Independent Learning

Being a frequent visitor to Port City Java - a local Starbucks equivalent that has an outlet within spitting distance of my place, i've grown accustomed to the sight of large groups of students crowded round tables with a veritable library of books spread out over every possible inch of space. Of course, me being my usual inquisitive self often means i sit nearby so i can listen to what's going on. The presence of MUSC in Charleston naturally means that these are mostly medical students discussing various aspects of the body in gruesome detail. There's a surprising number of these tutor groups going on throughout the week - i counted 8 last week alone - and often some of the tutors are back later in the week to be tutored.

This seemed to be in direct contrast to what i used to see in the UK. Being in the department of Medicine often used to bring me into contact with medical students (and used to instil me with terror over the fact that these were the future generation of doctors). In the UK, the system of teaching had changed from the traditional lecture style to Problem-based learning, usually revolving around case studies - where the students were given the history and had to figure out what the score was. Trouble is, they sometimes didn't know what they were supposed to have learned and could miss out on vital clues. This all seems to be exacerbated by the fact that there was the general sense that it was each to their own when it came to learning. I certainly don't remember any such group tutorship going on in the UK (correct me if i'm wrong) or little group discussion at all outside of the lessons themselves. Unless it was in the pub!!!