Taking my first science class

Nurse2BeCam, ADN · Dec 21, 2016

A&p isn't really all that difficult if you study adequately. In my a&p class we had a PowerPoint lecture and were given notes online to print out which was very very helpful. I would study those notes every day after class. Before each exam I made a study review from my notes by hand. Writing it out helped me remember everything. In lab we were also given notes to print, but they were blank. We had to make our own notes in that class. There was a lot of memorization. The people who did the best in the class dedicated their extra time to studying in groups, attending open labs, and checking out bone models at the library to get more hands on study time. As long as you study smart and not put it off to the last minute before exams, it shouldn't be that difficult. Good luck to you.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Dec 21, 2016

I was pretty nervous, too, but it was no where near as bad as I expected. I ended up with a 94.

One thing I did do was go to ALL lab study hours that my teacher was present at. That extra time to study with the models was key to my success.

Mostly it's a lot of memorizing, so figure out as quickly as you can how you learn best and make sure you employ good strategies.

Our teacher provided us outlines of what we were expected to know for lecture and lab. I'd print those out beforehand and review them to get basic terms down. During lecture/lab I'd also take my own notes - despite the fact that everything was already in the outline. It helped me create those memories. When I got home I'd usually start on flash cards - for most things we needed to know the location and the function. I usually took photos during lab and printed them out for my flash cards, too. I'd also create flash cards on Quizlet, and quiz myself randomly during the day for 5-10 minutes at a time. When learning things, I'd do a lot of touch memorization, too - so touching the frontal lobe or the anconeus muscle as I said the name. I made up silly things to remember different things, too. Like the pacinian corpuscles on our model were white and looked like sperm, that made it easy for me to remember.

It's just a lot of repetition. I really enjoyed the class. Good luck!

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Dec 21, 2016

Like others said, it's not that bad. As long as you go to every lecture, every lab, and study adequately, you'll be fine. We had four different units, on the first unit we were given iPads that had a beta eBook my instructor created and it included in-text quizzes, videos, and audio. We also had a cadaver lab but also used a lot of different models as well as a program called APR. My instructor really broke down most of the words and the reasons behind the names so it turned into a lot of understanding the location and meanings of body parts rather than memorization. For lecture, all of the powerpoints my instructor taught from were on Blackboard as well as actual audio presentations of them from faculty, including him. There were also lab study presentations and powerpoints for us to use on Blackboard. As you can see, we had a ton of resources. Good luck!

OliveOyl91, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2016

I took A&P1 online and my teacher had the online textbook, her powerpoints, and her lecture videos to go along with the powerpoints. Crash Course videos on YouTube were an excellent aid to help supplement her material. It's a lot of material and it is mostly memorization, but as long as you do a little every day and don't procrastinate (that's a killer in A&P), you'll do fine. Plus, lots of flash cards!

FuriousPancakes · Dec 22, 2016

Never underestimate the power of quizlet!

Like others have said - it's very much about repetition. I finished A&P I with a 98. No extra credit, no curve.

My strategy was:

Read each chapter 3 times - stop reading for a couple of minutes when you eyes do the whole glazing thing and you start thinking of kittens.

Each time you read, you want to focus on different things - for the first time, read and think of the big picture. The second time, you want to read and start nailing some key concepts. When you see bolded terminology in the textbook, you want to think of its definition before you read it. (example I see Acetylcholine; I think -That's one of the more common neurotransmitters!), The third time you really want to focus on the finer details but do not bog yourself down!

You're going to have to memorize a LOT - so make yourself some quizlet flashcards if that's your jam and test yourself daily; keep the material fresh in your mind. It took me about 1hr to go through 140 questions in quizlet each day; it was fast because I'd have it set up so that I needed to give 1-2 word answers, but this was enough to spark a memory and reinforce key concepts - like What's rhodopsin? What's the diencephalon? I remember gomphosis because it's fun to say, as is chlorolabe (try saying that while you're drunk).

For more fun stuff, try an anatomy coloring book! It was an awesome way to wake up my inner child and break out the crayolas. Netter's anatomy coloring book is pretty reasonably priced on amazon, and even comes with an ebook version for free.

Try and make A&P fun, keep your eyes on the prize, make good use of lab time, and for gumdrops sake ASK QUESTIONS if you need to! There were so many people in my class that didn't ask questions and remained incredibly confused about certain things D:

NerdyKnitter, CNA · Dec 22, 2016

The key to A&P is showing up to all lectures and labs and studying enough hours. My first A&P I had WAY too much on my plate and still barely pulled a B+. The material isn't overly complicated, but there is a LOT of it. Plan to devote 3 hours out of class for every on hour of class in. Maybe more. I say I "barely" got a B+ because that included 15 points of extra credit and 6 pity points for the whole class from the prof at after he graded our finals. I didn't work hard enough, but this term I'm going to earn my A in A&P.

NoctuRNal_UnicoRN, ASN, BSN · Dec 28, 2016

I am a visual/tactile learner. Getting my hands on models and watching videos of how everything comes together worked well for me. I loved using Khan academy for studying, and lab models. Making flashcards or using premade cards was helpful too. I was really worried about those classes, like you are, because everyone said those would be the classes that "make or break me," including my college advisors and other instructors. The classes are challenging, no doubt, but like everyone else said they aren't too bad once you find your groove and develop a good study routine. You can do it!

Dlansey · Dec 28, 2016

My advice to you: pick the right professor because he/she will make or break you.

I passed A&P1 with an A but it was really hard to get it as my professor couldn't teach and just read everything verbatim from the text book on the PowerPoint. Plus, whenever she would get tired from talking during lecture she would just make us watch a random YouTube video on the topic. :no:

So, I am pretty pissed I have to take her again next semester.