Do you have a specific study method?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

One of my interests is in learning and study skills/methods, and I was curious as to what specific study methods you use, or have found useful. My own method has developed from reading lots of books, with a specific interest in those by Tony Buzan and his MindMapping/MMOST techniques. I've used various forms of this method for the past 10 years and they have served me very well. Here's basically what I do - What do you do?

1. Day before class: Read the chapter that we are going to be covering in class or lab. Highlight important facts and concepts.

2. During lecture/lab: take notes

3. After lecture/lab: Produce a mind-map from a combination of my class notes and the stuff I highlighted in the text book.

4. 24 hours after the class, I review the mind-map (takes about 10 minutes)

5. 48 hours after the class I review the mind-map again

6. 1 week after the class I review the mind-map

7. 2 weeks after the class I review the mind-map

8. 3 weeks after the class I review the mind-map

9. 4 weeks after the class I review the mind-map

10. I then review the mind-map at 6, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after the class

11. I then review the mind-map at 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, & 18 months after the class, even if I have finished that class and passed the exam - just to keep what I've struggled to learn IN there LOL!

12. Starting about 1 week before an exam, I review any of those mind-maps that I'm having trouble memorising.

A set schedule like this means that I'm reviewing work constantly, and so there is no cramming for exams. Also, as the mind-maps only take about 10 minutes to review each one, I can review several mind-maps in one study session, while taking a 5-min break in between. This fits in with the fact that you remember the most information at the beginning and end of a study session - so if you do one long study session, you only have two periods of high recall, whereas if you break it down into several smaller bites, then you get many more periods of high recall. I have a code for each lecture or lab of each class, and I label each mind-map with that code (i.e. 204/1JUN04 would be microbiology 204, class of 1st June 2004). I then enter that code in my planner on whatever days the map needs to be reviewed.

Works for me anyway!

Paint.

I think the referred method mind mapping is OLD STYLE medical practionieurs language with starting to learn real base methods, and if I'm not mistaken with your intent gown membriance motion, crazy what you can dig-up if you try hard enough. And I'm sure that at tha start is where we can derive more for study so, I'm prepared to let you, doctors,(with no ill will) everybody, in on a little secret I have for just that www.junctionism.0catch.com and for more envolved subjects www.rejectionism.0catch.com ,the darker commodity of every day writing also historical www.patoo.0catch.com . These are writing block tool web pages I authored are free and readily availiable to college friends, friends, if you like reheaseal gabbys of yours. -Whatever my treat. Just print it for some rainday. I come off kind of as a boulevard stand seller on this which case i'm sorry-to yours.:p please email as would like.

I have always relied on flash cards, but found it difficult when studying for A&P. LauraLou, how do you use them for A&P when they're only helpful for "specific" information and not when you're needing to know the entire process? For example, they only help me when I need "bulleted" info, but not how an entire "system" works.....(please tell me this makes sense :uhoh3:)

You're right, flash cards are easier to use when you need to learn specific information, such as what are the functions of the adrenal gland, but I also used them for more complicated processes like protein synthesis. I found most processes or systems can be broken down into steps or parts, which makes it possible to use flash cards.

We used the Marieb A&P book and for most concepts, it has diagrams which break down the process into steps. I would use a flash card for each step of the process. I would also make a drawing of each step if possible. For example, the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction.

Card 1- Myosin cross bridge attaches to the actin myofilament Card 2- Working stroke, the myosin head pivots & bends as it pulls on the actin filament, sliding it toward the M line Card 3- As new ATP attaches to the myosin head, the cross bridge detaches Card 4- As ATP is spilt into ADP and P, cocking of the myosin head occurs. (Mareib, p. 287) I would put a sketch of each step on the back of the cards.

I hope this helps!

LauraLou,

Thank you very much! That makes perfect sense. I didn't think of trying to sketch the diagrams on the cards....I appreciate the advice!

L

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry.

[quote name=Paint

Sometimes I will use the patio doors and windows in my house as substitute white-boards and draw all over them with dry wipe markers. I had the Renin-angiotensinogen system scribbled all over my patio doors for weeks once...

[/quote]

That's hysterical! Now why didn't I think of that when I was at the store buying dry erase boards?? I can only imagine what the neighbors thought! :chuckle

That's hysterical! Now why didn't I think of that when I was at the store buying dry erase boards?? I can only imagine what the neighbors thought! :chuckle

Actually, that's a great idea! I have 9 foot sliding glass doors in my living room so there would be plenty of room to write! :lol2: It would work anyway. :p

+ Add a Comment