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5 Notetaking Styles I Use (Photos Included)
In this post, I will briefly talk about the notetaking styles I use and show examples. Note (ha, pun intended) that I am in medicine, specifically in pathology residency. We study materials that are heavy in text details (hello, molecular markers) but that are also picture-heavy (all those gross and microscopic images of disease entities!). The styles depend on the reference text, primarily, and the amount of time I have.
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9 Best Notetaking Apps for a Medical Resident
Some people prefer to have all their notes on one app, hence the need for a "second brain". However, I have found that each app has its particular strengths and weaknesses, and I believe I can work better if I tailor my use of the app according to its capabilities. In this article, I talk about the 9 best notetaking apps that I have tried and that have helped me study in residency.
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Best References for Core Rotations in Anatomical Pathology
In the initial months of my training, I was endlessly strategizing how to balance reading and looking at glass slides. I was trying different references and various study styles, including flash cards and mind maps. After three core rotations in subspecialty pathology this academic year, I have come up with a list of the references (books and websites) that have helped me maximize my learning.
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2023 Digital Planners for Sale!
I have designed a weekly and daily digital planner for 2023, complete with functional and intuitive hyperlinks. It is minimalist, customizable, and can help you be more productive.
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Studying Effectively, Part 3: Memory and Tests
In this post, we look at the types of memory, interleaving when studying, as well as some preventable pitfalls that assure us we're learning when we're not. In the end, we conclude with testing tips and how to apply everything that we have learned in real life.
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Studying Effectively, Part 2 – Never Later
cleaning, cooking, reading, and doing everything except the one thing that you're supposed to be doing (yes, that is studying!), then you are not alone.
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Studying Effectively, Part 1: Chunk the Chunks
When a subject feels overwhelming, it is helpful to break it down into learning chunks. Chunks are the building blocks of later and advanced studies and helps the brain become more efficient by organizing data.
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Reading Scientific Papers in Pathology
By reading current and relevant scientific papers, I not only deepen my understanding of topics in my present rotation—I also familiarize myself with possible existing research questions, thereby allowing me to generate my own hypothesis for a project.
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The Best Notebook for Notetaking
Whenever I browse a bookstore, office supplies or even a dollar store, I cannot help but gravitate towards where notebooks are. Smyth-sewn, spiral; softbound, leatherbound, hardbound—I flip through the pages and run my fingers over the paper, feeling its smoothness and its weight. Will my pen bleed through? Will the paper survive the pressure of my handwriting, supposedly an indication of my forceful personality? I also look at the guides: are the edges perforated, are the lines subtle or obvious, will my variety of handwriting fit in the spaces?