Learning and Retention

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Nov 24, 2011

I think so. I would say that my class is able to recite about 30% of what I have taught them. It is so much information in such a small amount of time. Just know that you will be getting an Anatomy and Physiology review two more times; once in Pathophysiology and the other during your Medical Surgical courses. It’s my personal opinion that students better “learn” the material through multiple introductions of it. I am sure you have experienced it before. Do you ever sit in class and say to yourself, “oh yeah, I remember that term, but not the specifics.” You then received a refresher about the topic or term, then you remember it from a previous class.

Anyway, keep plugging away. The more your become exposed to the material, the more you will learn and commit to memory.

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Nov 24, 2011

I think that is the general result of A&P! I try my hardest to retain the information in my long-term, but majority of it just doesn't work out that way! Lecture is so crammed and most instructors try to do 3 chapters or more at a bi-weekly rate. It's insane! I feel like a lot of the material we've gone over, I've studied insanely for, but ask me a month later about it and I'd struggle telling you a grand definition or function!

Saysfaa · Nov 25, 2011

I think it is standard. Which is not the same as it being okay. You don't need to get class credit for something to do it ... you could review (or expand) on your own inititive.

zcoq72mehs · Nov 25, 2011

I'm in A&P right now. I love the class, it is very fascinating :) I'm doing pretty well and keeping up, but there is something that's kinda bugging me. As you all know, A&P (and I'll bet microbiology) is like this:
10 Here's a huge new pile of rote stuff to learn or memorize.
20 OK great! We just did a quick lecture on it, everyone understands
30 Everything gets whisked away, and may never be brought up again, until one test in the future
40 GOTO 10
I have no trouble 'getting' stuff, but if you were to ask me about cellular respiration (4 weeks ago), to name the 5 types of epithilial cells off the top of my head (3 weeks ago) or to name all the bones and landmarks on a skeleton (8 weeks ago), I'm surely not going to give you an A+ answer out of the air. I remember enough about it to where I could effectively look it up and get that perfect answer, but it's not all in my head like it was when we were covering it.
Is this a pretty standard experience for everyone, or should I be worried?
Granted, by time you're doing clinicals or on the floor you're doing all hands-on work, and probably won't need to recite the steps of DNA transcription, translation and protein replication, but has anyone finally gotten 'to the job' and drawn a complete blank on everything?
Thanks.

welcome to the majority of humanity. make no mistake: there are ppl who can remember 90% of information easily for years--but they are the exception

wozniak of poland studied this phenomenon long ago, and he created a repetition algorithm that many have borrowed (sem2)

if u want to keep knowledge into long term memory, consider a fujitsu document scanner with flatbed that supports twain support, and scan the info into ur computer in editable format, and copy the info into anki

anki will support a repetition algorithm that should seal the data into long-term memory

now, there are a couple ways to improve long term memory exogenously.

some ppl consider bacognize (worked for med students). it will take 250mg bid for 3wks to kick in, and it can be purchased from swanson vitamins. verdue sciences are the maker of this concoction, other brands ineffective (as is the case with curcumin products, except by verdue)

I am not giving medical advice.

some ppl consider magnesium l-threonate, 5 gms a day, in divided doses, but definitely not more than 7gm a day. this is the only oral mg supplement that can cross the blood-brain barrier in meaningful concentrations, where it sensitizes neurons in a way that frees up more acetylcholine--without an ability of the brain to counter-act the effects. It produces increase neural connections additionally.

it can be purchased from swanson vitamins, but not in high-doses that would be necessary. it also takes 3-4 wks to peak. you can by a kilogram from cerebral health at about $400 i think--in this way, u can take higher doses.

this will not increase ur working memory, but should enhance ur long term memory perhaps 10-20%

that combined with anki should put u head and shoulders above for long-term recall

to improve working memory is much more difficult, exhausting, and time consuming, and i do not wish to discuss it.

:)

the brain is plastic and capable of change just like your bicep is. with proper exercise, u can increase the amount of data that u can work with at any given few seconds (working memory)--in this way, u can handle information at a faster rate, moving it into short-term memory where recital/repetition/rehearsal will move it into long-term memory

to improve short-term memory, it is nice to use the method of loci and peg system and free associations created by the ancients.

think dominic o'brien's system or similar mnemonist and memory champion. they can remember several decks of cards in correct order nearly instantaneously using such 'visual memory' systems--ever notice u dont forget how to get home or to class or to a friends house? using visual memory as a band aid with associations and memory systems is this bandaid

be well

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2011

Yeah. Its pretty standard. There is just way too much information to register in such a small amount of time. My A&P teacher tests us 3 chapters at a time and as soon as we're done the exam, she teaches the next chapter. Really, you just have to tough it out and try to retain as much as you can. It helps if you study for at least 9 hours a week. The more exposure you have with the material for longer periods of time the better it is retained... well it seems to work for me just fine.

dreamofnursing · Nov 25, 2011

If you love your teacher stick with them for the next A&P II. I find that the best way to remember A&P is drawing a body figure and label the parts of the body that you are learning. Plus find out when is open lab. Make acroynms to help you to remember. Find a study partner that you see that has it down pack to help you stuy. Find the book website and they have practice test. GOOD LUCK!

mofomeat · Nov 27, 2011

If you love your teacher stick with them for the next A&P II. I find that the best way to remember A&P is drawing a body figure and label the parts of the body that you are learning. Plus find out when is open lab. Make acroynms to help you to remember. Find a study partner that you see that has it down pack to help you stuy. Find the book website and they have practice test. GOOD LUCK!

I've actually got 3 teachers for A&P

They each trade off lecture, and rotate labs. Two of them are great, one is so-so. (one of them is pretty and wicked smart, so I have a minor crush on her, but that's another story).

I chose them for the next semester (A&P II). Chances are, most of my classmates in this timeslot will be there too. Which is great, because it's a pretty good class. I have had a lot of classes up until this point full of students that aren't ready for college, or just don't have the maturity yet. (In my early 20s, I probably would have been one of them too). My guess is that the 'slacker' types don't make it to A&P, so the ones that are here are the ones that are ready to rock.

The other problem though, is that every subject we do is FASCINATING as hell. We only get so deep into each topic, based upon what we're required to know for later classes, time constraints, etc. But my problem has always been that when I get ahold of something I want to drill down to the bottom of it. Every time we get a new subject, I'm all "wow, this is AWESOME. I should really research this more outside of class because it's sew kewl". Butt... there's never enough hours in a day to do this, and I'm finding myself saying this about three times a week. :cry:

GreenEyedPeas1 · Nov 29, 2011

I am feeling the same way! Once I get to finals I freak out. But I am in physio this time and I am finding memorizing stuff is easier cause I a going over it again and again just digging deeper than anatomy. But I wonder how the heck I will remember everything once I get to core! I have a flashcards app on my phone that helps A LOT. :)