Self-directed Learning

**AdamP** · 24-06-2006, 10:25 PM

I attended the PMS open day at Exeter today, all the current students that showed us around were fantastic.

One thing I forgot to ask about was the Self-directed Learning - it was mentioned by one of the admissions staff (Sue Locke I think) that the school recommends 20 hours of self-directed learning a week. Obviously with any medical course a large amount of self-directed learning is necessary but how does 20 hours compare with other medical schools? If any current students read this, how many of those recommended hours do you actually do? Less? More? <.<

Anyway that isn't really the issue, the actual point of my question is the resources for the SDL, I heard a lot of information is provided by the school's MLE (cutely named Emily...) - is this what you would normally use? Or would you use something more generic like google? Or the school's libraries. I'm guessing you could use all of these things but I mean realistically which is the most useful.

Oh and also they mentioned you get 8 plenaries a week - how long does a plenary last?

Thanks for any help, sorry for such a long-winded question

**Lee** · 24-06-2006, 11:24 PM

Hey

As you said a large amount of SDL is required for any medical course if you are to be successful, but i would have thought that the amount of SDL required would be the same no matter what med school you are at. 20 hours of SDL is a lot, and i would say that most people would actually do 10-15 hours a week, especially if they have sport committments or social events to go to. You do get the odd few who do 20hrs or more, and these are the people who justifiably get the highest grades in the year.

There are loads and loads of resources for SDL. Its up to you to decide which of these are most appropriate for what youre studying at the time, hence why its called self-directed. Its therefore difficult to tell you which resource is the most useful, as they are all equally so. To give you an idea though, I basically use medical websites, google/google scholar and textbooks for PBL, and if Im preparing for LSRC sessions then I would use textbooks and the electronic resources that are provided on emily and in LSRC (these are usually cited in the LSRC study guides). For clinical skills i normally book an SDL room in the clinical skills resource centre and just practise with mates, and later supplement what ive learnt with a chapter from Clinical Examination.

Each plenary lasts about an hour, depending on the volume of material to be covered.

Sorry for such a long-winded answer! Hope this info helps.

Lee

**applehead** · 24-06-2006, 11:28 PM

Hey lee

can you practice the clinical skills whenever you want then?

**Lee** · 24-06-2006, 11:39 PM

Hey!

the first years have their own SDL room in clinical skills, and you are only allowed 6 people max in any one hour slot, so you have to book a day or two in advance.

You can use the clincal skills sdl rooms monday to friday, 8-5 (or it may be 9-5, not quite sure).

Lee

**AdamP** · 25-06-2006, 12:36 AM

Hey thanks Lee
Do you ever get the feeling that 8 hours (or so) of plenaries per 2 weeks isn't enough?

**Andy S** · 25-06-2006, 12:54 PM

Hi Adam,

The purpose of the plenaries is to stimulate interest in the subject, encouraging the student to do further reading. They will give overviews of the biomedical sciences, humanities, public health, as well as stimulating your thinking about your professional conduct.

The plenaries are integrated with the small group learning in life sciences, problem based learning, and clinical skills. Together with your self-directed learning, all these different approaches to studying provide the complete picture necessary to understand the material in hand.

Your community placements, special study units, workshops (often ethics or statistics), jigsaw and reflective writing help you complete the picture, hopefully providing you with all the skills necessary to become a well rounded doctor.

Not surprisingly, there is a strong correlation between SDL time and exam performance. But it is important to have a really fun time at Uni, especially in the first year. Our 2nd years appear to be investing more time in SDL; while from year 3 onwards you commitment to studying will need to be pretty much maxed-out. So, yes of course, work well during your 1st year - but do make sure you have a really good time as well.

Andy

**AdamP** · 25-06-2006, 01:06 PM

Thanks Andy, that was a good description of all the aspects of the course; turns out there's a lot more than PBL/SDL with some plenaries.

**Andy S** · 25-06-2006, 01:20 PM

I feel the plenaries play second fiddle to all the different kinds of small group working. Some people avoid some of the plenaries, and quickly review the powerpoint presentation after the event to ensure their learning (from all the other resources) has covered the material.

There is genuine opportunity to tailor the course on to your own learning style, simple by increasing or decreasing your dedication to each of the different ways PMS deliver the information. If your approach is not effective the continual assessment will pick this up early, allowing you (with the help of the school) to refine your style.

**noworries** · 25-06-2006, 08:16 PM

I was unable to get to the open day and I don't really think I would get a good picture of the place by just going there and walking around. I realise open days show things in their best light but it's nice to get to talk to people about the course. So if you don't mind me asking, what was your impression of the open day and of the university and it's facilities?

**AdamP** · 25-06-2006, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by noworries

I don't really think I would get a good picture of the place by just going there and walking around.

That's understandable, I don't think you can get a good picture of a university without actually being a student there. That being said I'd rather go to an open day than not (of course you couldn't get there, fair enough).

The speakers were mainly the admissions staff, and most of the content of their speeches was "everything you already knew by reading the prospectus". Each of them took a few questions - again, most of them could have been answered by reading the school of medicine's prospectus.

That being said, meeting and talking with the current med students was really enjoyable. A couple of them put on a 'mock' PBL session for a theatre of spectators and then answered some questions about the course; their answers were a lot more informative and insightful than the admissions staff I must admit.

In all though I would have gone to the open day just to take a look at the accomodation and local area, since I've never been to Exeter before it was definitely worth it. I mean, why would I apply somewhere I can't picture myself living the next 6 or 7, maybe more, years of my life?

Oh and also, there were free pasties.