Analysis of Study Logs in an Anatomy Learning Skills Course

At Indiana University, MSCI M100: Improving Learning Skills in Anatomy is a 1‐credit hour course which supplements Anatomy A215: Basic Human Anatomy. MSCI M100 was developed in 2010 to help Anat A215 students by teaching them effective approaches to learning anatomy and becoming better regulators of their learning process. While time management is one component of regulation of learning many Anat A215 students utilize their study time inefficiently, as evidenced by the author. One MSCI M100 assignment is the study log (adapted from Classroom Assessment Techniques). Students complete a daily study log, three days prior to each of the four Anat A215 exams. Students record when and where they study, and rate their productivity during that time on a scale ranging from one to four (1=not productive, 4=very productive). Analysis of the study logs was performed to see if students’ time management changed while enrolled in MSCI M100. Preliminary results indicate there is an improvement in students’ time management between studying for the first and second Anat A215 exams. Specifically, 2 nd exam study logs showed students studied, fewer hours overall (p<.000), but logged significantly more productive hours (p<.000). Student feedback (via weekly blogs for M100) indicates study logs raised student awareness of how they utilize their time. These results also support the efficacy of MSCI M100 in improving student learning skills. Grant Funding Source : NA