1. Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources
July 26, 2017

2. Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources (OSLER)
Who is Osler?
Canadian physician who championed the idea of teaching medical students by having them interact with patients
Pioneered the concept of the medical residency and clinical clerkship
What is OSLER?
Comprehensive academic support unit for medical students
Office dedicated to promoting a culture of academic excellence

3. Who are we?
Joanna Arnold, PhD
Richard Moses, BA
Dori Santana, BS

4. What are the challenges of First Year?
Transition into a new academic environment
New and different demands on time
New expectations related to learning
Need for additional/new learning strategies
Need for different methods for managing time and study
Need for objective formative feedback related to progress

5. What are the best resources for advice about being an effective and successful student?
“Students are generally not taught how to study and when they are, they often get the wrong advice. As a result, they gravitate to activities that are far from optimal…”
Evidence based practice related to learning
Research has identified “keystone” elements of effective learning

6. Elements of Effective Learning
Practice retrieving new learning from memory.
Space out your practice.
Interleave the study of different types of problems.
Elaborate – relate new material to what you already know.
Generate – answer questions before being given the solution.
Reflect – what went well? What could have gone better?
Calibrate – avoid the “illusion of knowing.”

7. How can OSLER help?
Effective learning techniques have to be learned and practiced
Opportunities to learn and apply new strategies
Thursday Mornings with OSLER
Individual study support
Master Learning Program (MLP)

8. Thursday Morning Sessions
Interactive session focused on one or more topics from the week’s lecture
Strategies for effective review of topic
Practice retrieving information from memory (aka quizzing!)
Tools to practice elaboration – compare/contrast, explaining diagrams
1st session Thursday, August 17 at 8AM
Watch for announcement!
RSVP before session

9. Individual Study Support
Study strategies
Time management
Test taking skills
Identifying and using resources
On-going monitoring of progress

10. Master Learning Program (MLP aka Tutoring)
Small and Large group sessions
Opportunities to apply content with guidance of peers and facilitators
Facilitated by 2nd year medical students
Scheduled during evening hours (Tuesday – Thursday) 6:00 – 8:00 pm
MLP is available for gross anatomy, biochemistry, histology, and physiology
Information about sign-up will be sent out during week 1

11. Educational Accommodations
Approved educational accommodations and referral for educational testing and evaluation
If you have had educational accommodations in the past please contact us to discuss the process for applying for accommodations.

12. The Bottom Line…
The most successful students are those who take charge of their own learning.
Each student will have to leave some old habits behind and develop some new skills.
OSLER is here to help you.

13. Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources (OSLER)
Joanna Arnold
4010C
Richard Moses
4101A
Dori Santana
4101B

14. More resources… “How to Learn Effectively in Medical School”
“Three Things Top Performing Students Know that Their Peers Miss”
“Strengthening the Student Toolbox: Study Strategies to Boost Learning”
“Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning”