Medical licensing exams are difficult, and they are packed with content that takes years of education to understand. For some students, simply listening to lectures and reading textbooks is not enough to help them reach the level of comprehension they need to succeed. That’s why using video to reinforce ideas while studying for your medical exam is so very beneficial.
How Popular is Video in the Classroom?
Across all grade levels – from kindergarten all the way through medical school – teachers and professors utilize video as a powerful learning tool. In fact, research shows that some 94% of all teachers have effectively used videos during any given academic year and found it effective. Some believe it is even more effective than traditional learning via textbooks and lectures, too.
Reasons to Consider Using Video as a Medical Exam Study Aid
The reasons to use video as a study aid while preparing for your medical exams are many, but you can find some of the most important ones below.
- Video triggers the visual processing center in your brain. Though the human brain is certainly capable of absorbing the information we read and hear, it is far better equipped to learn by processing information (other than just words) that we see with our eyes. It’s faster than reading, and our brains retain the information we learn through video for a longer period, too.
- Video is powerful self-study. Reading words in a textbook or answering multiple-choice questions is a great way to reinforce your knowledge, but when it comes to learning in the first place, visual learning is best. That makes video a powerful means of self-study and by far the best way to learn new things.
- Videos offer context. Textbooks often attempt to put things into context, but when it comes to complicated diseases or pharmaceutical contraindications, context can be hard to understand. In a video, it is possible to combine demonstrations and information in such a way that the context becomes clear.
- Videos are like illustrations, but better. Finally, if you rely on illustrations in books to help you better understand concepts, you will find video to be one of your most relied-upon tools. There is no better way to illustrate than with a moving picture.
Video and Critical Thinking
Finally, it is important to note that video is one of the most powerful ways to promote critical thinking in both children and adults. The connection between visual cues, the processes of forming memories, and the ability to recall new knowledge is very strong, and above all else, it gives students the ability to learn how to think critically and infer outcomes. Over time, students who use video to learn more about medical topics come to understand those topics more thoroughly – and able to recall them more quickly and accurately – than students who did not use video.
As you can see, video is a powerful tool in any medical student’s arsenal, and it’s one that can help students who might otherwise struggle with comprehension, context, and recollection succeed. Whether you watch documentaries, videos that come along with your medical school courses, or even YouTube videos from reputable sources, you are sure to find videos a great addition to your study sessions.