Medical Mnemonist (from MedSchoolCoach)

Latest Episodes:

37 Using Design Thinking and Challenge-based Learning with the Center for Learning and Teaching Director Dr. Hoda Mostafa Nov 06, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Hoda Mostafa talks about various thinking types, plus discusses embracing failure for positive outcomes.

Hoda Mostafa started her academic career in medicine at Cairo University after completing her medical studies in 1996 She joined the faculty at Cairo University, teaching and practicing in the Ophthalmology department until 2011. She is an avid supporter of teaching thinking skills across the disciplines she joined the American University in Cairo in 2011 and is currently the Director at the Center for Learning and Teaching and an Associate Professor of Practice at the American University in Cairo.

Introduction

3:52 The Educators Responsibilities to Teach Students How to Learn and Focus on the Process over the Product

5:40 Design Thinking: Using Divergent Thinking, Convergent Thinking, and Iterative Thinking to Reach Educational Goals

9:58 What is Creative Thinking, Innovative Thinking, and How do we Develop Learning and Memory Skills

14:58 Positive Outcomes from Embracing Failure & How Mentorship Directs Medical Education

19:43 Self-directed Learning (including Self-regulated Learning) in Current and Future Medical Course Design (read The Future of Medical Education Design)

25:35 Just 3 Wishes: Use Challenge-Based Learning!

Learn more about Dr. Mostafa, and check out the University of Cairo’s courses.

Resources

36 Read This Before Medical School- Part 3 Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

Learn about two important topics in Accelerated Learning: Speed Reading and Visual Mnemonics.

In Part 3 of Read This Before Medical School, we cover two very important topics in Accelerated Learning: Speed Reading and Visual Mnemonics. If you have ever tried to implement these study strategies before and had difficulty, you are not alone! In this section of the book we give you the training designs, charts, and tables you need to be successful in your future study endeavors.

For Speedreading, we go into greater detail about the SQ3R method to increase comprehension, how to use pacers, how to minimize subvocalization, and why saccadic reading is important for your reading speed.

The second section of Part 3 covers memory techniques. We begin with a discussion of memory and forgetting as well as what the literature has to say about these topics. Then, several different methods for remembering numbers are explained with examples given. Names and places are also difficult for many of us to remember, so a few strategies to boost your ability to remember others are listed out. Lastly, we cover a few advanced memory techniques and mind mapping.

35 How to Memorize 1 MILLION Items with Memory Cities and Mind Forests with Dr. Lev Goldentouch of KeyToStudy (Part 2) Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Lev Goldentouch is an accelerated learning practitioner with unique advanced memory and speed reading techniques.

In Episode 36, we continue from our conversation in Episode 34 with Dr. Lev Goldentouch. Dr. Lev Goldentouch is an accelerated learning practitioner and instructor. He has developed advanced memory and speed reading techniques that are unique to his methodologies. He is also the author or Key to Study Skills, and co-developer of the very popular Become a Superlearner course. His wife Anna also provides one-on-one training for those looking to become masters of their learning!

Part 2 1:45 Using Mind Cities and Mind Forests to Remember 1 MILLION Objects! & Rehearsal Practice for Advanced Mnemonics

6:50 Improving Mnemonics with Dreams, Cartoons, Magic, and MORE!

10:55 How to Chunk Associations in More Effective Ways & Building a Community at the Medical Mnemonist Mastermind

14:30 Training Synesthesia for Stronger Mnemonic Associations (and the article from Nature that he cited)

16:55 Finding the Right Methods and Steps to Increase Your Reading Speed and Comprehension: Pre-Brainstorming Visuals, Skimming, Scanning, Parafoveal vision, and Compressing Information for Rapid Consolidation

27:00 The Different in Practitioners and Memory Athletes in Memory Training and Accelerated Learning

29:55 The Bare Necessities for Effective Learning and Productivity: Eat Well, Sleep Right, Stay Fit & Knowing Personal Goals

33:55 Just 3 Wishes

You can view more of Lev’s materials via his blog, Amazon page, or email him personally for a quick response. You can also utilize his personal training for more accelerated learning.

