Reflect to Excel: The Learning Advantage

Medical learners—at all levels of the learning spectrum—often spend most of their study time reading and re-reading. Sure, they also do multiple-choice questions, but the problem is that they usually do NOT take the time to recall what they’ve learned, resulting in little retention. However, there is an easy remedy to correct this.

To obtain the maximum benefit from studying, reflection needs to be integrated as part of your daily and weekend study routines.

DAILY Reflection

Take a few minutes at the end of your daily study and ask yourself:

·?????? What three key ideas did I learn?

·?????? What topics do I need to study further?

·?????? What went well?

·?????? What challenges did I encounter?

·?????? How can I improve my study tomorrow?

WEEKLY Reflection

At the end of the week, spend three to four hours connecting and consolidating your learning. This should include:

·?????? Reviewing critical learning points,

·?????? Re-testing missed questions, and

·?????? Making connections with the topics studied the previous week.

This in-depth study during the week can help you identify knowledge gaps, consolidate knowledge, and deepen your understanding of the content.

In his research, Chang (2019) found that reflection-in-learning is necessary for learners to revisit what they have learned for improvement and for in-depth learning. It gives learners an opportunity to document their learning journey and provide references and suggestions for future study.

While many benefits result from reflection. In truth, reflection encourages a better learning experience because: ???? ?

(1) ?It encourages learners to take charge of their learning — reflection invites them to become more engaged in their learning accomplishments and struggles; ?????

(2) ?It builds stronger connections between learning experiences — reflective learning fosters learning-by-thinking, which can help learners develop critical thinking skills and improve future performance.

If you haven’t included reflection in your board preparation before, try it now to give you a superior learning experience. Through reflection, you will add critical learning skills that will raise your self-awareness, enhance your learning, and boost your motivation to learn.

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Linda L. Carr, Ph.D., Founder/Principal at Coaching for Medical Specialty Boards, is a medical educator and learning specialist who coaches physicians preparing for specialty boards through virtual, one-on-one coaching, online tools, and strategic study plans. Discover how Dr. Carr can guide you to board exam success. Visit www.DrLindaCarr.org.