Inquiry-Based Learning in Medical Education

Introduction

• Keeping up with studies can be challenging due to increasing curriculum difficulty.
• Many students study 40-50 hours per week without seeing proportional grades.
• Inquiry-based learning can alleviate these challenges.
• Personal experience: Achieved a perfect GPA in medical school while studying less than in high school.

What is Inquiry-Based Learning?

• Learning through asking questions.
• Encourages problem-solving and experiential learning.
• Focuses on curiosity to fuel learning.
• Helps in encoding information into long-term memory faster than traditional methods.
• Difference from traditional methods:
  • Traditional focuses on outcomes.
  • Inquiry-based focuses on relationships and processes leading to outcomes.

Why Inquiry-Based Learning Works

• Promotes a deeper understanding of content.
• Example: In math, understanding the reasoning behind steps is vital.
• In biology, asking why certain processes occur strengthens understanding.
• Encourages connecting concepts, leading to logical outcomes and retention.

Learning Stages

1. Pre-Study

   • Most students memorize definitions instead of creating connections.
   • Effective pre-study sets a framework for understanding during lessons.
   • Organizing knowledge improves recall and efficiency in learning.

2. Studying and Revision

   • Traditional methods involve repetitive practice papers.
   • Inquiry-based learning promotes interleaving, learning from various angles.
   • Helps in answering curveball questions by applying interleaved knowledge.

Natural Curiosity and Inquiry-Based Learning

• Natural curiosity helps learn concepts more effectively.
• Pre-made questions can stimulate curiosity and facilitate understanding.
• Key questions to ask:
  • Why is this concept important?
  • How is it related to other concepts?

Using Mind Maps

• Mind maps consolidate knowledge and show relationships among concepts.
• After mastering inquiry-based learning, mind maps can be created without prior questions.
• This skill needs to be developed over time and cannot be rushed.

Conclusion

• Inquiry-based learning is a skill that can lead to high academic performance.
• Requires practice and patience to develop.
• Encouragement to start using inquiry-based learning techniques and check out related resources.