If you would like to try a few of the techniques first, here is a list of affiliate links you should definitely try to advance your skill level:

34 Read This Before Medical School- Part 2: Test Preparation and the MedEdge Method Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

Chase DiMarco discusses his new book, the board exams, and helps learners get into a Board Examiner mentality.

In this second edition of our podcast mini-series, we cover Part 2 of Read This Before Medical School. This section covers the board exams to a greater extent and aims to help learners get into a Board Examiner mentality. We briefly cover the history of the NBME.

Our unique MedEdge Method is a concise and powerful tool for exam success. It is comprised of three parts: the Basic Exam Technique, the Tie-Breaker Technique, and the Post-exam Autopsy. These skills can be developed early in a learner’s academic career and carried on through their board exams and specialty exams.

Having a method to monitor mistakes, guidance to correcting mistakes, and knowing how to overcome obstacles during your studies and exams will greatly reduce stress during test day!

33 Developing Advanced Memory Techniques with Dr. Lev Goldentouch of KeyToStudy (Part 1) Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Lev Goldentouch discusses advanced memory and speed reading techniques.

Dr. Lev Goldentouch is an accelerated learning practitioner and instructor. He has developed advanced memory and speed reading techniques that are unique to his methodologies. He is also the author or Key to Study Skills, and co-developer of the very popular Become a Superlearner course. His wife Anna also provides one-on-one training for those looking to become masters of their learning!

Intro

Invoking Curiosity is a Key to Accelerated Learning & What are the “Keys To Study”

Visualization for Creative Images → Mind Maps, Memory Palaces → Mental Cities, Mental Forests

Learn Memorization Before Speed Reading & Use a Step By Step Method For Speed and Comprehension

Using Person-Action-Object (PAO Method) and 7-Group Chunking for Creating Visualizations & Mind Mapping and Memory Palaces for Larger Associations

How to Avoid Mental Barriers with Visual Mnemonic Creation: Relaxation, Creativity, and Setting Proper Expectations to Create a Visual Dictionary

The Etymology Method and Osborne’s Checklist for Creativity & Anchor Markers → Linking Markers → Hyperlinking for Complex Visualizations

Pre-reading and Brainstorming Visuals to Build Interest BEFORE Reading the Text

Starting Exercises for Student Training: Free Tools and Schedules + Personalized Mentorship

Speed Reading Obstacles and Mistakes to Avoid & Visualizations vs Associations vs Visual Markers

You can view more of Lev’s materials via his blog, Amazon page, or email him personally for a quick response. You can also utilize his personal training for more accelerated learning.

If you would like to try a few of the techniques first, here is a list of affiliate links you should definitely try to advance your skill level:

32 Read This Before Medical School- Part 1 Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

Learn about Chase DiMarco's new book, which focuses on class study efficiency, home study techniques, and self-development.

We start our 4-part mini-series about my soon-to-be-released book, Read This Before Medical School: How to Study Smarter and Live Better While Excelling in Class and on Your USMLE or COMLEX Board Exams.

In this episode, we will cover Part 1 of the book, which focuses on class study efficiency, home study techniques, self-development, and more.

The next 3 parts of the mini-series will be interspersed between our regular interviews and will cover one section of the book each. Hopefully, these episodes and the free Essentials guide will give everyone a great teaser of the complete material. And with the holidays coming up, please consider supporting us by sharing our many materials with friends and family interested in medicine and learning!

31 WOOP and Evidence-Based Study Techniques with Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka Sep 24, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka describes how to increase study efficiency and utilize evidence-based study practices.

In Episode 32, Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka is a Harvard physician, program director for anesthesiology at MGH, and an educational researcher with several published articles on the topics of self-directed learning and residency education. Today, we will focus on how to increase study efficiency and utilize evidence-based study practices.

Intro

3:00 Evidence-based Studying and Self-Regulated Learning & Goal Setting vs Habits for Academic Success

9:23 Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (aka Wish-Outcome-Obstacle-Plan or WOOP)

17:40 Hard Work Leads to Effective Learning & Creating a Healthy Study Routine

20:50 The Effect of WOOP vs SMART Goals and Control with Anesthesia ICU Residents

25:15 Mistakes for Students to Manage for Proper WOOP Implementation & When WOOP Fails

Resources:

You can also reach Dr. Saddawi-Konefka via email.

