Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 7 , Pages 361-366, July 2008

Use of Portfolios by Medical Students: Significance of Critical Thinking

  • Samy A. Azer

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to: Professor Samy A. Azer, Chair of Medical Education Research and Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Medical Education Research and Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia

Received 21 April 2008; accepted 30 July 2008.

Article Outline

Portfolios have been used in the medical curriculum to evaluate difficult-to-assess areas such as students' attitudes, professionalism and teamwork. However, their use early in a problem-based learning (PBL) course to foster deep learning and enhance students' self-directed learning has not been adequately studied. The aims of this paper are to: (1) understand the uses of portfolios and the rationale for using reflection in the early years of a PBL curriculum; (2) discuss how to introduce portfolios and encourage students' critical thinking skills, not just reflection; and (3) provide students with tips that could enhance their skills in constructing good portfolios.

Key Words:  critical thinking , medical education , portfolios , problem-based learning , reflective journals , self-directed learning , student's learning

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PII: S1607-551X(08)70133-5

doi:10.1016/S1607-551X(08)70133-5

Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 7 , Pages 361-366, July 2008

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