Is PBL right for you?

PBL or Problem Based Leaning is a newer approach to teaching medicine. The benefits are that it teaches students to be independent and ingrains the process of self-directed learning from an early stage. It also trains students to think about scenarios as if they are doctors so they are better prepared for time in clinical environments. On the contrary, PBL is very self-directed and like with many things you will only get out what you put in. There is a huge importance placed on independent study so motivation and determination is a crucial characteristic needed to benefit the most from the ePBL style. The course is also organised in a more case-based format so the format of the course may not suit people that would like to learn things in a structured way. My experience with PBL: I initially did not like the idea of PBL because I thought it would be too disordered and I wouldn't know what to learn. However, I find that the self-directed aspect motivates me and I enjoy the small group teaching sessions. Overlaps between subjects allow us to study deeper into a topic while revising previous content. I have also realised that PBL is very interactive. So if you are motivated determined and enjoy learning in small groups compared to lectures, I would recommend trying a mock PBL session at an open day!