A&P Notes. What's your method?

Griffin123 · Jan 14, 2012

I am feeling overwhelmed with A&P at this point and need to figure out an effective method for taking notes.
What I've been doing so far is to scribble as many notes during class as I can, then go home to study/review and rewrite the notes. What I've ended up with is a notebook that is a mish-mash of lecture notes and my re-written notes. It's not pretty or organized.
There has to be a more effective way.
I considered typing my notes but I kinda like the idea of being able to throw a notebook into my bag and study while waiting on my kids, etc.
Should I rewrite in a separate binder? Type them? Use note cards?
I'd love to hear some ideas of good ways to take and manage A&P notes. I really need to feel organized and this is stressing me out. (Get a grip, right?? LOL)
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

I'd say it depends on the teaching style of your instructor. In either event, simply takes notes as you normally would. If she is the type of instructor that gives you a study guide I would take every topic on that guide and make many many flash cards. If she does not give you a study guide prior to the test I would take every fact that you wrote down (and everyone in the book) and turn them into flash cards.

I've had both types of instructors. I know everyone has a different learning style but for me flashcards work miracles.

CAPPYBARA BREAKFAST · Jan 14, 2012

when i took a&p, i would read the material in the textbook first, then i would take notes from that. that way when i arrived to class for lecture, i would be familiar with the material. once my instructor started the lecture, i could focus on the specific material she covered. i would go back to my textbook notes and highlight to parts that coincided with my lecture notes.

also, make copies of the different organs and systems of the body and laminate them. the go back with a dry erase marker and practice labeling different parts.

with a&p it is very important to understand the material. do not try to memorize it!!!

i hope this helps. good luck! :hug:

Spiffyness · Jan 14, 2012

For almost all of my classes I've found that typing the notes is the most helpful to me. Using headers and bullet points makes it easy to organize the information and also easier to identify when needing to refer back to a particular section. I usually type up my notes and print them and when I go back and review, I write notes on the sides for things I have missed or have comments on. If you're allowed to bring your laptop to class, I would use it to take notes. Not sure about you, but I type a lot faster than I write so that may be another reason why typing my notes is a more effective way for me to study than writing

gReeNTwin1, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

I agree...flashcards do work miracles! Pictures work well for me too. It's just something about me drawing things out, or even retracing the actual picture in my book with a pencil helps me....even when it comes to negative feedback loops and the physiology part (especially in A&P II). This especially comes in handy since I'm studying the endocrine system right now.... by tracing the pictures and remembering all of these acronyms, I begin to actually see the pictures (i.e. liver, kidney) in my head and a lil animation of what it does. Strange, I know.... but, it works for me! I hope you can find something that works for you too, and remember....you're not alone! Good luck to you future nurse!!

mac léinn · Jan 15, 2012

I used a combination of things:

I retyped notes (I found rewriting helped to learn faster)

Then I scanned pictures I needed from the Book or downloaded from the internet to add to the notes.

To study for the Exams I would make Flashcards using the pictures and taped to the cards.

While This may seem time consuming, I found myself learning as I was preparing the flash cards.

With all the retyping and cut and pasting pictures I learned faster.

I am a Visual Learner and this worked for me.

Hope it helps

NellieOlsen · Jan 15, 2012

All great suggestions. Thank you all!

simcr · Jan 16, 2012

My method was a little tedious and overkill, but it worked for me. I alwayr read each chapter and took very detailed notes while reading. I listened to lecture and took notes, scribble, then transferred them into more coherant thought when I got home. This worked great for the lecture portion and studying was a breeze since I was organized.

For lab I did the same with reading, but i also drew pictures, this helped me to visualize where things were. My drawings weren't great but they were legible. I also found some printouts online of the body, heart, etc that were not labeled. I would number the parts I need to learn then on the back I would answer by number, that way I could test myself along the way.

If you decide to use flashcards, I used a great site www.flashcardmachine.com you can create the flashcards and review, but the coolest part was the quiz mode where it was like multiple choice, it gave you a qestion then 3 of your flashcards for you to choose from. I was able to access the site from my andriod and practice anywhere, there was also an application to use on ipod, iphone, etc.

Ashkins529 · Jan 16, 2012

I have a livescribe pen. My prof would at the start of a new topic post the power point to blackboard. I would write out every slide on the RIGHT side of my notebook. Then read the book. During lecture I would take notes on the LEFT side of the notebook corresponding to what slide he was on. If he strayed from the power point I would follow him in my notes for that specific topic. I would underline, box in, put starts, or !! the notes on the RIGHT side for things he stressed in class. When I was rereading my notes and writing flash cards if I didn't grasp something I would listen to that part of his lecture. The reason I love my livescribe. Just ask before recording lectures some profs and classes don't allow it.

Tinman1017 · Jan 16, 2012

If your not worrying about selling your book back. Just write right in your book. And also highlight. Thats what worked for me.

You can go right along in the book as your teacher is lecturing and you can write in words and draw arrows and what ever else you need to elaborate whats in your book. I never even used a notebook. Thats just what works for me.

Just find your style and roll with it! Good luck!

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Jan 16, 2012

[color=#2f4f4f]definitely write little side notes and highlight in your book if you're not planning on selling it back or passing it along to someone else who will need it for a little cash. i benefited a lot from highlighting material in there! when it came to learning the blood flow through the heart, i traced the routes with my pen and learned it in no time that way!

note cards. i can not stress how much they helped me. i have heard a lot of people say they rather find them on quizlet and print them off and whatnot, but nothing beats writing them out and taking the time to really understand the definition and material as you write them out on the cards. more gets into my long-term by using flash cards on a regular basis. yeah, you might have 200+ note cards per chapter, give or take, but you'll know your material!

i also had an instructor who printed us out outlines from his powerpoint (that is all he taught from) and those helped me out a ton! i would take the outline home and retype it all on a word document to learn the material better.

so i highlighted and wrote little notes in my book, used note cards, and utilized the printed material given to me, and i came out with an 88 in the course.