I just got a 59% on my first Anatomy Exam....

Student4_life · Mar 3, 2010

So she makes it too easy? Never understood how a teacher could be considered bad for over simplification. If you really want to do well, get netters. And if the teacher is making it too easy, stop going to class, then you can make it as simple or hard as you want it to be.

As far as the 98% goes, there are students that will do well no matter what professor they have, its not because they are smarter, or study harder. It is because they understand how they learn. I learn by repetition, so I write things over and over on a white board. Sounds like you learn from lab, so its likely you are a visual/hands on learner, so run with that, make your study sessions hands on.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2010

Now that you have taken her first exam, you now know her style and how she asked questions. My advice:

(1) Get a tutor! Does your school offer free tutoring?

(2) Find out who got the 98 ... seriously, that person may be able to give you insight on how they did well at the very least.

(3) Never go to lecture before reading the textbook or whatever other reading material you have. You may not understand everything you read first read through and that is OK, it only empowers you with the background knowledge to understand what goes on in class.

(4) Get one of those study guides that break down topics in plain language. I have Barron's Microbiology The Easy Way and it's very good. I don't know if they have it for A&P.

(5) Finally, DON'T sit anywhere but the FRONT ROW in the class. I do this because I don't want anything in my field of vision during class except the professor. I am 100% focused on her and what she is saying. Classmates chit-chatting and moving during class distract me, and for that 80 minute session I want to be devoted to what's being taught.

I got A's in A&P 1&2, if there is anything that really stumps you, send me a private msg and I will see if I can help! :up: (BTW, I just noticed you have only 1 msg posted on here so far, you need at least 10 to use private messaging - so KEEP POSTING!!)

caliotter3 · Mar 3, 2010

Waste no time in getting an appointment to see the instructor. Get their input about how to turn this around. If it comes down to the end and you need a point or two in your favor, you are more likely to get the benefit of the doubt when you have shown that you care by seeking help. And if things don't turn around, be mindful of the drop date. You can't afford a failing grade on your transcript if you can help it. Good luck.

Java Mama · Mar 3, 2010

Hi,

Don't be so hard on yourself. This was only your first test. I know I was always worried taking that first test with all the different teachers each semester. One thing that really helped me was to make flash cards. It was time consuming, but re-writing all of those cards really helped the information stick and then I would just review them daily. Does your teacher let you drop any quizzes or tests? I was lucky enough that all of my teachers did. Do you have a "study buddy"? Maybe that would help too. If you're having a hard time in a particular area, post some specific questions, maybe someone here can give you a hand. Hope this helps you a little. :)

juliaann · Mar 3, 2010

I totally agree with Paco. Especially about reading the material BEFORE lecture!! That way you already have some familiarity and compartments in your mind to flesh out in lecture. Also, definitely sit in the front row!! I know if there are 4 rows of students in front of me I'm easily distracted by looking at peoples' clothing and hair and trying to decide if it would work on me.

There are tons of references out there online and in bookstores and in the people in your class and your instructor. Start a study group! Meet with your instructor in her office hours - see if she'll go over your test question by question reviewing what you missed.

Best of luck - you can come back from this!

Brighten · Mar 3, 2010

u got to nerd it out if you want to do well in anatomy. The class isn't even hard conceptually it just there is so much to memorize that it takes a lot of time from your life lol. Read the book is my best advice because that is what I did. for lab - BRING A CAMERA. Seriously, I spent like 4-5 hours a day studying for that class.

and the fact you are already excluding the possibility of retaking anatomy isn't going to take u anywhere. Look, a lot of people have to retake classes. if u really want it you will do it.

seaspray700777 · Mar 3, 2010

Wow, all great advice. I am like you, I loved lab because it was hands on. With the lecture it was alittle harder because she was all over the place. I was told not to take it with her but I did not have an option..

My first exam, believe it or not was a 46! Lecture, then I honed in on what she was looking for. When you know (how) they test then it helps alot. It does not mean they are great teachers. My A&P Professor was very knowlegable, yet a horrible teacher. Not because she meant to be but anyways, because I knew her ways, and my way of learning, I started my own way.

I went on the Winking skull. It is free and that got me through soo much, and printed them out, and no kidding hung them up all around the house, when I was doing dishes, I looked at them, then I started printing out things from the actual website that (you paid for with your purchase of your book) and studied them and my next exam I recieved an 95, Hummm, It is kinda like teaching yourself, but I passed with a B.

Do not be discourged. If I can do it you can. I found that A&P I was much harder than A&P II.

A&P II is more about why things work from A&P I, it kinda wraps it all up.

When I took Micro I asked the Professor if I could tape his lectures and that was a godsend, I listened to them while driving to work, etc. If you can, it might help.

If I can do this a 50yrs old you can as well.:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:yeah: :yeah:

mangopeach · Mar 3, 2010

I agree with everything said thus far. You can come back from this. I failed my first exam in Chemistry but finished strongly and got a B in lecture and an A in lab.

Now that you know her testing style, that will help you to better prepare for future exams. I agree with the person who mentioned learning style 100%. If you can pinpoint how you learn best, you'll be ahead of the game. Personally, flash cards don't help me much. Its a great asset, for many. Just not for me.

I learn best visually.

For some people studying at certain times of the day works better than others.

You might have more energy, or be more attentive early in the morning, or later in the afternoon or evening. You've just got to find the right strategy for you.

mangopeach · Mar 3, 2010

when I was doing dishes, I looked at them,

LOL, I did this too. I have skeleton pics all over my house. I'm done with them for now. So I'll be taking them down to make room for muscles pics. I also wrote on my body when we learned the regional terms. So even if I was relaxing, I could see where my antebrachial was.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2010

Just to piggyback on what some people said, things I could add to my post:

(6) YES, you should sit with your professor and see what you need to do to improve in her class. It shows that you CARE enough to do well and she SHOULD certainly guide you accordingly. This is college, she does not have to spoon feed you and she should not (because we all know they won't do that in nursing school so you should learn to be a self-feeder NOW). But at the very least she can tell you where you are going wrong in learning this material.

(7) Eww, flashcards ... they never worked for me and probably never will. I am not that type of learner and since I did well without them I know I don't need them. You may! See if those work for you. ALSO, you might want to use YouTube and see if they have videos on topics that confuse you, see if they have visuals on activation energy (which I seem to recall was one of the toughest topics for me to comprehend in A&P) .. of course I did not think of doing this until I started microbiology this semester, oh well (but the videos on cellular respiration by Prof. Fink were excellent!).

Seems like all of us here so far have been through this, and SO CAN YOU! So you got a 59 on the first test ... you can ace the next one, start now!

cad2nurse · Mar 3, 2010

I so totally understand. My first test in AP1 was HORRID! But I bounced back with an A in the class. I have found that sometimes the instructor has no clue what they are teaching and they will read you prepared slides. That is what I had for AP1. I made flashcards and worked all the questions in the book, the study guide, and online and that made a difference. Oh and I did the book questions before class so if for some reason the instuctor offered something important, I honed in on it.

The first test is a chance to figure out the instructor. Take it with a grain of salt and pick yourself up and go after it again. Figure out what works for you for studying and use it.

And if it makes you feel any better... I almost always bomb the first test. I just chalk it up to a learning experience. As long as you learn from it, then you did ok!