4 answers
Gwen
Student
Jefferson, NJ
10
Questions
Updated
705 views
What classes made absorbing the material from Anatomy/Physiology classes easier for you?
I've taken both Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 last year. However my grade for 2 was passing but low. I'm planning to retake but I'm wondering if other classes might help me better grasp the material. It's a lot to take in and understand in a short amount of time. At my community college, there are no required prereqs for these classes but I've often heard other schools do have them. I'm curious to know if taking general biology for example would benefit me, or are there any good test taking strategy classes/websites or should I look into? #college #science
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4 answers
Gurpreet Lally
CareerVillage.org TeamSr. Community Manager at CareerVillage
86
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Gurpreet’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
Hi Gwen,
Over the years, I've had to take quite a few classes that were heavy on the memorization and there were a few things that really helped me ace them.
1. Take notes as you read the textbook! It's easy to start reading a paragraph and get to the end of it just to realize that you don't remember a single word you read. By taking notes, you are forced to pay attention and it will help you remember the material better.
2. Watch YouTube videos on the topic! John and Hank Green run an amazing channel (Crash Course) that has educational videos on a wide array of subjects, including anatomy. Before any big test, I would review my notes but also watch their videos to make sure I was understanding things correctly. Not only does it help but it's also a nice break from rereading your notes over and over again.
3. Start reviewing early! The more times you expose your brain to the material, the more likely it is to remember it. I would suggest you start studying a week prior to a big test
4. Teach it to someone else! One of the most interesting study tips I ever received was from a professor who said that the best way to know if you truly understand something is to explain it to someone else. If you can properly teach or explain something, that's a good indicator that you REALLY get it. After reviewing the notes, rewatching lectures, and doing the normal study stuff, I would get together with a study buddy and we would try to "teach" each other the material and correct each other if something was wrong. It was a great way to learn material!
I hope this information helps and I wish you the best of luck in the class!
the crash course link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOAKed_MxxWBNaPno5h3Zs8
Over the years, I've had to take quite a few classes that were heavy on the memorization and there were a few things that really helped me ace them.
1. Take notes as you read the textbook! It's easy to start reading a paragraph and get to the end of it just to realize that you don't remember a single word you read. By taking notes, you are forced to pay attention and it will help you remember the material better.
2. Watch YouTube videos on the topic! John and Hank Green run an amazing channel (Crash Course) that has educational videos on a wide array of subjects, including anatomy. Before any big test, I would review my notes but also watch their videos to make sure I was understanding things correctly. Not only does it help but it's also a nice break from rereading your notes over and over again.
3. Start reviewing early! The more times you expose your brain to the material, the more likely it is to remember it. I would suggest you start studying a week prior to a big test
4. Teach it to someone else! One of the most interesting study tips I ever received was from a professor who said that the best way to know if you truly understand something is to explain it to someone else. If you can properly teach or explain something, that's a good indicator that you REALLY get it. After reviewing the notes, rewatching lectures, and doing the normal study stuff, I would get together with a study buddy and we would try to "teach" each other the material and correct each other if something was wrong. It was a great way to learn material!
I hope this information helps and I wish you the best of luck in the class!
Gurpreet, CareerVillage.org Team recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for the wonderful advice and thank you for the link!
Gwen
Henrieta White DC
Chiropractor
4
Answers
Columbus, Ohio
Updated
Henrieta’s Answer
I used the following: Quizlet, Brainscape, and purposegames.com.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Quizlet and Brainscape are helpful for memorizing basic facts such as muscle origins and insertions.
However, I recommend using the "local/specific" method of memorization, such as the use of notecards, AFTER "globally" studying via review of information while looking at anatomy images or apps like 3D4 medical. This allows thorough comprehension rather than blunt memorization. Eventually, things begin to make sense and you can deduce the answer rather than memorizing and regurgitating facts.
- I would begin by reviewing my anatomy charts while viewing each structure at the same time so that the information began to make sense (think, structure = function, and function = structure).
- Then I would make a blank chart to fill out by memory in black ink.
- I would then review what I had accomplished and make corrections or fill in the blanks I did not recall with red ink.
That way I could visualize where my knowledge was lacking and I needed more work. I feel this is beneficial since it can save you time and energy. We often review everything over and over without realizing the areas we truly need to work on.
- Then once I was able to fill the charts out at least 90% in black ink (from memory), I would begin practicing with notecards.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Purposegames is good for practicing the identification of parts of anatomy because you can create games or use ones created by others that have an anatomical image and you match terms to the correct location. For example, parts of bones, muscles in a region, etc.
This can also be used for physiological processes. For example, matching the correct order of steps in the kidneys for the creation of urea or the steps of blood flow through the heart.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I often created my own images by hand that I numbered and created a key for. For me, the physical act of drawing a structure or a process allowed the information to be engrained and increased my long-term recollection of information. The use of multiple senses is often beneficial for any type of learner.
I realized changing my methods of studying behooved me by making studying more interesting and dare I say "fun".
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
At the end of the day, time and concentration are key. Rid yourself of unnecessary distractions and devote A LOT of time to the information. Think specifically and broadly. Think of the bigger picture and the details that make it so. Eventually, the specifics make sense if you truly understand the entire process or motion and vice versa.
For example, think of a body movement... what needs to happen for that movement to occur? What muscles need to contract? In order for that movement to occur, where would the contracting muscle need to begin and end?... In turn, If a muscle begins here (origin) and ends here (insertion)... then contracts.. what movement would happen as a result?
