study techniques

[FuzionR]

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Would anyone be interested in sharing some of their study techniques? I'm looking for ways to improve, and would appreciate the input.

Here is what I do.

-Read lecture notes and choose important big picture concepts.
I would then Google as much as I can to learn about the topic (textbooks puts me to sleep). Once I feel that know enough background information, I would make concept map using the slides provided in class. Then read through the slides a few times and look up anything that I'm not familiar with (update concept map).

When I am forced to memorize information I would write each step/ vocab on to half of an index card and scramble everything together and try to rearrange things. (I don't know, it just works for me).

While this method works for me beautifully, I'm worried that I won't have time to do all this in podiatry school/ professional school.

Thanks in advance!

 

[zane870]

I just pretty much Wikipedia everything. It's solid!

 

[podlover]

I retype my notes. It works for me. I too worry about not having enough time in pod school to enforce my current study habits. additional advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[arez10]

You may not have time to do concept maps and flashcards in podiatry school. You need to figure out how to learn the material quickly because there's such a high volume of information. I used to love flashcards in college, so the equivalent that I do in podiatry school is writing something I need to memorize over and over again on a white board or even typing it into a word document. Before I actually "study" I will read through the powerpoint/hand out and make sure I understand the concepts (Wikipedia works well, honestly...I don't use any textbooks) and try to condense my notes based on what I think will be high-yield. Then I try to memorize as much as I can...unfortunately it's rare to get a truly conceptual question in podiatry school. Most professors will test on details that you will need to memorize. Also old exams help, although if you truly want to know the material don't completely rely on them. Most students use them though so if you want to level the playing field, you should probably use them.

 

[FuzionR]

Thanks to those that gave their inputs.

I used to rewrite my notes as well + writing parts of it over and over again, but it didn't do much for me. I try to keep memorization to a minimal because I would forget something within a few days. When reading through my notes I always ask the question "why" or "how" something happens/works and look for the answers.

arez10: how are the format of exams in pod school? Is it written or multiple choice /essays.

I admire those that can memorize things by reading through the slides a few times. I tried memorizing things and it turned out ugly (barely getting C's B's). So basically the name of the game is to learn the topic. I tried memorizing throughout college and I can honestly say that I will never use that approach again.

Wiki is good! any other sites that you guys would recommend? I find wisegeek to be an excellent source when looking for a big overview of a concept.

 

[zane870]

I think study methods will vary from school to school depending on how the curriculum is structured. At Western, during the 2nd semester of 1st year the curriculum starts turning case based. All of the classes during 2nd year are case based. You have small groups in which you work through cases then a large group the next day. During large group, you receive a lecture going through the cases by a faculty physician. We also have regular lecture style classes in which we receive physio or pharm lectures. Physio and pharm are just topics you have to get through with a lot of repetition and memorizing. The cases are good to break down into presentation, physical exam findings, etiology, testing, treatments, etc. All of the tests for our basic science courses are multiple choice.

For our podiatry course (PMP) we take a multiple choice midterm over 2 units and a multiple choice final which is cumulative but weighted more heavily on the 2 units of new material since the midterm. In addition to the written final, we have an oral final. We go into a room with a faculty member and they present us an unknown case. We then have to work through the case answering their questions which may consist of reading/interpreting Xrays or other imaging modalities, describing natural history, relevant anatomy, conservative treatment, and describing surgical treatment. To study for this, you had just better know your stuff!

Good luck finding what works for you and be flexible. Time will be your biggest issue so you must learn to be as efficient as possible.



Oh, and as far as Wikipedia goes- That is pretty much a curse word on our campus!! You had better be getting your info from a peer reviewed source or you will be running laps😀

 

[arez10]

Thanks to those that gave their inputs.

I used to rewrite my notes as well + writing parts of it over and over again, but it didn't do much for me. I try to keep memorization to a minimal because I would forget something within a few days. When reading through my notes I always ask the question "why" or "how" something happens/works and look for the answers.

arez10: how are the format of exams in pod school? Is it written or multiple choice /essays.

I admire those that can memorize things by reading through the slides a few times. I tried memorizing things and it turned out ugly (barely getting C's B's). So basically the name of the game is to learn the topic. I tried memorizing throughout college and I can honestly say that I will never use that approach again.

Wiki is good! any other sites that you guys would recommend? I find wisegeek to be an excellent source when looking for a big overview of a concept.

Exams for me are almost all multiple choice. A couple of our podiatry-related courses have been short answer, because "life isn't multiple choice" and I actually like those tests better. But everything else is multiple choice. Unfortunately, you're going to have to do a lot of memorization in podiatry school...it's just inevitable. Especially in pharmacology and anatomy. There are rarely concept questions on the multiple choice exams.

 

[bobdolerson]

What I've done (this is pod, not undergrad) is go to lecture when it serves a useful purpose, and ignore it when it doesn't. I hate to say it, but sometimes lecture is useless. Not that it's not good to go sometimes, but often there's so much new material that after a few minutes, I'm pretty well lost and just staring at a foreign language while I'm wasting valuable study time.

