Medical and Dental Students
Are you a Western Medicine or Dental student looking for help with studying?
Come to Schulich Study Hall, a partnership between Western’s Learning Development and Success and the Learner Experience Office at the Schulich School of Medicine. This is a bi-monthly communal study group for Western Medical and Dental students. We will meet in a hybrid format to accommodate students across both campuses. Here, you’ll be able to learn effective study habits with others, get study tips from a learning specialist, and participate in workshops that will help you excel academically.
Winter Term 2025 Workshops
Proactive Planning: Creating a Successful Term Plan
Date: January 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Are you ready to take control of your academic journey? Join us for an empowering workshop on Creating a Successful Term Plan and learn how to organize your studies for maximum efficiency and success! In this workshop, you’ll discover how to set clear, achievable academic goals for the term, master time management techniques to avoid procrastination, and prioritize tasks to balance your coursework with other commitments. You’ll also create a personalized study schedule that fits your unique needs and learning style and learn how to track your progress to stay on track. Engage in hands-on activities to develop your term plan and collaborate with fellow students to share strategies for success. Plus, you’ll receive exclusive templates and resources to help you implement your plan.
Supercharge your Study Skills! Active Recall Workshop
Date: January 30, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Are you looking to enhance your study techniques and improve your memory retention? Join us for a workshop on Active Recall and discover how this method can transform your learning experience and boost your exam preparation! In this workshop, you’ll learn the science behind active recall and why it’s one of the most effective study techniques. We’ll cover practical strategies to implement active recall in your daily study routine, helping you to better retain and recall information. You’ll participate in interactive exercises designed to practice active recall, and you’ll receive tips on how to integrate this technique with other study methods for maximum benefit. Learn how to create effective study guides, practice retrieval of key concepts, and develop a systematic approach to reviewing material.
Content Overload: How do I figure out what to study?
Date: February 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Medical school can be overwhelming with the sheer volume of information students are expected to learn. This workshop aims to provide strategies and tools to help medical students manage content overload effectively. Participants will explore techniques for prioritizing and organizing study materials, utilizing digital resources, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a toolkit of strategies to manage content overload, enhance their learning efficiency, and maintain their well-being throughout their medical education journey.
From Chaos to Clarity: Designing Templates for Medical School Success
Date: February 27, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Templates can be powerful tools for organizing and streamlining your study process in medical school. This workshop will guide you through the creation and use of various templates to enhance your efficiency and productivity. Participants will learn how to design templates for note-taking, clinical rotations, and more. By the end of this workshop, participants will learn how templates can save time, reduce stress, and improve organization. They will explore best practices for creating templates that are clear, concise, and tailored to your needs.
Enhancing our Clinical Understanding with Fishbone and Concept Maps
Date: March 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Understanding complex medical cases can be challenging for medical and dental students. This workshop aims to equip students with the skills to use fishbone maps and concept maps to break down and analyze medical cases effectively. Participants will learn how to visually organize information, identify key factors, and develop a deeper understanding of clinical scenarios. Participants will practice using these mapping techniques to analyze real-world medical cases, enhancing clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Help! I’ve Fallen Behind: Understanding Different Prioritization Techniques
Date: March 27, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Do you feel like you are falling behind? Are you struggling to keep up with content? Falling behind in medical or dental school can feel overwhelming, but effective prioritization techniques can help you get back on track. This workshop is designed to teach students how to prioritize tasks and manage their time efficiently. By the end of this session, students will understand common reasons for falling behind and how prioritization can address these issues. Participants will learn various prioritization methods to handle their workload, reduce stress, and improve academic performance.
Enhancing Well-Being and Focus Through Mindfulness
Date: April 10, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Description Forthcoming!
Mastering the Anatomy Bell Ringer: Study Strategies and Techniques
Date: April 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
The anatomy bell ringer can be one of the most challenging assessments in medical school. This workshop is designed to help students develop effective study strategies and techniques to excel in this practical exam. Participants will learn how to prepare systematically, utilize various study resources, and approach the exam with confidence. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a toolkit of study strategies and resources tailored to this exam. They will be better prepared to approach the exam with confidence and achieve success.
Putting it all Together: Self-Reflective Learning and Creating a Study Plan
Date: May 8, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Navigating the demands of medical and dental school requires effective study strategies and self-awareness. This workshop is designed to help students integrate self-reflective learning with active study planning. Participants will learn how to assess their learning habits, identify areas for improvement, and develop a personalized, actionable study plan. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of their learning processes through reflective activities. They will be equipped with tools to continuously improve their study habits and achieve their academic goals.
How to...
Research on learning skills for medical students:
The benefits of retrieval with medical residents
- Retrieval is a powerful learning strategy that can really enhance your study sessions! Learn more about it by reading The Benefits of Retrieval with Medical Residents by the Learning Scientists
- Learn more about expanded retrieval with An Evidence-Based Guide for Medical Students: How to Optimize the Use of Expanded-Retrieval Platforms
Study habits of highly effective medical and dental students
- Want to know what the most common study habits of some successful medical and dental students are? Get some ideas on ways to improve your learning by reading this article on Study Habits of Highly Effective Medical Students.
- For more information see, "Learning in Medical School: Transition Issues, Strategy Use, and Self-Regulation," in The Canadian Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 35, No. 4 by Denise Reaume and Tracey Ropp.
Reflection as a learning strategy
- Reflection can be an effective learning strategy to use during your studies and even throughout your career. Transformational Learning & Reflection by the Learning Scientists explains how reflection can benefit medical educators, but the benefits can be similar for students as well!
Study Skills Presentation
Check out this online presentation on practical study strategies to help you learn more effectively and enhance your long-term retention of knowledge.
Contents of the video:
- Introduction & Common Challenges (0-2:36)
- Effective & Efficient Learning Strategies (2:36-17:50)
- Online & Remote Learning Considerations (17:50-24:30)
- Additional Resources & Next Steps (24:30-26:53)