Aim. To present and analyze the experience carried out in a subject of the first year of Medicine Degree to address training skills in documentation, scientific method and medical humanism. Subjects and methods. The participants were 151 students distributed in groups of 5-6 to perform the proposed assignments in form of seminars and problem based learning (PBL), using, among other materials, short literary texts and images of paintings whose analysis and discussion were presented orally. Practical lessons introduced the students to the search and evaluation of information. An essay and lectures complete the methods used. All materials used were available in the virtual campus. Results. Attendance at workshops, seminars and PBL sessions was close to 100% and 67% for lecture sessions. The students expressed intellectual interest on the tasks performed. The method showed high student involvement in the process of self-learning, ability of self-regulation at work, degree of concept acquisition and ability to draw up documents. The adequacy of the contents to the objectives has been considered suitable by more than 70% of the students. The acquisition of competences was favorable in 80% of cases. Conclusions. The characteristics of the subject might be useful to promote scientific inquiry and medical humanism among students. Literature and description of paintings might help to identify aspects of medical act, as well as to develop the observation of physical and behavioral characteristics in patients.