I can do this because I'm highly motivated on my own, and our profs do well in putting all the information we need to know in the handouts. Textbooks are to be ignored entirely unless they absolutely require you to do extra reading for test material that won't be covered in class. If you don't understand something from class, sometimes they're useful (embryology is coming to mind), but otherwise a lot of them are a waste of money.

I go through the handouts piecemeal, bit by bit, thoroughly understanding each concept before I move on to the next one. A lot of stuff is very intuitive, and doesn't need to be looked at over and over, but the stuff that's a bit more complex or hard to remember I put on notecards with detailed questions on the front regarding specifically what I need to be able to generate to understand the concept.

For tougher concepts, I'll read the text, read wikipedia, find youtube videos, other university online practice tests, whatever. Anything you can find to see the information in a different perspective is beneficial because it's just one more way you can remember it.

If they say to ignore it in class, ignore it. If they make a point of telling you how important it is, then make sure you think it's important come study time. Maybe it's important in life, maybe not, but if the prof thinks it is than what do you think they'll put on an exam?

My method is about efficiency and complete competency. The tests in my school are entirely different from undergrad, going from first order thinking to second, third, etc.

It's not enough anymore to be able to memorize, you now have to apply, and be able to take a scenario never mentioned and understand the underlying concepts and issues that are relevant.

I've only scored less than an A in one class on any test, and that's anatomy because it's just a lot of information and the stuff is tough for me. Other than that, with this method, I've yet to enter an exam room thinking I know less than 100% of the material, and I've felt the same walking out after it's finished.

This may not work for everyone, so I can't stress enough that you must find the most efficient and quick method possible for vast quantities of information. Do it, and do it fast. A week behind is insurmountable. Whatever stupid mnemonic works for you, use it. Who cares if you're thinking about vaginas or sports metaphors during an exam; the important thing is you know what's going on.

 

[GSL83]

I just pretty much Wikipedia everything. It's solid!

That is awesome! I had a Microbiology teacher during my undergrad that was contemplating using Wikipedia as the required reading rather than using a textbook! When it comes to the sciences, I think Wiki is magnificent .

 

[FuzionR]

So far here is the list: Please feel free to add

Wikipedia
Simple Wiki 👍
Wisegeek
Khan academy
Google images
Youtube

 

[bobdolerson]

I absolutely in no way recommend finding torrents or other readily available means to download detailed and well designed interactive software, animations, or textbooks for free. I especially don't think it's okay to do this regarding anatomy, nor do I think some of the black marketed software out there does a fantastic job of full interactive dissections, innervations, vasculature, etc.

Not at all do I condone this.

 

[Xforward22]

This sounds a lot like my school. After you read this post, I'm positive you will know if we attend the same school.

I agree with bits and pieces of what everyone said except for those who said they don't memorize. Pod school is almost ALL memorization. You learn 10,000 new words in anatomy alone, and that's all the class is. You just name crap all day long. Then again classes like biochem will have you memorize most of the details in a 700 page handout and give you a 50 question comprehensive final in which 25% of the questions require higher ordering thinging/application. So you have to memorize more than what you thought was possible for one class just to be able to INTERPRET the question 🙂

If you try and put everything on flashcards you will quickly fall behind. I can't survive without concept maps and while they also take time, it's nothing like making flash cards b/c you're connecting main themes on paper and storing the details in your mind. SO much info comes SO fast and something might connect with something else you learn 100 pages later, so it makes for a quick and easy reference and allows you to connect the dots.

USE concept maps, DO NOT make flash cards, and good luck! It's all worth it in the end ...

 

[Xforward22]

What I've done (this is pod, not undergrad) is go to lecture when it serves a useful purpose, and ignore it when it doesn't. I hate to say it, but sometimes lecture is useless. Not that it's not good to go sometimes, but often there's so much new material that after a few minutes, I'm pretty well lost and just staring at a foreign language while I'm wasting valuable study time.

I can do this because I'm highly motivated on my own, and our profs do well in putting all the information we need to know in the handouts. Textbooks are to be ignored entirely unless they absolutely require you to do extra reading for test material that won't be covered in class. If you don't understand something from class, sometimes they're useful (embryology is coming to mind), but otherwise a lot of them are a waste of money.

I go through the handouts piecemeal, bit by bit, thoroughly understanding each concept before I move on to the next one. A lot of stuff is very intuitive, and doesn't need to be looked at over and over, but the stuff that's a bit more complex or hard to remember I put on notecards with detailed questions on the front regarding specifically what I need to be able to generate to understand the concept.

For tougher concepts, I'll read the text, read wikipedia, find youtube videos, other university online practice tests, whatever. Anything you can find to see the information in a different perspective is beneficial because it's just one more way you can remember it.

