Selected Skill Sets as Building Blocks for High School-to-Medical School Bridge: Longitudinal Study Among Undergraduate Medical Students

Background The high school–to–medical school education transition is a significant milestone in the students’ academic journey, which is characterized by multiple stressors. Although this crucial transition has been repetitively explored, the concept of proactively intervening to support this transition is still novel. Objective In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a web-based multidimensional resilience building intervention in developing selected soft skills that are believed to drive the learner’s success in any learning setting. The association between the students' academic performance over time and their proficiency in selected modules addressing skill sets, including Time Management, Memory and Study, Listening and Taking Notes, and College Transition, was also assessed to test the impact of the intervention on the students’ learning. Methods A longitudinal study was conducted on 1 cohort of students of a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery program (MBBS). The medical students were offered a learning intervention around 4 skill sets during the first year of the 6-year program. Quantitative analyses were conducted using deidentified data, relating to the students' proficiency in the 4 skill sets and to the students’ academic performance: grade point average (GPA). Descriptive analyses constituted computing an overall score of skill sets’ proficiency (of all 4 selected skill sets). The mean and SD (and percentage of the mean) were also calculated for each skill set component, independently, and for the overall score of skill sets’ proficiency. Bivariate Pearson correlations were used to assess the extent to which the academic performance of the students can be explained by the corresponding students’ level of proficiency in each skill set component and by all 4 sets together. Results Out of the 63 admitted students, 28 participated in the offered intervention. The means and SDs of the annual GPA of the students for years 1 and 2 (GPA range 1-4) were 2.83 (SD 0.74) and 2.83 (SD 0.99), respectively. The mean and SD of the cumulative GPA toward the end of year 2 was 2.92 (SD 0.70). Correlation analysis showed that the overall score of skill sets proficiency was significantly associated with the annual GPA of year 1 (r=0.44; P=.02) but was not associated with their annual GPA of year 2. The cumulative GPA (toward the end of year 2) appeared to be significantly associated with the overall score (r=0.438; P=.02). Conclusions Developing purposefully selected skill sets among medical students holds the potential of facilitating the high school–to–medical school education transition and is likely to improve their academic performance. As the medical student progresses, the acquired skills need to be continuously reinforced and effectively built upon.

Together we have a unique opportunity to partner with the common mission to ensure that the top performers in MBRU academically are more equipped with the required skills for the future jobs. This will allow them to feel more confident to conquer the private sector workplace with much more awareness about the soft skills that are required for them to succeed.
In this proposal we are offering MBRU our newest research outcome based programs-Career Success series to support MBRU at its mission to graduate skilled and top qualified youth in UAE and will be a great indicator and support for the UAE National Agenda Education towards better skilled youth.
To meet today's learner needs, they need to move through BOTH Pathways-Esp the 3 elements of Career Success: Discover, Develop, and Demonstrate. This is where our programs comes in to complement what MBRU is providing it's students to further enhance their soft skills.

College & Career Readiness
We've developed a research based Solution designed to help learners at all college stages develop the personal and social capabilities that are vital for successful 21st century employment. Accordingly to Pearson's approach for students to compete and succeed in both college and career (highlighted in the illustration below), they must be prepared for the challenges they'll face academically and on the job.
Pearson's Success Solution which is mapped to the Personal and Social Capabilities Framework (PSC)*, effectively empowers ownership, engagement, and accountability, by: • Connecting a learner's academic plan to his or her career plan • Replicating the process of choosing a major and practicing academic planning • Demonstrating student skills through Acclaim badging in GRIT™ • Increasing retention by helping students understand how they spend their time and what adjustments are needed to meet their goals • Improving the learner's performance • Revealing a metacognitive data set to correlate with other institution/school data Pearson College and Career Readiness Solutions-All rights reserved® 2018

Personal and Social Capabilities Framework:
Personal and social capabilities -also known as soft skills -are critical to employability, a key goal of most learners. Pearson developed a framework to inform the development of educational products and services aimed at bridging the gap between school and work and drive learning outcomes more precisely. Pearson's PSC Framework was created through an extensive review of existing 21st century skills frameworks, social skills, research related to employability skills, and labor market data. We identified six common categories of soft skills people need to succeed in any employment setting: •

CRI Inventory Assessment:
The program is designed to help the learner connect their academic plan to their career plan, through exploration and preparation. The Milestones in the this Learning Path put the process into logical, manageable steps for the learners to explore career options, develop career-relevant skills, and market themselves to potential employers as well as the advancement in their job.
Inventory and assessment for personal and social capabilities or " soft skills" by Dr. David T. Conley is a research-based self-diagnostic student inventory that measures/reports college and career readiness around the Four Keys framework ( Think, Know, Act, Go ). It reveals how ready learners are and what it takes to succeed.
Once learners assess their own readiness, they are able to develop these sought after Personal and Social Capabilities or "soft skills" through activities to apply and transfer what they're learning to their career.