30 Atomic Memory Techniques from Memory Athlete Daniel Kilov Sep 18, 2019

Show notes

Meet Daniel Kilov, a mental athlete, who holds the national record for memory in abstract images.

We have mental athlete Daniel Kilov joining us. He has been featured on TedX, written for the Mensa journal, TableAus and has performed in several Australian memory championships. Daniel holds the national record for memory in abstract images, and is a PhD-candidate at Australia National University.

Intro

05:38 Levels of Sophistication of Different Memory Techniques & Atomic Techniques Learned from Ancient Mnemonists

09:16 Encoding vs Storing Memories: Associations, Peg Systems, Memory Palaces, and more.

12:23 The Limitations of the Memory Palace for Complex Material and Medical Courses

16:21 Memory Techniques from Around the World & Expanding on Western Art of Memory

19:30 Drills, Exercises, and Mentorship to Prevent Memory Mistakes

21:52 Proper Mnemonic Stories Require Simplicity & Not Settling for Only Common Techniques

25:58 BEST SYNDICATED SERIES EVER!!!

27:31 Just 3 Wishes

Resources

You can also find more of Daniel’s videos and resources at DanielKilov.com or contact him by email.

29 How “Happy Chemicals” Can Increase Memory, Improve Studying, and Live Better with Dr. Loretta Breuning of the Inner Mammal Institute Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Loretta Breuning describes brain chemistry and how students can use this knowledge to benefit their studies.

On covering memory, it’s useful to have a better grasp of neurotransmitters and how they affect our memories. Today we are joined by Dr. Loretta Breuning of the Inner Mammal Institute to help describe brain chemistry and how students can use this knowledge to benefit their studies.

Intro (Add time)

1:23 Neuroscience vs Neuro-memory Studies

4:15 Setting Your Study Session Based on Neurochemistry & Setting Expectations and Rewards

7:25 How to Set Intrinsic “Happy” Reward Systems for Medical Students and Graduate Learners

11:30 Early Reward Circuits and Early Pain Circuits: How Childhood Experiences Shape Current Motivations

16:48 Optimizing Self-Motivation Behaviors: Chunking Tasks into Small Successes

21:45 Types and Strengths of Different Self-rewards to Motivate Study Behaviors: Get those “Happy Chemicals” Going!

26:25 Why Social Comparison & Worrying About Other’s Scores is so Detrimental

29:00 Just 3 Wishes

Some of Dr. Breuning’s Books:

Recommended Resources

For more information, visit the Inner Mammal Institute. You can Dr. Breuning’s funny animations, reading list, and the happy power examples. You can also learn more by following the Happy Brain Podcast.

28 Meta-cognition for Studying and Changing Our Brains With Thought by Cognitive Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath Aug 20, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath discusses how we can alter our cognitive schemas in education and grow our cognitive capacities.

Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath is a cognitive neuroscientist and educator that studies how our thinking changes our minds. He’s also the author of several books, including most recently Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick. Today we are going to cover how we can alter our cognitive schemas in education and grow our cognitive capacities.

Intro

5:10 How Your “Software Changes Your Hardware”: Using Visualization to Change One’s Brain

7:15 Utilizing Visualization to Decrease Testing Stress & Conceptualization for Linking Medical Knowledge

11:10 Leaping Before Looking: Why Medicine Requires Memorization Before Deep Learning

13:00 3 Steps To Maximizing Your Learning: Setting Your “Story” (Mindset), Recall Practice, Work on Deep Learning/Reconceptualization

18:05 Physician Instructors vs Educators & How Students Can Prepare for Self-Directed Learning

21:29 Growth Through Failure OR Failure Through Neglect: How to Be Mindful of Mistakes and Utilize This Primed State for Learning

25:03 Becoming Meta and Cognitive Fatigue During Study Sessions & Finding Your Own Study Patterns

28:25 Metacognition for Learning (Aspire, Analyze, Act, Assess, Adapt)

30:50 Just 3 Wishes

Recommended Resources:

Why Students Don’t Like School
How People Learn
The Brain That Changes Itself
More Material from Jared:
Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick
Dr. Jared Horvath Ted Talk
LMEglobal

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