INSTRUCTIONS IN LEARNING-SKILLS - AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

The transition from school to university education and a medical schoo l environment can be difficult even for the very best students. Howeve r, little appears to be done to assist students in making this transit ion and in developing study skills during the early stages of their tr aining. This article outlines a scheme which has been called supplemen tal instruction. Although developed for medical students in the United States, it is particularly well suited to developing essential study skills in first-year medical students in the United Kingdom. The schem e has been successfully introduced into some degree and diploma subjec ts in this country, with improvement in course grades and lower attrit ion rates, but has yet to be introduced into medical education. Evalua tion data for nonmedical courses show that student participation in su pplemental instruction significantly improves overall course marks and could be of significant value in the medical curriculum.