Flashcard suggestions for A&P class

[MacMaster]

Hi. I am taking a prereq course (Anatomy and Physiology) soon and was hoping to get a jump start on studying and assist my notetaking once the class begins. I figure A&P must be a class where there are already some really good flash cards out there so that I do not waste a lot of time writing flashcards, but spend more time studying/memorizing them. Plus, my artistic skills aren't that great, thus, I figure I will better understand the pre-made flashcards than my own diagrams!

Any suggestions re names of publishing co, names of cards (I assume Anatomay or Anatomy & Physiology) and where you found them (amazon.com, or wherever) would be greatly appreciated. :)

If you have other tips, or think I am way off base on my flashcard theory for this course, please let me know that too!

Thanks!

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

We had lists of vocabulary words for each chapter.

I typed up each word and left several blank lines between each one and printed out the page(s). I also saved the file as "Chapter __ Vocab Words" on my computer.

When I was reading the chapter the first time (BEFORE lecture... VERY HELPFUL to understand the lecture if you already have the basics down, or at least you know what you really need to ask questions about in class!), I would pencil in the definition of the vocab word and any relevant information. (Fortunately, our vocab words on the list were in the same order that we encountered them in the chapter, but this would work even if they were randomly ordered.)

After that, I would type up my handwritten definitions and save the file.

In class, I would make notes on whatever the instructor really seemed to emphasize -- those are the things they are most likely to test you on.

After class, I would go back to my Vocab Words file and insert notes from lecture into the appropriate space. Instead of just a definition of a , I would add where it's found, what it does, what it's dependent upon, what's dependent upon it, etc. -- just anything relevant to that body system that will help me remember the item AND the context. And in the process of inserting this info, I was also skimming the original vocab definitions yet again, so that I could find the appropriate spot to add the new info.

I would also look at my chapter reading again after lecture, now that I had a deeper understanding of it, and add in any more details that I may have left out from the first reading and/or lecture information.

By the end of all this writing and typing, you probably won't need to actually "study" it much, because you've already drilled it into your brain multiple times:

1. Type up words only

2. Read chapter

3. Handwrite definitions from chapter reading

4. Type up definitions from chapter reading

5. Handwrite notes during lecture

6. Type up notes from lecture and insert into appropriate section of chapter notes

7. Read chapter a second time

8. Type up additional notes from second chapter reading

Without even "studying", you've gone over the information at least a half-dozen times, using several different modalities (reading, hand-writing, typing) for building the "memory pathway" in your brain.

Thanks to modest amounts of extra credit, I got an A+ in both Anatomy and Physiology without ever even needing a flashcard.

[coupb8222]

Make your own cards!

You learn so much. I would buy cardstock 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper so they were firm.

I would then copy pictures of bones, tissues, diagrams, definitions and everything!

Then I punched a hole in the end and then put them on a binder clip.

I then could look back at the flashcards for finals, as our finals were comprehensive.

Also this works well with group study...for quizzing.

[Dublin37]

I used flashcards all the time, and I've still got a bunch of them. And I agree with some of them above, that part of the learning actually takes place in the making of them. But if you don't want to make myriads of them, I also used a flash card site. I paid $20.00 to use for life, so that my kids could also use it. You can do for free, but it was more limited. Also, one of my fave things about it, was that you could use other peoples flashcards too, so you don't need to make them if someone else already has. Also, they had a study on line with them if you don't want to print them. Since allnurses doesn't like us to advertise/promote, you can private message me, I would happy to give you the link.

P.S. I don't work for the site or anything. I know I sound like I'm advertising, but I'm not!

[LoLa.M]

Hey there!

