THE LEARNING SKILLS OF UNDERGRADUATES: A PROPOSAL FOR SAUDI MEDICAL EDUCATION

BACKGROUND: The problems of medical education in Saudi Arabia emanate from its high course content and a lack of proper integration, exacerbated by the language barrier. OBJECTIVE/PROPOSAL: To encourage good lasting learning habits, it is envisaged the need to establish training courses for learning skills. This training would include the development of positive attitude and reliable approaches to learning, learning styles, and emotional skills. It would also develop specific skills such as the setting and achievement of objectives, self assessment, group work, accessing sources of knowledge, note-taking, reading skills, retention skills, examination techniques and computer literacy. Teaching techniques, the organization of the course, assessment procedure, and the use of resources also affect learning. However, changes in these areas can be beneficial only if students have the appropriate learning skills. RECOMMENDATIONS: Research needs to look at the specific ways of teaching learning skills, and the effect of the application of such skills.