Outcome of the Student Success Program
Our full Student Success Program will help students build academic and contextual skills. We know that Measurement Matters-and is ongoing in nature. No one is ever an "expert" in "soft skills." Each topic in the our program is organized by outcomes with peer-led video interviews, interactive practice exercises, and activities to help students master skills and build a foundation for success in academics, career, and life for a holistic profile.
Increase learners' self knowledge and help them showcase skill.
Pearson College and Career Readiness Solutions-All rights reserved® 2018

GRIT assessment to assess and grow their GRIT
The GRIT Gauge pre-and post-assessment, by Dr. Paul G. Stoltz, found in the Self-Discovery milestone, is the only validated assessment that measures and reports all facets of GRIT-Growth, Resilience, Instinct, Tenacity, and Robustness. Learners earn a digital credential or badge as evidence of their GRIT mindset. Assignments offer application for this framework and assessment. GRITTY Assignments offer application for this assessment throughout, helping students grow or build their GRIT through journaling, goal setting, and GRIT-specific actions with the ability to earn Acclaim digital credentials in GRIT .
Career Success program which includes GRIT™** and mindset activities that strengthen the learner's ability to reach goals; strategic LinkedIn profile development and networking activities; strategic LinkedIn profile development and networking activities; and support through the embedded coaching sessions.
Pearson College and Career Readiness Solutions-All rights reserved® 2018

Outcome of the Career Success Program
Career Success Program helps learners' discover, develop, and demonstrate (the "3 Ds") their best professional selves to get their targeted job, all while internalizing a process for ongoing personal and professional development that lasts beyond college.
The Nine Milestones in the Learning Path help them discover who they are and how that translates to their academic and career plan, develop transferable skills, and demonstrate their value to potential internships/employers.
Throughout the milestones, they actualize on the 3 Ds through GRIT™ mindset activities and digital credentials that strengthen students' ability to persist in reaching goals; strategic LinkedIn profile development and networking activities; and career exploration through Labor Market Insight data on jobs.

Upon completion of the program, students will earn Digital badges unlocking the global job economy (shareable on Linkedin)
Once the milestone assets are accomplished and the learner has demonstrated the skills mastery. Acclaim provides badges from the respected skill whose recognition gets the learners noticed and rewarded. They can easily share their achievements to popular online destinations, and employers can instantly verify their skills.
Sharing badges is quick, easy and enhances their professional presence online. They can create a custom message and let everyone know why their accomplishment is important. Anyone who clicks on a shared badge will be able to view all the details on Acclaim for instant verification.

Student level-Individualized reports
Not only they get benchmarked scores, but they get advice on how to improve and development plan and advice.

Student Advisor/ Career Coach Level-Measure student outcomes-Gradebook Capabilities
MyLab analyzes their results to provide personalized homework assignments focused on just the objectives they have not yet mastered. The gradebook allows you to track student performance as it corresponds to the learning outcomes for the course. Using Item Analysis, you're able to track class-wide understanding of particular objectives, so you can refine your program accordingly. With a few clicks, you can send personal feedback on a job well done or intervene for struggling students. Just-in-time teaching has never been easier.

Administrative and institutional Level-Advanced Reporting Dashboard
View, analyze, and report learning outcomes clearly and easily, MBRU can get the information they need to keep their students on track throughout the course, with the new Reporting Dashboard in MyLab from Pearson. Available via the Gradebook and fully mobile-ready, The Reporting Dashboard will allow educators to see what's working, as well as where they may need to change gears. Data on student performance by assignment, as well as student progression in the course overall, allows instructors to track students' understanding, and intervene when necessary to lend a helping hand.
With just a few clicks, the Reporting Dashboard's fine-grain reports will allow administrators to compare performance across different courses, across individual sections of the same course, and within each course.
Five types of visual reports are included in this release: • The Overall Score Average and Distribution report • The Assignment Average Score and Time Spent report • The Assignment Score Distribution report • The Mastery report • Item analysis