Favorite ways to study for A&P and biology

Undone · Dec 15, 2015

Write and rewrite. Lecture the material to anyone who will listen, once you can explain it to someone else then you know you've got it, I built models out of craft supplies, I drew pictures and labeled them.

Good luck.

risenlol · Dec 15, 2015

Flash cards worked best for me. Took A&P and Microbio last semester and aced both. I took obsessive notes in class, made flash cards with questions from those notes, and reviewed for ~2hrs every night.

amber0627 · Dec 15, 2015

Thank you! I use flash cards like crazy for the classes I have done. I just wasn't sure if that was my best option still. Ill definitely be trying all of these!

Syadin · Dec 15, 2015

Anki, I made a deck for Physiology & Anatomy 100% perfect that covers each class completely (900 cards each). That's all I've done and I got A+ on everything at university so far. I'd send my decks to you, however, my class material probably differs from yours. So what I do recommend is ANKI. It'll change your life.

Anki - powerful, intelligent flashcards

Example:

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Dec 15, 2015

I only write information for comprehensive finals. I just did this for my A+P 2 comprehensive final and scored an 88% on the final and a 91% overall in the class. I made a one page (back and front) major topic review for each chapter one week before the final. I reviewed it daily. For each lecture test I reviewed the professor's class notes and made my own study guides that explained more in depth any topics that confused me ( I LOVE boundless - it's an online A+P textbook - free, googlie it) and vocab I didn't know.

I have to be able to teach it to someone else to be proficient in it so I would just talk out loud to the wall like I am teaching a class. This was my IT thing I finally figured out in order for me personally to do well. It took me 28 damn years but hey I found figured out what makes my brain tick.

I put in A LOT of study time -- my life revolved around A+P 2 this semester because of the physiology pat. I have always done well in anatomy, memorization and visual memorization is my sweet spot so I literally just review and only miss 2-3 terms per anatomy lab. I did re-write some of the anatomy terms a few times because of spelling errors. that was very helpful.

Shawn91111 · Dec 15, 2015

I use Study blue for my flash cards, I tape all the lectures and listen to them over again, even while driving. I bought the Anatomy coloring book, which helped for lab practicals

amber0627 · Dec 16, 2015

I only write information for comprehensive finals. I just did this for my A+P 2 comprehensive final and scored an 88% on the final and a 91% overall in the class. I made a one page (back and front) major topic review for each chapter one week before the final. I reviewed it daily. For each lecture test I reviewed the professor's class notes and made my own study guides that explained more in depth any topics that confused me ( I LOVE boundless - it's an online A+P textbook - free, googlie it) and vocab I didn't know.
I have to be able to teach it to someone else to be proficient in it so I would just talk out loud to the wall like I am teaching a class. This was my IT thing I finally figured out in order for me personally to do well. It took me 28 damn years but hey I found figured out what makes my brain tick.
I put in A LOT of study time -- my life revolved around A+P 2 this semester because of the physiology pat. I have always done well in anatomy, memorization and visual memorization is my sweet spot so I literally just review and only miss 2-3 terms per anatomy lab. I did re-write some of the anatomy terms a few times because of spelling errors. that was very helpful.

I'm in the same boat, 28 years old and finally getting good study habits that actually do help. Wish I knew this years ago, I had my sister that's in High school making flash cards a few months back. I'm like seriously trust me. Sounds like I need to try the teach to someone else thing. Seems to be what works for others well.

amber0627 · Dec 16, 2015

I use Study blue for my flash cards, I tape all the lectures and listen to them over again, even while driving. I bought the Anatomy coloring book, which helped for lab practicals

Of course my anatomy coloring book is in storage lol. I definitely want to record lectures if the instructor doesn't mind of course.

ac9390 · Dec 16, 2015

I just passed a biology course in which a good handful of us dropped the class and the majority either passed with barely a C or didn't pass. I made an A. Their biggest mistake was trying to memorize words, in the same way you would for a history class or a vocab test. If all you do is memorize words, then when the tests asks you the same question 6 different ways, the only way you'll know how to answer is by hopefully recognizing the sentences you've memorized. They key to not only passing but acing classes like bio is to understand the concept--if you understand the concept, then you can answer the same question worded 100 different ways and get it right every time. Once my friends asked me for help and I gave them this advice, their own grades really went up as well. I heavily utilized Youtube videos. Hearing the same concept repeated to me from 2 or 3 different youtube channels really solidified that material for me. I also was big on drawing out charts. Staying present and engaged in every single lecture is the one thing though that really boosted my grade. I developed a huge interest in biology that way, which made studying for the tests that much easier.

amber0627 · Dec 16, 2015

I just passed a biology course in which a good handful of us dropped the class and the majority either passed with barely a C or didn't pass. I made an A. Their biggest mistake was trying to memorize words, in the same way you would for a history class or a vocab test. If all you do is memorize words, then when the tests asks you the same question 6 different ways, the only way you'll know how to answer is by hopefully recognizing the sentences you've memorized. They key to not only passing but acing classes like bio is to understand the concept--if you understand the concept, then you can answer the same question worded 100 different ways and get it right every time. Once my friends asked me for help and I gave them this advice, their own grades really went up as well. I heavily utilized Youtube videos. Hearing the same concept repeated to me from 2 or 3 different youtube channels really solidified that material for me. I also was big on drawing out charts. Staying present and engaged in every single lecture is the one thing though that really boosted my grade. I developed a huge interest in biology that way, which made studying for the tests that much easier.

Only down fall with my bio class is its online. Never knew I could do it online but hoping I still get it. Youtube videos is a great idea. I will definitely be doing that!

Honey Clover · Dec 16, 2015

By myself: my professors usually give either study guides or list of topics we are supposed to know. I do the study guides thoroughly after each lecture using lecture notes, any ppt slides, handouts and occasionally the book. I add to the guide after each lecture and then I also reread it everyday. That way, I am already prepared right before any tests.

With others in groups: For A&P, I verbally repeat back all the anatomy terms and we take turns pointing them out on any models or pictures. We also quiz each other. I rarely ask people for help on theoretical topics because I feel I can understand them better when I read the book or go over lecture notes but for straight up memorizing, I take full advantage of my study groups. Occasionally my classmates ask me to explain the lecture topics and I find that my reasoning greatly improves after explaining it to them too.

As others mention, it's not all about memorizing. If you can understand the concept, you can reason your way to an A on any tests in the class.