The Study Place - Effective review, at your own time, own pace, here at the Study Place! 1. What is the STUDY PLACE? Originally organised in 2001 as a study group in preparation for the Philippine Dentists Licensure Examinations (DLE), the "Study Place" is better remembered by its former review participants as that small student pad at the UP Diliman campus where members regularly go to for group study. At the onset members met at coffee shops and home residences agreed upon by members. The "Study Place" later became the more permanent venue for lectures and tutorials, exchange of revision notes, and conduct of mock examinations. With the regular collective effort of answering more than 5000 multiple choice questions at least six months before the board examinations and later on working on clinical exercises with manikin simulators at least a month before the exam, our members have not only passed but also topped the board examinations beginning 2002. 2. Who administers the review? Observing the limitations and difficulty of a 1:50 teacher to student ratio during his own board exam preparations, Dr. Garret Robles labored on the idea of forming study groups from among his review center classmates from UE, CEU, MCU and Fatima and co-alumni from UP. Within these two study groups, limited to at most 4-6 members, he exchanged references and jointly solved past PRC board examination questions at each member's residence or preferred "study place". Armed with years of prime undergraduate dental education at the University of the Philippines; close mentoring from his first employer and inspiration from caring school faculty, who were all board top placers themselves; use of high-yield review references handed down from senior-alumni friends who topped the board exams the year before; and most importantly, through the support and prayers of his family and church community, Dr. Robles ranked 1st in the Dental Board Examinations in 2001. All review preparation courses currently offered at the Study Place are personally supervised by Dr. Robles himself. 3. Who were the first members of the Study Place? The first members of the "Study Place" were Dr. Robles' former undergraduate students. Alumni from various schools sought membership in the theoretical and practical review preparations the years that followed through the kind referral of former participants satisfied with their own board exam results. Now on its 11th year, the Study Place, already has a roster of TOPNOTCH finishers - with at least two 1st placers, three 2nd placers, a 3rd placer, a very recent 4th placer last December 2012, three 6th placers, and three 7th placers from various dental colleges and universities in Manila, Baguio and Cebu; and have been part of successful preparations of graduates from Iloilo, Batangas, Bicol, and the Mindanao. A good number of Filipinos working abroad as dental assistants and technologists, who could not come home except for the duration of the board examinations, likewise reviewed at the Study Place and did well on their exams. Some members after passing the local exams also took and passed dental qualification exams abroad. Through constant encouragement and the right review references provided each participant, the Study Place has also assisted a number dental graduates who needed to re-take the board exams and are now enjoying their respective dental careers, specializations, and business endeavors both in the Philippines and overseas. 4. How is the review conducted? One-teacher-to-one-student tutorials and computer-assisted instruction remain core to The Study Place dental board exam preparations, in addition to Dr. Robles' personal advocacy to help as much dental graduates successfully pass the board exams and encourage EXCELLENT dental practice in the Philippines. In 2010 The Study Place began theoretical exam preparations ONLINE --- another FIRST in the conduct of board exam review in the Philippines. Having spearheaded this method of review, on-line teaching and learning for the Philippine dental boards will more likely become common practice in the future, not just for first time board exam applicants but also for those intending to resit in examinations. The Study Place continues to aspire and stays focused at reinventing itself, providing innovative and effective means of reviewing. After many years of purely on-site review, the STUDY PLACE has now evolved into an ONLINE STUDY GROUP for mixed learning utilizing web-based review resources and popular internet social media such as Skype, Facebook and Google Apps. 5. Who can become members for the online tutorials? Our November 2013 DLE preparation course offer access to downloadable lectures, personal tutorial, an online resource library, and a rich database of practice examinations. Online review packages abroad provide a database of multiple choice, matching type or short answer questions requiring independent study. The Study Place differs by allocating each member a one-teacher-to-one-student tutor support. Participants avail individual tutorial hours on top of membership benefits that almost come essentially free. Any dental graduate from Manila and in the regions planning to sit in the November 2013 and May 2014 Dentists Licensure Examination (DLE) may apply for membership. This internet based review is ideal for Filipinos working overseas, and for those who live far from Manila. Online tutorials are also very timely for those who have already completed the compulsory school-based refresher course (as required by RA 9484) but still has yet to pass the board exams. The Study Place hopes to be every dental graduate's independent review provider and personal tutor, complementing school-based review attendance. "Online Review" however may not be the cup of tea for most board exam applicants. Our online revision require focus, self determination, and a level of maturity to cope with the many distractions that may set personal study time off-track. The Study Place addresses this concern through close monitoring of each member's review progress though regular assessments and one-teacher-to-one-student tutor support, with the same intensity and commitment as we have given our earlier "on-site" programs. 6. When is the start of review? Membership application is open in preparation for the November 2013 Exams. Preparations start 15 May until 27 October. Membership is limited to maintain the quality of services we provide. Thank you for your interest in our program. We sincerely wish you all the best in the exams. The Study Place is the training arm of The Garret L. Robles, DMD Oral Health Services, Training and Consultancy. It is an independent board review provider, not in any way affiliated with the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission Board of Dentistry, Commission on Higher Education, nor any degree granting institution of higher learning in the Philippines. The Study Place has no affiliates, branches, nor tie-up with any other review center in the Philippines. The Study Place is duly registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Business Name Reg. No. 00523572, Tax ID No. 222-729-245-000 |
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