Pablo Casals' reply when asked why, at the age of 93, he continued to practice the
cello for three hours a day
(from an interview with Pablo Casals, master cellist)
The Expert Skills Program (ESP) was implemented in March, 2012, as a free access professional
skill development opportunity for all interested students regardless of their institution.
The ESP teaches any willing student how to seek and notice improvement throughout
their lives.
Each of four areas of the brain cortex involved in thinking like a physician is associated
with a separate skill.
sensory
memory
integration
action
Most students enter medical school with the "memory" skill well developed but unaware
that they will fall short unless they develop the remaining skills.
The medical curriculum does not teach these skills - it is assumed that the students
already have them developed. The result is that most students are unprepared for
the integrative learning required in medical school and this leads to significant
stress.
"Expert skills" was chosen for the program title to describe the goal of developing
all four of the learning skill areas of the brain to better cope with the thinking
needed in both courses and clinic.
This is the core concept in the Expert Skills Program at Texas Tech.
A program is a planned series of events aimed at a specific outcome. The ESP is a
planned step-by-step series of activities designed to help students with any background
to develop their thinking and test taking skills.
The ESP is designed to extend from the point of admission to medical school to graduation.
The study guide gives structure to learning the concepts early in the program.
Individual decision making determines how the concepts are applied
This is called self-directed, or self-regulated learning.
A program like the ESP can employ one or more methods as a part of the activities.
The ESP is designed to support the intelligent use of specific learning methods.
A method places itself in charge of the learner's outcome.
A program tends to place the learner in charge of their own outcome.
The ESP is based on the Growth Mindset research that shows that learners are more
successful when they understand the way their learning occurs. This is achieved through
the application of research in brain science, skilled performance, and personality
type to guide each learner to personalize and adapt their learning as needed. You will always be in charge of improving your own learning skills.
The only cost is the time that you spend. All materials needed are provided with free
access.
Click on ESP Prematriculation course. The "Block 1 label" is provided in the page heading so that other institutions can
add follow up "Blocks" to the ESP, for example:
Clinical experiences - relevant clinical problem solving using question analysis,
advanced generation of a differential diagnosis.
Resident experiences - EPA relevant activities relating to the AAMC Core Entrustable
Professional Activities for Entering Residency.
Although the study guide is designed to prepare you for each step that follows, you
should feel free to explore and jump around as you wish.
