title: Use of portfolios by medical students: significance of critical thinking.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Research and Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia. s.azer@salam.uitm.edu.my
authors.forename: Samy A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Azer
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013850:Thinking