Find the differences. What is the outlier or what does not fit the norm? For example, a muscle group that are all innervated by the same nerve, EXCEPT one. These tend to be test questions in my experience.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When you start to feel comfortable with the information, try teaching someone else. This could be a classmate or friend. When I was desperate and didn't have a roommate or peer around I would even call my mother or grandmother.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Especially for physiology, try watching videos online or utilizing other schools' resources when applicable. A lot of large universities have sources available to the public.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When taking the test: slow down, calm down, think critically rather than relying on memorization. As a tutor, I noticed students often panicked when they didn't remember the answer right away and would randomly choose an answer. When reviewing their tests I would have them think more critically about the question and they would realize if they considered each option individually, half would not make sense (muscle in a different region or hormone from a different structure/process). Use deduction strategies to limit the number of possible answers and increase the likelihood of choosing the correct answer, if you do have to make an educated guess.
Remain calm. If the first few questions are difficult, do not allow this to upset you and affect your ability to proceed with the test.
Let me reiterate... SLOW DOWN. You don't (usually, I can't speak for all schools) receive more points for being the first student done with the test. Review your answers, check your scantron, and don't worry if you're the last person in the exam room. That test is YOURS until the teacher says time and collects your answers. This is your test and your time. Do not forget that or allow pride to stand in your way of succeeding. There is no shame in taking the full amount of time allotted.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Quizlet and Brainscape are helpful for memorizing basic facts such as muscle origins and insertions.
However, I recommend using the "local/specific" method of memorization, such as the use of notecards, AFTER "globally" studying via review of information while looking at anatomy images or apps like 3D4 medical. This allows thorough comprehension rather than blunt memorization. Eventually, things begin to make sense and you can deduce the answer rather than memorizing and regurgitating facts.
- I would begin by reviewing my anatomy charts while viewing each structure at the same time so that the information began to make sense (think, structure = function, and function = structure).
- Then I would make a blank chart to fill out by memory in black ink.
- I would then review what I had accomplished and make corrections or fill in the blanks I did not recall with red ink.
That way I could visualize where my knowledge was lacking and I needed more work. I feel this is beneficial since it can save you time and energy. We often review everything over and over without realizing the areas we truly need to work on.
- Then once I was able to fill the charts out at least 90% in black ink (from memory), I would begin practicing with notecards.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Purposegames is good for practicing the identification of parts of anatomy because you can create games or use ones created by others that have an anatomical image and you match terms to the correct location. For example, parts of bones, muscles in a region, etc.
This can also be used for physiological processes. For example, matching the correct order of steps in the kidneys for the creation of urea or the steps of blood flow through the heart.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I often created my own images by hand that I numbered and created a key for. For me, the physical act of drawing a structure or a process allowed the information to be engrained and increased my long-term recollection of information. The use of multiple senses is often beneficial for any type of learner.
I realized changing my methods of studying behooved me by making studying more interesting and dare I say "fun".
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
At the end of the day, time and concentration are key. Rid yourself of unnecessary distractions and devote A LOT of time to the information. Think specifically and broadly. Think of the bigger picture and the details that make it so. Eventually, the specifics make sense if you truly understand the entire process or motion and vice versa.
For example, think of a body movement... what needs to happen for that movement to occur? What muscles need to contract? In order for that movement to occur, where would the contracting muscle need to begin and end?... In turn, If a muscle begins here (origin) and ends here (insertion)... then contracts.. what movement would happen as a result?
Find the differences. What is the outlier or what does not fit the norm? For example, a muscle group that are all innervated by the same nerve, EXCEPT one. These tend to be test questions in my experience.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When you start to feel comfortable with the information, try teaching someone else. This could be a classmate or friend. When I was desperate and didn't have a roommate or peer around I would even call my mother or grandmother.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Especially for physiology, try watching videos online or utilizing other schools' resources when applicable. A lot of large universities have sources available to the public.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When taking the test: slow down, calm down, think critically rather than relying on memorization. As a tutor, I noticed students often panicked when they didn't remember the answer right away and would randomly choose an answer. When reviewing their tests I would have them think more critically about the question and they would realize if they considered each option individually, half would not make sense (muscle in a different region or hormone from a different structure/process). Use deduction strategies to limit the number of possible answers and increase the likelihood of choosing the correct answer, if you do have to make an educated guess.
Remain calm. If the first few questions are difficult, do not allow this to upset you and affect your ability to proceed with the test.
Let me reiterate... SLOW DOWN. You don't (usually, I can't speak for all schools) receive more points for being the first student done with the test. Review your answers, check your scantron, and don't worry if you're the last person in the exam room. That test is YOURS until the teacher says time and collects your answers. This is your test and your time. Do not forget that or allow pride to stand in your way of succeeding. There is no shame in taking the full amount of time allotted.
You are incredible thank you for your detailed reply
Gwen
Francis Z
Scientist
3
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Francis’s Answer
If you’re planning on retaking the classes, then suck it up and start reviewing the information now by studying on your own.
Since you’re smart enough to recognize that you could do better, then you can overcome this challenge. Forced memorization stinks but it works.
Since you’re smart enough to recognize that you could do better, then you can overcome this challenge. Forced memorization stinks but it works.
Hi Francis, you pointed to memoization as the key to learning the material but how would a student go about remembering such dense material? Any insight you have on study/memorization tips would be helpful.
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Dr Ezat Luba Yomtovian
Veterinarian
9
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Dr Ezat Luba’s Answer
I made drawings and color coded everything: eg extensor muscle groups vs flexor muscle groups, and their associated nerves
Those coloring books are also super useful.
Really the best is to just keep looking at those pictures in as many different ways as possible so you start dreaming about them and you can just spit it all out on an exam with confidence.
Hope this helps!
Those coloring books are also super useful.
Really the best is to just keep looking at those pictures in as many different ways as possible so you start dreaming about them and you can just spit it all out on an exam with confidence.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for your advice!
Gwen