How to make A&P reading less boring

juliaann · Mar 10, 2010

Does highlighting or underlining as you go work for you? That keeps me on my spot in the text, and I try to pick out the imporant parts of a sentence/paragraph/section to underline - even if I never go back and look at what I underlined, it helps me keep my place and pull out important concepts.

I also found handwriting the questions at the beginning and/or end of the chapter and then filling it in like a 'quiz' as I was reading helped me look for important concepts. It is very slow going, though.

I also like to read a few sections, and then go watch animations on my textbook's accompaniment CD or online, which reinforces processes for me, then read the next few sections.

Sorry none of those are especially helpful for auditory learning...but they help me stick to my reading schedule even when the material is soooo dry and dense.

I hope you find something that works well for you - if nothing else, keep reading aloud when you can!

guest042302019, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2010

Hmmm, this is tough. Unfortunately, A&P isn't very interesting alot of the times, but it's that "Neat-o" stuff that really kept me going. Since A&P is the class that every perspective nursing student must go through in order to have a chance in the program, one must find ways to make it bearable and semi-entertaining. My first suggestion would be to try to tutor someone what you've learned. I can't tell you how often this helps me. The rule of thumb is, if you can teach it, you really know it. Tutoring is an amazing thing, because even if you don't really know what you talking about, you are still teaching, and more importantly, you are Learning!! And, you are helping someone through their struggles. How nice of you, huh? How do you do this? Well, be observant of your classmates. It's relatively obvious who is struggling or simply, doesn't get "it." Go up to them, and suggest a meeting, and to study together. Be prepared, and ask what they don't understand first. This gives a focal-point for your tutoring session. If you don't understand it either, walk eachother through it. I have done this, and all I did was literally read the book to the other person. Sometimes, people just need to hear it from another person, and a light bulb inside will just turn on. Yay! Maybe another suggestion, especially since you are an auditory learner, look throughout the interenet, and search "Free lectures." I have done this several times and came across Berkley, Cambridge, and even, Harvard lectures of A&P. How great is that? Watching free lectures, while the students there have to pay for it! hehe I used to go to Youtube and watch this guy Mr. Ford. He teaches A&P and is really good. Just search "Mr. Ford's class" and you'll find several mini-lectures he has vlogged. How about record your teacher's lectures and listen to them a couple of times, because by the time you've done that, you'll have a good idea of what the main points are, and you'll have heard the material at least 2-3 times already. How about search for A&P games online? They are kinda cooky and lame, but they do help. How about an A&P coloring book? Maybe look for an A&P for dummies book? This book won't give you the minute details you'll need for the tests, but you'll have the general material and they aren't so hard to read. Also, talk to your teacher. Maybe they know other methods that'll work for you? Talk to previous students. Just talk, talk, talk about A&P. Because the more you talk about it, the more likely you are to discover a new that works best for you. More importantly, really try to grasp how amazing all this stuff really is. I hate to use the word stuff, but it's all this stuff that makes us who we are. Try to grow a respect and a liking towards the complexities of the human body, because when you do this, it'll be much easier to grasp, easier to retain, and easier to have more fun with it.

-Andrew

SingDanceRunLife · Mar 10, 2010

Thanks guys.

But...I really need to read my textbook...not listen to other lectures or whatever, or even my own prof's lectures. Lectures don't cover everything...and in order to understand what it in the lecture, reading the book is suggested, especially when the lecture material comes mainly from the book.

Michaelxy · Mar 10, 2010

Think of A&P as a journey, a story if you will. An exploration into a marvel of science, how incredible the body works. Gadzooks, how did nature know to think of every little detail that allows a body to function for so many years. The body needs to maintain a somewhat constant temperature to function, so it has a homeostatic mechanism to do this. The body needs energy and it gets this energy from food, think of all the processes that occur in the body to utilize food to keeps our human machinery running. Consider how plants respirate with CO2 and give us O2 all the while we give them CO2. How cool is this symbiotic relationship?

If you take the time to see what a marvel a biological organism is and how it works, then you may develop a passion to understand the inner workings of this biological universe we call a body. The inner workings of the body are a design masterpiece an to this day, engineers and bio scientist have yet come close to duplicate.

Think of the marvels within the brain that enables you to read my long winded drivel. What biological processes take place as you do so? If you think about all the things that powers a biological organism, it should intrigue you in some way.

What motivates me to learn this stuff is the simple curiosity in how this human machine works.

If you approach A&P with the curiosity of a child and the vibrancy of an adult, then this subject can be fun.

Think of human physiology as an unexplored universe and dare to explore. Open your mind to a world of wonders. I love biology and go figure as I started out in life as a Navy Boatswain mate. Well actually I started as a baby, but later in life I was a deck ape (Boatswain mate).

Remilekun · Mar 10, 2010

The #1 method I used is recording the lecture. When I study, it add a dimension of fun, at least for me. This way I have three ways to study, I can use my notes, textbook or the recorded lecture. Using all three method really ensure that I cover all bases and because of these methods, the lowest grades I've gotten so far is a 98%.

SingDanceRunLife · Mar 10, 2010

Remilekun - I'm not interested in recording the lecture. I'm interested in reading the textbook as my OP stated. Lecture is great and all, but there's no way that I would listen to it again for a variety of reasons including time, motivation, and the fact that my prof lectures from both powerpoints and overhead slides going back and forth and often saying "I don't care." When you're in class and can see what she's doing, it's fine...but...

•M♥J• · Mar 10, 2010

It may sound weird, but when I read, I kind of read it out loud in my head. I actively make it sound like I would if I were reading it out loud to others, just in the silence of my brain lol. I have also sang/hummed while reading, just to kind of keep myself interested and on track. Listening to soft, but still interesting, music has helped me, too. I like Dave Matthews Band (specifically their Crash album) when studying or any other music that won't distract you too much. If none of that works, I sometimes do whisper out loud to myself the words... It's painful at times to read the text, but I know it has to be done! :)

mangopeach · Mar 10, 2010

I also like to read a few sections, and then go watch animations on my textbook's accompaniment CD or online, which reinforces processes for me, then read the next few sections.

This works well for me. I doubt If I could get through reading the text, (ugh, especially where I am right now with muscles) reading it non stop. I read a few sections and then go to an animation or tutorial.

GonnaBSN · Mar 10, 2010

My (ANATOMY ONLY) instructor told us that we probably wouldn't have time to read the text. He does a good job of outlining key points and discussing them in class.

He suggests that a good anatomy text is going to spends a lot of money to reproduce images, so they put as much info in the pictures as possible. The text serves to reinforce images. Tables are also helpful. The text my school selected is Marieb 2010 "Human Anatomy". I asked my instructor for copies of the CD rom of all the images he has and uses in class. They're basically every image that appears in the textbook, plus powerpoints of the lessons (he doesn't use them). There are "labeled" versions, and "unlabeled" versions of the body - so I use the unlabeled to practice and memorize.

thatsthekeyRNC · Mar 10, 2010

I agree with the high lighting - I read/highlight important points in one section at a time and then go back and take notes on that section. It breaks everything up and the repetition of info helps a lot.

coffeeaftermidnight · Mar 11, 2010

I highlight and I also write down some notes as I read the text (I'm keeping my book so it's in the margins).

I also find it helps me to read chapters in sections, try to break, answer a few questions, get a cup of coffee (whatever) and come back to it. These breaks are only a few minutes but they combat the lulls I feel when I'm trying to just do straight reading on the muscular system (yeah that chapter was tough to get through, lol).