Learning skills assistance is provided by the Office of Career Development & Advising. Dr. Marc Silling is available to meet with students on an individual basis to discuss the student's optimization of his or her learning strategies. Appointments for individual sessions with Dr. Silling can be made by calling Laura Cessna at 330-325-6735 or emailing her at lcessna@neoucom.edu. Services include:
For more information contact:
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Learning Strategies for Medical Students
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It is our goal that every student excel and do well at Northeastern Ohio Univeristies Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy and beyond. However, medical and pharmacy school is very demanding and unforgiving should a student not be able to keep up and successfully learn the material. Therefore, one of the first hurdles is to acquire learning strategies for success with the curriculum. Some of these strategies include:
- multiple reading of materials (sometimes referred to as "triple reading")
- indexed note taking to produce custom high yield study materials
- color coding reading materials (perhaps 5-10% of students use this strategy)
- chart construction (visual learners)
- student "quizzing" sessions before exams
- note card methods
- auxiliary reading materials (essential for some courses)
- networking with other students
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Test and Item Training
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Almost all students can stand to learn how to prepare for and take exams more skillfully. We do not teach "guessing strategies" because there is substantial evidence that these don't work (and in fact often time lower student test scores). We do teach how to take different kinds of exams skillfully (especially multiple choice tests). The two focus points consist of how to move through the exam (test strategy) and how to approach each item (item strategy). The test and item strategies we teach are supported by research, particularly that done by Kaplan.
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Anxiety Management
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In such a demanding academic environment almost all students may have difficulties with anxiety at some point. There have been sixth year surgery residents who suddenly, for the first time, had anxiety problems during their specialty boards. Learning anxiety management skills is invaluable, if not essential for excelling. We have produced an optimized Relaxation for Test Taking CD for use by our students. Custom relaxation training CD's can be produced for specific testing situations. In addition there are strategies such as "stress inoculation" and "systematic relaxation training" that we teach. These have been shown to be particularly helpful. Successful anxiety management may greatly enhance test scores.
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Student to Student Help Programs
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A particularly successful program during preparation for USMLE Step 1 boards was the development of a helpers list. These were upper level students who were willing to sit down with one or more students to give them advice on study skills. Some students sought the help of more than one of these helpers. This appears to have been an exceptionally helpful program and will be extended during the 2007-2008 year to also have a "helpers list" for M1 students. Additional enhancements will be the process of matching "helpers" with students of like learning strategies. An extension of the 'helpers" program is to have residents at area hospitals who have seen Dr. Silling for USMLE Step 3 preparation work with our students on USMLE Step 2 preparation.
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National Board of Medical Examiners Shelf Exams
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With the emphasis on students passing their USMLE boards the first time and obtaining high scores, M2 courses are starting to make NBME Shelf Exams part of the course. Learn how to maximize your score by consulting with the Learning Specialist.
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Preparation for USMLE Step exams
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USMLE preparation help is one of the main functions of the Learning Specialist. The activities include:
- Didactic preparation of skills (lecture)
- Arranging nationally recognized USMLE experts to lead workshops on USMLE Step 1 preparation at NEOUCOM (2003 and 2004 was John Stang, MD, USMLE expert from The Ohio State University College of Medicine)
- USMLE Helpers List (a major success for the 2004 USMLE Step 1 test)
- Special USMLE preparation CD for every student
- Review of preparation strategies via individual consultation with the Learning Specialist
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Brief Information about Dr. Silling
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Marc Silling, PhD has been involved with NEOUCOM since 1984, when he started teaching "Interviewing in Behavioral Sciences". He works at the University of Akron where he is the Coordinator of Testing and a Psychologist. One of his specialties is assessment of learning disorders in adults, particularly in the area of reading. He has worked with residents at area hospitals for the last 17 years on both USMLE Step 3 and Specialty Board preparation. He has been the Learning Specialist at NEOUCOM since 2002 part time (six hours per week).
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