Anatomy Study tips??? Advise

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I am a let's say 30 something, 3 kids husband who travels. I am taking Anatomy, Math, and Comp this semester. I can't seem to remember this anatomy stuff.

I tried writing and rewriting my notes, I just don't seem to be studying the stuff that's on the actual test. My first lecture test was over the skin, and the lab test was over the same. I made a big fat whopping F on the lab portion but a D on the lecture.

Just took the second lecture rest last night, and I have no idea how I did. Seems like some of the questions came out of left field. Lab test is tomorrow. I had been studying the lecture portion for an entire week I just can't get this stuff to stick.

Any suggestions?????

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HI,

I know your feelings! I have two kids and taking A@P2 now. My professor is VERY tough, but she is also very good in lecturing. So, I record her lectures and then I listen to them over and over again.

Here is my tips for studying:

1. Never try to memorize something that you don't understand! If your book gives you a bad explenation, try to find the answer online. There are tons of websites out there!

2. Draw! Skin layers, bones,different structures become easier to understand and remember when you draw and label them by yourself. Coloring books are also good.

3. Study groop! Even if it's just two of you - it is a powerfool study tool. Me and my friends test each other, correct mistakes, make up mnemonics. One brain is good, but two or more are much better!

4. Flash cards! They are very good for remembering stuff such as "name - functin". However, they don't work on sequence questions (muscle contraction, action potential etc): these ones you have to understand.

5. Study while spending time with your kids! I take my kids to a park and we draw with crayons. Kids draw cars and princesses, mom draws cell structures...

6. You can make pictures of cadavers and models during the lab (if your instractor allows you).

He re some of my favorite web sites:

http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/mariebhap/chapter1/

http://msjensen.cehd.umn.edu/webanatomy/

http://www.visiblebody.com/start

Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Charge Nurse.

the best advice i can give you... is if you have access to the actual bones at your school, outside of lab time, then check them out and practice one bone at a time until you get it, then add another bone but keep going over the first one, and keep adding. i started at the skull and worked my way down.

the other thing is if you have access to a powerpoint containing all or most of what your lab is over and keep going over it that way.

i would go to the learning center on campus and could check out a bone box with all of the bones or go to the biology tutoring center which also had all of the bones and study. it is really beneficial to actually touch the bones rather than just learning from pictures.

if you like, i could probably send you some of the powerpoints that i used but i don't know if you are testing over the same bones or not.

also, i will include the link below to our biology department that has lots of info and pictures.

http://science.nhmccd.edu/biol/index.html

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I feel your pain. I am 34, 5 kids and a husband who works and travels all the time. I study my butt off and still fail. I am taking A&P 1 and Math 092. It's so darn frustrating because I am really trying and want to learn and pass. Good luck on finding a solution.

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I have to ask if you are at Ivy Tech Lawrence...(or possibly the other Ivy Tech's)

I ask because if you feel this way about the next test (and you are at Lawrence) DONT TAKE THE TEST...EITHER ONE

the final in lab is multiple choice and the lecture final is 100x easier than the regular tests. If you don't take the test the final grade will substitute it (so if you get a 90/100 on the final, your missed test would be 45/50)

If you are at ivy lawr. let me know, i will help you out, i hate to see anyone fail this class...i know how ya feel, i was by myself with 2 kids while taking it! good luck and let me know if i can help.:banghead:

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Specializes in ICU.

Something my chemistry teacher taught me last semester was:

When you learn something your brain files it away at a place in your brain we'll call an address. So everytime your brain sees this information it refiles the data in a more desirable address as it figures if it's seeing it again, it must be important. Following this chain of thought, when you learn something new in class go home and reread your note. Don't study them, just refresh your memory. Next day do the same.

Basically try to study some everyday versus cramming.

This does seem to help me a lot.

I also just kind of make some sort of stupid corelation in my mind. It doesn't have to make sense, I just have to make an impact on my memory.

An example: the 8 signs of life: I took the first letter from each word and made up a stupid sentence. So if I was stuck on one during a test I at least had the hint of the first letter.

Bottom line is you have to find what works for you. I hope however that this helps!

Kim

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i have been using quizlets.com to study. I made 76 on first test without using this online tool and now im preparing for 2nd test using this online tool so i hope it makes a difference. You can search for my flashcard sets online that i have completed so far under cthomas1459.

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Watching YouTube videos helped me a lot!! :) they are still helpful as I take A&P 2 with lab!

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