A&PI Study Tips/Buddy!!

guest042302019, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2011

I wrote this awhile ago after my first semester in A&P I. This should get you in the right direction.

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/my-reaction-1st-456688.html

While I'm in the second semester of the nursing program, I do A&P as well, so if have any questions feel free to email me.

[email protected]

momtojosh · Feb 5, 2011

hehe...just read your post.....dream A & P eh??....how about day dream as well....my mind is ALWAYS on A & P!!...it hurts my head....the other day i was spot mopping my floor and the lil swirls int he pattern reminded me of simple squamous cells!!....

we just got finished chapter 2...."chemistry"....hate it...now we are onto cells...alittle better....but the chem,forget it...no matter how many times i write it out,read it and then reread it..it does not stick....DNA,RNA, buliding blocks,..electrons,protons etc.....i have a mental block......i got thru chem last spring semester and forgot most of the stuff...and as for bio...havent taken that since 1979.....had to laugh at the prof the other day....hes going on about bio and says he doesnt need to go over that cause we all had bio....well maybe...only a LONG time ago...have to be reteaching that myself i guess...

i am very nervous about essay questions....any suggestions on them? I COMPLETELY FREEZE...i may know it going in...but when i read it...i go blank...does that ever happen to anyone?.....how do you get over this?

thanks for the help

ag.wade · Feb 5, 2011

]Here are a few A&P I resources... I have tons of A&P I and II notes. Shoot me an email and I will forward them to you. My email is: [email protected].

Carbohydrates:

http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objid=AP13104

Lipids:

http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objid=AP13204

Proteins:

http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objid=AP13304

Cell Division:

http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=BIO204

Mitosis (also, I used this site a lot for other things in A&P (cellsalive.com) )

http://www.cellsalive.com/mitosis.htm

Mitosis:

http://www.stolaf.edu/people/giannini/flashanimat/celldivision/crome3.swf

Diffusion:

http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=AP1903

Osmosis:

http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=AP11003

http://zoology.okstate.edu/zoo_lrc/biol1114/tutorials/Flash/Osmosis_Animation.htm

Facilitated Diffusion:

http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=AP11103

Video lectures:

http://content.hccfl.edu/facultyinfo/nehringer/bsc1085videolectures.html

Enjoy!

Southern Magnolia · Feb 5, 2011

What worked for me is notecards and lots of time. Before lecture I read all suggested material and highlight things that seem important - definititions, processes, . . . After lecture I break my notes down into notes cards and then I do the same for any highlighted material from the text that wasn't covered in lecture. Just one piece of info per card. Then I use every spare minute to review the notecards. After a bit of review I will sometimes take out cards that I'm good with but sometimes I just keep them in and skip over the ones I know. Then when I'm ready to study for a test all I have to do is study my notes cards. You just keeping working them until you could teach the info to someone else. (I use the largest lined note cards I can find and put a hole in the corner and put them on a ring). I also draw everything I see in lab. I'm not the best artisit but I'm very visual and drawing it makes me know it better than looking a picture in a book.

Best of luck.

guest042302019, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2011

The above comments are good places to start as far as study tips. If you've been out of school a relatively long time, let's face it, lecture style has drammatically changed and there are considerable resources at your disposable. Books come with interactive CDs. The internet is a huge resource. Youtube has innumberable number of videos, type in your topic, and search away. I've used it countless times. Another idea, search and try a variety of different study techniques. Again, the internet searches provide you with plenty of websites that can give you ideas. You'll find ideas that really resonate with you and some you'd run away from. People ask on here, alot, about A&P study tips, suggestion, or a hand to save them from drowning in the lecture material. An idea is, look a website that tests you on your learning style if you're unsure what may work for you. Then focus your efforts on study techniques geared towards your style. As far as chemistry, I've heard your plea many, many, many times from on this website and from tutoring people. Chemistry will come up time and time again. For, we are a giant compilation of thousands of chemical reactions at the same time that amazingly work out into a biological being. Hence, the study of biochemistry. So, you may not ever particularly like chemistry, but you will have to have a solid understanding of basic principles. The links above are good resources; however, if you are as I suspect, whenever you come acrossed anything chemistry related, your like, "Brain total shut down, Oh did I pay my utility bill, ionic bonds, Oh I should check my e-mail then just ZZZZzzzz" Maybe not quite that drammatic, but you get the idea. You're like this because you have yet become competent in it, you haven't laid a solid foundation of basic principles of ion interaction, but that will come with time. I would suggest that you do attempt to go through the chapter as many times as possible until you reach that "ah moment" or several little ones. You'll acquire bits and pieces of understanding as you go along. You must have a solid foundation because once you his each major system, there is associated biochemistry that must be understood, especially for the test. As far as essays, what worked for me? Practice, Practice, Practice. For instance, within the skeletal system, I knew that we would be tested over the bone formation process. I, then, open up a blank word document, took the most important information from process or I would write out the "steps" delegated in the book and wrote a small essay. I then sifted through the essay, and I split the essay into very small, rememberable pieces. I read the first over and over, committed to memory, and wrote it out on another blank document, away from the answer. I'd go back and check my answers. This process works like this.