I used netters anatomy flashcard (i got em from B&N's for about $30)

Im not sure if your anatomy class has 'models' they test on but mine did so I would take pics of the models and pasted them to 3x5's to make my own. It helped

[uzid]

I understand that you are looking for flash cards, but let me share with you my anatomy savior. Color Atlas of Anatomy - A Photographic Study of the Human Body by Rohen, Yokochi, and Lutjen-Drecoll 6th edition. This book is tops. No it does not have the ease and portability of flash cards, but it gives you the highest quality photographs of fresh dissected bodies you will find. To me, this book is a must have for anyone considering the field of medicine. For every artistic anatomical animation in your text book, this offers you 4-5 REAL pictures. Though it is still no replacement for a real cadaver and a good professor, its about as good as it gets. Not to mention it is one of the best book purchases I have ever made in my life. I found mine for $20 online. God bless the world wide web.

Don't take my word for it look for yourself! ISBN: 0-7817-9013-1

[European]

OMG flashcards are so over. Spend your money more wisely on a human anatomy atlas so you can have a clearer idea of the anatomical structures that are shown more in detail in these books. But the most important process is slowly learning the material and be confident that if you stick with it no matter how hard it seems initially it will sink in with time. Take the bones as an example. I followed this structure;

1 week before the practical day 1 learned all skull bones, day 2 learned torso and repeat skull, day three learn upper limbs and repeat torso and skull, day 4 learned lower limbs and repeat upper limbs, torso and skull day 5 repeat everything day 6 repeat again day 7 ace the practical lol.

Good luck.

[SingDanceRunLife]

OMG flashcards are so over. Spend your money more wisely on a human anatomy atlas so you can have a clearer idea of the anatomical structures that are shown more in detail in these books. But the most important process is slowly learning the material and be confident that if you stick with it no matter how hard it seems initially it will sink in with time. Take the bones as an example. I followed this structure;

1 week before the practical day 1 learned all skull bones, day 2 learned torso and repeat skull, day three learn upper limbs and repeat torso and skull, day 4 learned lower limbs and repeat upper limbs, torso and skull day 5 repeat everything day 6 repeat again day 7 ace the practical lol.

Good luck.

Different strokes for different folks!

I found the atlas to be almost useless. If it weren't for my flashcards, I doubt I would have passed!

[European]

Well I got an A following this method but as you said different strokes for different folks, I like that.

[SunnyRose]

I never used the flashcards I bought, mainly because the text and pictures were too small. Flashcards can tend to take things out of context and I like to be able to see the "big picture."

Before you do anything, look at your A&P textbook to see if the publisher has a code to access online resources. Many publishers will put the full text of their books online-including tables and diagrams-that you can print out and mark up. There will usually be some interactive labeling and quiz material online, too. I found this to be the best way for me to study, because I was using the same book I was reading from and that my instructor was drawing from for the tests.

Also, you might want to consider a digital recorder. (ask the instructor's permission first.) A&P lectures go by VERY fast, and just listening to the lecture again later on and filling in gaps in your notes is very helpful. You'll want to review the previous lecture's notes the next day to really solidify the info in your mind.

You can google "A&P" + whatever you are studing to get results for diagrams, pics of models, etc. Here is a very helpful link I used: http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/iphy3415/models/index.html

Good luck with your studies!

[danik78]

i love flash cards. with all the terms you'll be learning in a&p, you won't have time to make your own! i found flash cards at Borders that you can color in. they are awesome. i'm not very artistic either but i can handle staying in the lines! they are called "barrons anatomy flash cards." they are broken down into all the different body systems, etc...really helpful. good luck!

[JenforRN]

If you do choose flash cards, make sure they are grouped by body system, not body region. The Netter's are by body region so every system you study you have to take time to pick out the cards yourself. However, they are the most detailed flash cards I've seen. =)

[1stronglady]

flashcards are great for terms, but the A&P atlas (basically a coloring book) was more helpful to me. I also found that recording classes (esp once I got into actual nursing classes) was very helpful. I listened to them anytime I was in the car, or with headphones while my family watched TV. Also helpful to take notes from them at home, like you do in class. The more times you go over the info, the more it will sink in