at Stony Brook

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES Understand your learning style and Understand your learning style and

the differences amongst youthe differences amongst you Understand your perceptual Understand your perceptual

preferencespreferences Improve note taking skillsImprove note taking skills Improve memory skillsImprove memory skills Improve test taking skillsImprove test taking skills

Learning stylesLearning styles Important for you to know HOW Important for you to know HOW

you learnyou learn The more balanced your style is The more balanced your style is

the easier learning will happen in the easier learning will happen in schoolschool

So how do you find out?So how do you find out?

QuestionnaireQuestionnaire MBTIMBTI Myers Brigg Personality Type Myers Brigg Personality Type

IndicatorIndicator

Where do you fall?Where do you fall? QUESTIONS 1-11QUESTIONS 1-11 High A score - SENSING as your High A score - SENSING as your

preferred mental function (S)preferred mental function (S)

High B score- INTUITION as your High B score- INTUITION as your preferred mental function (N)preferred mental function (N)

Where do you fall?Where do you fall? QUESTIONS 12-21QUESTIONS 12-21 Decision Making attitudeDecision Making attitude

High A score: JUDGING (J)High A score: JUDGING (J)

High B score: PERCEIVING (P)High B score: PERCEIVING (P)

What if you are equal?What if you are equal? Convention ( based on research) is Convention ( based on research) is

to break the tie by adding a point to break the tie by adding a point to the direction that is not to the direction that is not culturally weightedculturally weighted

Cultural weighting is for ESTJCultural weighting is for ESTJ

Sensors (S)Sensors (S) Experience with your five sensesExperience with your five senses Noticing and recalling DETAILSNoticing and recalling DETAILS What ACTUALLY happensWhat ACTUALLY happens Practical, realisticPractical, realistic Read directions BEFORE startingRead directions BEFORE starting

Intuition (N)Intuition (N) Create theoriesCreate theories Look at patternsLook at patterns Routine bores youRoutine bores you Creativity and originalityCreativity and originality Tend to overlook directions!!Tend to overlook directions!! Not conscious of detailsNot conscious of details

It is often the variance in It is often the variance in mental function preference mental function preference that creates the difference in that creates the difference in the way different people the way different people perceive the same perceive the same information!information!

Your job now is to DEVELOP Your job now is to DEVELOP the less preferred areasthe less preferred areasdeliberatelydeliberately

New ways to thinkNew ways to think Sensors- start asking “what would Sensors- start asking “what would

happen if….” happen if….” start thinking about PATTERNS/Conceptsstart thinking about PATTERNS/Concepts Intuitives- start asking “what are the Intuitives- start asking “what are the

facts here?”, start thinking about facts here?”, start thinking about DETAILSDETAILS

Always ask “what is happening” and Always ask “what is happening” and “why?”“why?”

Decision makingDecision making Do you tend to preferDo you tend to prefer

• Closure and settling of things? (J)Closure and settling of things? (J)

• Keeping options open so you can go Keeping options open so you can go with the flow? (P)with the flow? (P)

JudgingJudging Plan aheadPlan ahead Have all their ducks in a rowHave all their ducks in a row Prefer completion, organizationPrefer completion, organization Like controlLike control Work well with deadlinesWork well with deadlines WORK ETHICWORK ETHIC

PerceiversPerceivers Live in a flexible spontaneous wayLive in a flexible spontaneous way Tend to go with the flowTend to go with the flow Life is a journey not a destinationLife is a journey not a destination Enjoy experiences and discoveriesEnjoy experiences and discoveries Adaptable and curiousAdaptable and curious Feel uneasy after a decisionFeel uneasy after a decision WORK/PLAY ETHICWORK/PLAY ETHIC

What about in exams?What about in exams? Js make decisions too quicklyJs make decisions too quickly Ps tend to over read questionsPs tend to over read questions Be aware of your limitationsBe aware of your limitations

Which words appeal to you?Which words appeal to you? OuterOuter With othersWith others InteractionInteraction BreadthBreadth VerbalVerbal ActionAction Many relationshipsMany relationships DoDo AccessibleAccessible GregariousGregarious

InnerInner AloneAlone ConcentrationConcentration DepthDepth SilentSilent IntrospectionIntrospection Few relationshipsFew relationships ReflectReflect RemoteRemote IntimateIntimate

Other lettersOther letters Mental function- thinking (T) or Mental function- thinking (T) or

feeling (F)feeling (F)

Source of energy- introverted (I) Source of energy- introverted (I) /extroverted (E)/extroverted (E)

Es need experience, Is need to Es need experience, Is need to ponderponder

Es and IsEs and Is Es talk as they thinkEs talk as they think short/ frequent breaks neededshort/ frequent breaks needed study in the library- but don’t get study in the library- but don’t get

distracted by your sociability distracted by your sociability needsneeds

tired when alonetired when alone can’t sit too longcan’t sit too long

IsIs Emotional and intellectual work goes Emotional and intellectual work goes

on in their heads!on in their heads! Think through ideas before they speakThink through ideas before they speak Work well aloneWork well alone May miss some dimensions of a topicMay miss some dimensions of a topic Need to balance alone time with study Need to balance alone time with study

partner timepartner time

Which words do you prefer?Which words do you prefer? ObjectiveObjective HeadHead JusticeJustice PrinciplesPrinciples CriticizeCriticize AnalyzeAnalyze LawsLaws PrecisionPrecision StandardsStandards ImpersonalImpersonal

SubjectiveSubjective HeartHeart HarmonyHarmony ValuesValues AppreciateAppreciate EmpathizeEmpathize Extenuating circumstancesExtenuating circumstances PersuasionPersuasion Good or badGood or bad PersonalPersonal

Ts or FsTs or Fs Mental function you employ for Mental function you employ for

decision makingdecision making Thinkers are fairThinkers are fair Feelers value harmonyFeelers value harmony

ResultsResults Now you have your DIAGNOSIS!Now you have your DIAGNOSIS! My learning style isMy learning style is

• ISTJISTJ

Our websiteOur website www.hsc.stonybrook.edu/academicwww.hsc.stonybrook.edu/academic

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