Say there is 6 steps

Memorize step 1

Write step 1

Memorize step 1,2

Write step 1,2

Memorize step 1, 2, 3

Write step 1, 2 3

And so on, until you have the process memorized. It's time consuming. But, save this activity for the really important processes within the chapter. Mainly, physiological processess. Such as, muscle contraction steps, skeletal bone formation, heart muscle conducting system and contraction (differs from skeletal muscle contraction), kidney filtration and the processes within the nephron. If you practice writing out essays, you inevitably become better at it, like anything else. You wont dread those awful essays as much and you'll be more relaxed. Another suggestion, briefly scan the test before you delve into it. Look at the types of questions. Mainly, they'll be multiple choice but you'll encounter short answer, fill in the blank, and ofcourse, essays. By scanning the test, you are essentially priming your brain for what's too come. Essays are usually placed in back, and people know that, and they purposely save that for the end. When you read the question, you may not have direct, quality answer...yet. But, you could write some quick ideas down, and begin the test. What you find is as your brain is "soaking in" that test question you just read, an idea will somehow pop up out of nowhere. Flip to the back, and jot it down. You'd be surprised how often this happens. Also, you'll find that some of the multiple choice questions will be related to the essay question in the back. If you've already read the question, it's likely you'll instantly come up with another idea. Jot it down in the back. Don't wait to read the essay until the end when your thought processes are jumbled with uncertainty about previous questions. Read it first. Let it "soak in" some people say. I like what michael jackson said about allowing certain pauses in his songs. He wanted the pause to "simmer" to elicit a particular feeling or response from people. Good luck

momtojosh · Feb 5, 2011

floridatrail...awesome awesome suggestions!! thanks!! I all ready do some....i use the internet and search engines ALL the time and it helps put the subject matter into a different perspective..your right about not having a strong foundation..this is what i am trying to achieve..and it isnt happening..take RNA and DNA....i know they are chains that fold in to one another and the molecular chaperones "help"...but to know what is being "folded" in..notta...YET..i should say..

this is what i do.....

i read the chapter...take notes in lecture...then write out our objectives...the prof has said only concentrate on the objection he has on the syllabus...he said to go thru the objectives...then go to your txt and highlight ONLY whats on the objectives list..then go back and read.....i do that..plus write it out....

let me tell you...its alot to process....i am 48 and i can see just from 4 yrs ago when i was in LPN school that my brain does not focus as it did....

Jonathank · Feb 6, 2011

I didn't read all the above, so I might repeat some suggestions. Search these names/terms on google videos & youtube:

Integrative Biology (Marion Diamond - Cal Berkeley)

George Wolfe biology

Professor Fink cellular respiration

bozemanbiology

campbellteaching

hennagerdj

Also just search the topics you're studying. There's tons of A&P vids on the web.

Rooskenator · Feb 6, 2011

I wouldn't have done as well as I did had it not been for you tube videos. As much as it sucks, A&P I is a 10 hour/week (outside of class) committment if you want to do really well. Kaplan's flashcards worked wonders for me & I've heard Dr. Netter's cards are even better. Unfortunately, there is SO much memorization... But the more you put in now the easier everything will be later. TIME TIME TIME, you tube & flashcards are a huge help! GL!

gina1982 · Feb 6, 2011

Lol, Momtojosh and I must have the same bio teacher because my teacher keeps saying the same stuff like" you all should already know this, so Im not gonna go over this" or "we arent gonna go over this because you all will be going over this next semester with another teacher." Then we have a test coming up and he gonna say," I dont do reviews anymore because everyone is just gonna come in with blank faces like you all have now." Ok, I havent taken biology in about 7-8 years and I went to his office to ask him some questions on things I didnt quite understand and he was like " read the book, it has a lot of good information in it." Wow, thank goodness I was able to get a tutor a few days later. Then it was funny how when we were reviewing our second to last chapter for the test he gonna say," I guess I got to actually teach this..." LOL!!!!

Yeah, I use youtube to help me study. I use the book, youtube, tutoring, etc to help me study. So its not like as if Im not trying. I cant wait for this semester to be over!