organizing notes for digestive system?

[tbjockny]

We're starting the digestive system and I was wondering how you guys organized your notes? I find the larger concepts easy to understand, it's just remembering all of the small details like specific enyzmes and such.

My professor is very big on picking out the most obscure details from the book for lecture and linking concepts from previous chapters, which is great since I feel like I understand it better however I feel like this chapter is pretty dense with information.

Any tips on grouping things, any mnemonics, analogies, etc? I actually haven't found the internet helpful at all for this chapter.

I've managed 90,87 on my two lectures so far so want to keep it up! If it helps he was a biology major.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

have you considered concept mapping? That would link the topics. Another idea is to list the hormones and enzymes, and then what they do. Some "turn on" and others "turn off" a protein. What is the outcome to be expected?

[tbjockny]

That's a great idea, I had not thought of that. Thank you!

[nonnocere1988]

I drew the abd and divided each disorder into each quadrant, including other s/s. I then copied it and hung it everywhere. I placed Cullen's sign, etc., on the abd. It's like a map of GI patho.

[Tinker88]

You could make a concept map or outline. Start with organs and then branch from there. You can add enzymes, diseases, common procedures, and whatever you need. I would organize notes by color! Just make one that makes sense to you because you will study it! Google some examples.

BTW...have you tried Evernote? I love it! you could type notes and look on any device where you have the app! That's what I am using! I type notes, take pictures and text from textbooks and I use online info!

[ready4nu]

This is not a specific tip for studying GI, however, I have found that a package of index cards and a roll of scotch tape are two things I can't live without. I make little lists, notes, sometimes drawings and tape them up around my house where I will see them often. When I am trying to recall info, I remember Aha! That card was hanging here, and it said this! I list things in specific order (alphabetically, etc) so that it makes sense to me, I color the terms with colored pencils because I am a visual learner, and will recall which term was shaded pink or orange, and what it was all about.

Maybe enzymes that work in the same ways could have the same colors? I remember in micro I would color anything I would consider hot with red, cool with blue. If it caused dysentery, I colored it brown...LOL.

Something I did toward the end of last semester which worked great for me, was to buy a spiral book of index cards and use it for content for each exam, body system, etc. I kept it near me, and could flip through quickly and could just grab it and go. Better for me than the loose cards which would sometimes scatter or get mixed with others.

Mnemonics are great, often if you make up your own it will mean something to you and be easier to remember. Use friends names, pets, make connections with certain people, things.

In all topics covered in my classes, it all comes down to what the nurse would do...I often lump diseases, and so on by interventions.

I like the whole idea of the enzymes turning on or off proteins, sounds like a good way to memorize.

Also need to check out Evernote.