This spring, the only pre-req I have to take is Human Physiology. Normally I wouldn't be sweating it except that it is by far the hardest Bio class offered at my school. I have yet to meet one person who gave me a sign of hope on acing that class. Unfortunately, there is only one professor teaching it and he is tough. The type that prides himself on making students miserable.
Anyways, I want to know what you all would suggest I study to try and make the most of my class. From what I gather, its not so much that his class is tough as much as it is that his tests are impossible. He has 6 essay questions at the end on every test and he expects his students to answer them thoroughly.
What is the toughest part about physio? I know for sure the Chem is gonna kick my butt since its been 5 years since I studied that. And I pretty much gave up on the Kreb cycle in Micro and Nutrition. God help me.
I've found the CD's to be very helpful too, but not always.
I've found they often can include material that's not always covered on the test. I prefer to focus on the exact material I need to know, since there's so much to learn as it is. The CD's sometimes distract me with information overload, since they're not always tailored to the specific course material.
My guideline is the following: If the instructor tends to rely on tests provided by the textbook company (and many do) I've found that textbook CD's are more helpful.
But if the instructor essentially designs their own tests, with textbook, lecture and other material outside of the textbook, CD's are still helpful, but not always.
My CD covered pretty basic concepts so I didn't find that problem (i.e. "How an action potential happens"). But to each his own - whatever works, right?? :)
On the advice from several on this board, I bought the Anatomy and Physiology coloring books to help prepare for A & P. The Physiology coloring book is awesome...it really helped me to understand.
And considering they hadn't even discovered blood much less cardiac function back in my day........
Instead of atrium and ventricle .....we were taught auricle and ventricle......sheesh learn one thing right and they go and change it.
Try not to think of what the other students said about your prof. just decide now you will hang on his every word, look him in the eye and you'll do well.
Thank you all for your advice, input and vote of confidence. You have a lot of good advice. I was wondering, for those of you that suggested the coloring books, is that for Physiology or Anatomy? I am just curious because I have already taken Anatomy this past Fall and the class I will be taking in the Spring will focus on Physiology only.
Also, I found a self study book for this class and intended on working on it during the break, which is quickly coming to an end. My friends think I am crazy but I still try an spend at least one hour a day in the library during the week. I just want to stay focused.
I too was lucky to have the most difficult physiology professor at my school. Our grade was factored from four exams only. They were all open ended questions and essays. She stressed understanding concepts rather than memorization. I go a B in the class but concidering that 90 started in the class, 40 were still there for the final and only 20 of us passed it, I feel pretty good.
Some things that worked for me:
1. Read the chapter before hand - Many times it was overwhelming but I read through it anyhow and it definately helped as she was lecturing on it as I was somewhat familliar with the material (even if I did not understand it) I also used viewed the CD which came with the book. As a visual learner, this really helped.
2. Take good notes! I write down everything that she says. My notes are a mess at the end of class but as soon as I get home I type them up. Seems redundant but I put them in an easy to follow format and take the time to look through the book to clarify or elaborate on the material covered.
3. (THis depends on your instructors' fomat). I relied heavily on my lecture notes and only refered to the book if I had questions or wanted to know more. She advised us against hi-lighting in the book.
4. Get one great study partner. I got together with my study partner once a week to review. We would "teach" each other: Thoroughly explain a subject that was studied step by step (just like you might for an essay question) I strongly feel that one fo the best ways to learn something is to teach it because you are forced to know it. For midterm and finals (comprehensive) we would just randomly flip through our notes and quiz each other (explain the steps of the sliding filament theory)
Sorry so long! Relax and enjoy it. It truely is fascinating!
The physiology prof. at my school was known to be pretty tough, but if you paid attention and worked at it, it really wasn't that bad. If you had a problem understanding something you could ask and normally (if more than one person had trouble) he would cover it again (quickly). The two things I found that really helped me were flash cards (only class I ever used them in) and a study partner. When it came test time I could hear her voice explaining something to me and it worked vice versa for her.
In most of my harder classes, like microbiology etc, I have used flash cards and also memory association, to help with all those LOVELY terms you have to know. I also bought a photographic atlas. I am taking the first semester of this class, starting January 7, so Im with ya on being nervous about it!
Thank you all for your advice, input and vote of confidence. You have a lot of good advice. I was wondering, for those of you that suggested the coloring books, is that for Physiology or Anatomy? I am just curious because I have already taken Anatomy this past Fall and the class I will be taking in the Spring will focus on Physiology only.
Also, I found a self study book for this class and intended on working on it during the break, which is quickly coming to an end. My friends think I am crazy but I still try an spend at least one hour a day in the library during the week. I just want to stay focused.
jemride
My Anatomy and Physio classes were seperate as well and yes the coloring books are seperate. I didn't use the coloring book for Physio but I did buy a Cliffs Notes books for A&P, it didn't have everything I need but some of the stuff was broken down a bit more and in more simple terms and just easier to carry around when not at school to study with here and there. Flashcards helped as well. Just make sure you understand the material and not just memorize it, I think if you can do that you will do well.
The CD that came with Mariebs book help some as well I though. You will do fine!
I have had two different instructors (both older men) in college (one History, other Oral Communications) who on the first day of class told us that it is almost impossible to make an A in their class because they felt As were for outstanding work and shouldn't be given easily, and that they rarely saw outstanding work. (They must have been buddies.) Anyway, as soon as I heard them say that, guess what I determined myself to do? You got it; I came out of BOTH classes with an A!
I don't have any advice except "work hard" and I wish you the best!
I would definately sit in the front of the classroom or auditorium. If it was like my physiology class, you'll be surrounded by people who pay attention at first and as the semester goes on, they talk throughout the entire class so you'll need to sit up front. Your professor will remember your face if you sit up front. Go by your profs office and ask him if he minds if you tape record his class so that you can listen to it and make sure you get all the concepts mentioned in class. I'm sure he/she will be flattered. Also, this way if you ever have any problems with major concepts, you can go to them after class in their office and ask and you won't feel so uncomfortable. As for the tests, just practice writing your notes in paragraphs, almost like essays so that when you have to write essays on the test, you'll be ready and things will come to you in sentences instead of just words. It's going to be hard. Do not get discouraged. It's a lot to memorize and understand but you can do it and it will pay off because you really do need to know about things like the sodium potassium pump...that stuff comes up in pharmacology when talking about blood pressure medicines.
Best of luck to you...don't forget to keep in touch about how it turns out!!
Sheri257
3,905 Posts
I've found the CD's to be very helpful too, but not always.
I've found they often can include material that's not always covered on the test. I prefer to focus on the exact material I need to know, since there's so much to learn as it is. The CD's sometimes distract me with information overload, since they're not always tailored to the specific course material.
My guideline is the following: If the instructor tends to rely on tests provided by the textbook company (and many do) I've found that textbook CD's are more helpful.
But if the instructor essentially designs their own tests, with textbook, lecture and other material outside of the textbook, CD's are still helpful, but not always.