Why do so many students fail anatomy and physiology?

[@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t]

I took Human A&P years ago and struggled with the memorization of the skeletal and muscular gross anatomy. Since then however, I took up art and illustration, and realized that the anatomy diagrams I was using as references used the same exact concepts. Now I'm taking Vertebrate A&P to become a vet tech, and one study technique that helps me the most is to draw everything I'm trying to learn. I draw anthropomorphic characters (in case it wasn't obvious enough) so that perfectly meshes everything together. Taking a couple hours to draw and label a canine skeleton is worth far more than spending ten hours trying to memorize a list.

[@Nola1176]

There was no time to read the textbook bc the Mcgraw Hill smartbook concepts was taking me 6-8hours to complete. madness!! Never could find time to review what i learned bc the next chapter was starting.

[@AnatomyHero]

I would outlaw those smartbook assignments if I could. Sometimes professors don't realize how much time they can take... I do think I remember tutoring a student who was having a similar problem and telling her to just lose the points on the smartbook because it was such a small part of her grade and actually reading and learning would get her more points on the test ...and then it turning out that it didn't take her as much time to complete the assignments when she read the book first...but honestly it was a while ago and I can't remember now. Either way, more targeted assignments are better. Good luck in your studies! Hope you at least got something out of your class despite the madness.

[@Nola1176]

@@AnatomyHero actually I'm withdrawing. The class has been chaos from start to now. I never could find a study rhythm. And you're correct! By the time I realized I should've skipped the SB assignments, I was in week 6. I had a zoom meeting with the professor 2 weeks ago and she was shocked that it was taking me that long. But I'm working the sb concepts for understanding. And it was never less than 75 concepts! It was taking me all day. I was treating them like real homework. The professor said she set them that high bc students weren't listening to her prerecorded lectures. But I was doing both. Honestly, I don't know how I didn't land in the hospital. I eventually found out that some of my classmates were just plugging them into Google just to be done with the assignment. I'm so disappointed and frustrated with the whole experience, I'm trying hard to not let it be a lasting impression. I want to give the class another go, and I hope this doesn't sound dramatic, but it was a traumatic experience. Everyday felt like I was just trying to put out a fire. Anyway, thank you for confirming my thoughts about the SB.

[@AnatomyHero]

It doesn't sound dramatic at all! I know so many students that end up where you are: totally exhausted and defeated because they tried SO hard and it wasn't enough...but most of the time, if a student is putting in the time in...it's only a matter of figuring out that studying rhythm. Not getting it right the first time doesn't say anything about your intelligence or your ability to succeed. I know plenty of students that had to repeat A&P I but they came back strong and then got into their program of choice. My best advice...make sure you have a physical copy of your book and the week before class starts get in that textbook and start reading and taking notes. Then, for the rest of the semester, stay ahead of your professor. You don't have to learn the whole chapter before your professor gets to it, but at least put in an hour trying to get a big overview of the "major characters and settings". Also...really focus on trying to identify what academic skills you need to improve. Usually so long as you try to get a little better every day, you can get where you need to be. I do have a playlist with some stuff on it already and I'm hoping to add more before the fall. Best of luck in your studies! Definitely reach out for advice if you need it.

[@Nola1176]

@@AnatomyHero thank you so much for your feedback. I started listening to your Playlist immediately after you mentioned it in this video. One thing I started doing on my own was printing the diagrams in black and white and coloring them and also writing the function of each tissue, muscle, whatever, on the side. I found that so helpful. I'm a 48 yo nontraditional student, so this online learning threw for a crazy loop. I need to write when I study, it helps me commit things to memory. Anyway, unfortunately, I couldn't even really do that much bc of the time suck of the SB assignments. But yes, I will definitely pay the extra bucks and get a physical copy of the text next time. Thank you again. Your channel has been so helpful. And thank you for taking the time to respond.

[@rgdt214]

@@Nola1176The exact position I’m in right now. Like you said no time to actually read and get knowledge cuz we doing two chapters per week.. I feel the EXACT same way you feel.. I may drop the course and give my brain a break cuz I can’t fail it…

[@butterflypooo]

Idk how I passed A&P when I took it in uni a lonnnnng time ago. I definitely was not consistent and checked out on some sections. It’s been many years since then and I am reviewing the lab manual from front to back and looking up stuff that I don’t understand. I want to go vet school and figure that learning human A&P thoroughly would provide a good basis. I also have a mini flash card booklet and it helps me to review finer details on the go, but not a replacement for the lab manual and quality sitting down study time. I don’t think I developed good study habits in uni though, most of my science courses didn’t need it. If I had a particular hard course, I would take easier courses at the same time or take it by itself in summer school (like Organic Chem) and did really well. Now I want to develop those good study habits so I don’t flunk out of vet school. Anyway, I haven’t gotten to the Physiology part of the course yet but I will see how much I struggle. 🤷🏻

[@masm3608]

Facts,I can apply what you said in a lot of other things have a great day thanks.

[@rgdt214]

Great info.. makes sense what you said! Thank you so much 😊

[@simplystunninglu]

What happens if you have anatomy flash cards ? Do they help ? I order some from Amazon

[@AnatomyHero]

I'm personally very anti flashcard... Go to my study tips playlist and look at the video "Study smarter not harder regional terms" The two concepts that I talk about in that video "space recall and chunking" can be modified to study any topic. The trick is you need to stop being a passive learner, and start being an active learner. Passive learning is reading listening and watching... You need to use passive processes to get the information, but very quickly you should start trying to actively recall the information from memory or you won't remember any of it. If you are learning by watching videos, you should take notes... You should also at the end of every video stop and think "what are all the terms I learned in this video" and then look at your notes to see what you missed. Keep an eye on that study tips playlist, because I hope to be adding more videos soon

[@simplystunninglu]

@@AnatomyHero okay great I got your videos saved I learned the heart and cells because of you I even spell the word out loud than write it down but I break the word down by adding small dots so if it wasn’t for your videos I probably won’t pass Jan 15th I start anatomy and physiology and ima look at your videos and study like that and pray to pass

[@AnatomyHero]

Good! If you are doing all that, you're going to be ok! Also make sure you have a physical textbook and are reading it from day one, page one, because it takes time to learn how to read your textbook efficiently...and if you don't start reading it until you are confused, then its going to be very hard! I'm not sure if its A&P I or A&P II you are starting, but I'm about to put out another video thats a broad overview of "what you are studying and why" and I think it would be helpful for all A&P students to hear

[@simplystunninglu]

@@AnatomyHero and the book we using is SEELEY'S ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY LL 13th edition pretty big book but i definitely got a high lighter it im hoping this teacher starts with cells and the and upper right regions etc so your videos and reading my text book and studying for 8 hours a day i quit my job just to stay focused

[@AnatomyHero]

@@simplystunninglu do you go to the school I work at (NCC?) We switched to that book a few years ago and Ive never liked it. You will still need your Seeley's book, but please also go get yourself a copy of Marieb's human anatomy and physiology, the pictures and diagrams are so, so, so much better than any other textbook...the 9th edition is so cheap, like 10 dollars ...I have a short on how to find cheap textbooks if you need it. I recommend trying to learn "the big picture" for every chapter using that book before you even try to look at Seeleys.

[@rgdt214]

Crazy cuz I dropped chemistry smh