Study Strategies for Success in Anatomy & Physiology Rob Swatski Assistant Professor of Biology HACC – York Campus

Your Learning Style Profile There is no one best way to learn! Evaluate yourself A. Study Skills B. Learning Style C. Preference

There is no one best way to learn!

Evaluate yourself

A. Study Skills

B. Learning Style

C. Preference

Visual Add diagrams to notes Create flowcharts Watch animations & films Visually organize your notes so you can see main points & connections Color-code notes Use visual organizers

Add diagrams to notes

Create flowcharts

Watch animations & films

Visually organize your notes so you can see main points & connections

Color-code notes

Use visual organizers

Verbal Reading, hearing spoken words, discuss, explain Attend lectures & review sessions Ask questions Record lectures, rewrite notes, & add what you missed Recite information aloud Study groups

Reading, hearing spoken words, discuss, explain

Attend lectures & review sessions

Ask questions

Record lectures, rewrite notes, & add what you missed

Recite information aloud

Study groups

Active/Tactile (Kinesthetic) “ The mind remembers what the hands do” Experience the material: draw, build, create Move around & recite while learning Group work: flash cards Teach material to a classmate

“ The mind remembers what the hands do”

Experience the material: draw, build, create

Move around & recite while learning

Group work: flash cards

Teach material to a classmate

Linear (Left-Brain) Learning You need details, step-by-step logical sequences, & structure Rewrite/summarize notes following your own logic (outlines) Make your own flash cards Map out the chapter – get a sense of the Big Picture

You need details, step-by-step logical sequences, & structure

Rewrite/summarize notes following your own logic (outlines)

Make your own flash cards

Map out the chapter – get a sense of the Big Picture

Holistic (Right-Brain) Learning You need to see the Big Picture & relationships between ideas in order for concepts to make sense Use maps & visual organizers Develop flash cards of most important concepts Annotate your textbook

You need to see the Big Picture & relationships between ideas in order for concepts to make sense

Use maps & visual organizers

Develop flash cards of most important concepts

Annotate your textbook

Annotate Your Textbook Become an Active Reader – “take notes” in your textbook as you read Not simply “highlighting” – too passive Annotating forces you to concentrate better

Become an Active Reader – “take notes” in your textbook as you read

Not simply “highlighting” – too passive

Annotating forces you to concentrate better

How to Annotate Make note of concepts you don’t understand Underline important terms Circle definitions Write key words & definitions in margins Signal important info – key words or symbols in margin Write short summaries in margin at end of subtopics Indicate steps in a process by writing numbers in margin

Make note of concepts you don’t understand

Underline important terms

Circle definitions

Write key words & definitions in margins

Signal important info – key words or symbols in margin

Write short summaries in margin at end of subtopics

Indicate steps in a process by writing numbers in margin

“ Chunking” System of mental filing & retrieving Break up studying into 45 min to 1 hour chunks (max. attention span for most) Break up reading by chapter subtopics Annotate text & label info for future reference Add new info to maps/outlines after lecture Write a summary of each “chunk” of reading

System of mental filing & retrieving

Break up studying into 45 min to 1 hour chunks (max. attention span for most)

Break up reading by chapter subtopics

Annotate text & label info for future reference

Add new info to maps/outlines after lecture

Write a summary of each “chunk” of reading

Let me know if you need any extra help this semester! Rob Swatski Rm 108-C [email_address] 718-0328, ext 3573 Tutoring in Learning Center: MW 2-4 I’ll be happy to help you with learning styles, study tips, test-taking, & time management strategies Have a successful semester!!! All photographs of students & student projects taken by Rob Swatski, Summer & Fall 2008, HACC – York Campus

Rob Swatski Rm 108-C

[email_address]

718-0328, ext 3573

Tutoring in Learning Center: MW 2-4

I’ll be happy to help you with learning styles, study tips, test-taking, & time management strategies

Have a successful semester!!!

All photographs of students & student projects taken by Rob Swatski, Summer & Fall 2008, HACC – York Campus