If they say to ignore it in class, ignore it. If they make a point of telling you how important it is, then make sure you think it's important come study time. Maybe it's important in life, maybe not, but if the prof thinks it is than what do you think they'll put on an exam?

My method is about efficiency and complete competency. The tests in my school are entirely different from undergrad, going from first order thinking to second, third, etc.

It's not enough anymore to be able to memorize, you now have to apply, and be able to take a scenario never mentioned and understand the underlying concepts and issues that are relevant.

I've only scored less than an A in one class on any test, and that's anatomy because it's just a lot of information and the stuff is tough for me. Other than that, with this method, I've yet to enter an exam room thinking I know less than 100% of the material, and I've felt the same walking out after it's finished.

This may not work for everyone, so I can't stress enough that you must find the most efficient and quick method possible for vast quantities of information. Do it, and do it fast. A week behind is insurmountable. Whatever stupid mnemonic works for you, use it. Who cares if you're thinking about vaginas or sports metaphors during an exam; the important thing is you know what's going on.

When I talk about how I think we probably attend the same school, I was refererring to this post. Sorry to confuse.

 

[bobdolerson]

All I know is I thought Iraq was just going to be a country in the middle east for my tenure, and not part of the basis for my cell-bio grade.

 

[Xforward22]

All I know is I thought Iraq was just going to be a country in the middle east for my tenure, and not part of the basis for my cell-bio grade.

Haha looks like I was right. Good luck with this last week whoever you are ... I'm sure I'll see you around.

 

[dyk343]

What I've done (this is pod, not undergrad) is go to lecture when it serves a useful purpose, and ignore it when it doesn't. I hate to say it, but sometimes lecture is useless. Not that it's not good to go sometimes, but often there's so much new material that after a few minutes, I'm pretty well lost and just staring at a foreign language while I'm wasting valuable study time.

I can do this because I'm highly motivated on my own, and our profs do well in putting all the information we need to know in the handouts. Textbooks are to be ignored entirely unless they absolutely require you to do extra reading for test material that won't be covered in class. If you don't understand something from class, sometimes they're useful (embryology is coming to mind), but otherwise a lot of them are a waste of money.

I go through the handouts piecemeal, bit by bit, thoroughly understanding each concept before I move on to the next one. A lot of stuff is very intuitive, and doesn't need to be looked at over and over, but the stuff that's a bit more complex or hard to remember I put on notecards with detailed questions on the front regarding specifically what I need to be able to generate to understand the concept.

For tougher concepts, I'll read the text, read wikipedia, find youtube videos, other university online practice tests, whatever. Anything you can find to see the information in a different perspective is beneficial because it's just one more way you can remember it.

If they say to ignore it in class, ignore it. If they make a point of telling you how important it is, then make sure you think it's important come study time. Maybe it's important in life, maybe not, but if the prof thinks it is than what do you think they'll put on an exam?

My method is about efficiency and complete competency. The tests in my school are entirely different from undergrad, going from first order thinking to second, third, etc.

It's not enough anymore to be able to memorize, you now have to apply, and be able to take a scenario never mentioned and understand the underlying concepts and issues that are relevant.

I've only scored less than an A in one class on any test, and that's anatomy because it's just a lot of information and the stuff is tough for me. Other than that, with this method, I've yet to enter an exam room thinking I know less than 100% of the material, and I've felt the same walking out after it's finished.

This may not work for everyone, so I can't stress enough that you must find the most efficient and quick method possible for vast quantities of information. Do it, and do it fast. A week behind is insurmountable. Whatever stupid mnemonic works for you, use it. Who cares if you're thinking about vaginas or sports metaphors during an exam; the important thing is you know what's going on.

This is pretty solid advice for the most part. It wont fit everyone, but I agree with much of what he said.


What I do/did is I read either 10-20 slides, or until the end of the topic in my class handouts then get out a piece of paper and write out everything without looking back at my notes. Then I go back and check to see what i forgot/missed. If I forgot a substantial amount then I again go back and write it all out until I get it down. Its important to struggle through it and not cheat by looksing at your notes.

This works for me, and wouldnt work for many. But its an option to try. It helps me with long term too, not just short term memorization.

 

[Podophile]

Study mostly with the goal of understanding as much of the material as possible. IF you can't explain a concept in basic terms to a non-medical person, then you don't know the topic well enough. There's no way you're going to remember something you memorized and purged when you're being pimped during your 4th year (when knowing the information really matters and can land you a residency). Everything you learn should make sense and be logical and hopefully lead you to some conclusion.

Then when you understand the key concepts and ideas, continue to fill in your knowledge with details. This may include memorizing some of the smaller points if you want to really excel on the exams. Memorization isn't all bad as it gives you some foundation for the future. If you knew something at one time through strict memorization, it is much easier to learn the 2nd time around especially if you add some understanding along with it.

 

[podlover]

Who cares if you're thinking about vaginas or sports metaphors during an exam; the important thing is you know what's going on.