Anatomy Lab Practical by Kara

Anatomy Lab Practical by Kara - June 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a biology student, anatomy is a core class that most students have to take in order to graduate. Every university teaches anatomy differently, not just the lecture portion, but also the lab that accompanies it. Some campuses have cadaver labs, while others use models and diagrams to help students understand the body. Regardless, practicals are a testing tool used in the lab portion of a biology class. I've struggled with practicals and figured out a way to overcome the fear of lab.

As a second year student, I had my anatomy class. My school did not have a cadaver lab, instead we used models and diagrams to show the parts of the body. There was one practical I really struggled with that included the skeletal and muscular systems. I had spent plenty of time in the lab preparing for the practical, but I just couldn't remember everything I needed to in order to do well on the practical. This resulted in a failing grade for the practical. Even though I failed the practical, it helped me understand how to change my study habits in order to do well on the next practical.

Originally, I was going into the lab and just looking at the models and diagrams. I figured that if I looked at them enough, they would become engrained in my memory. This was not the case, as I found out on my practical. I learned that I couldn't just look at the models, but instead needed to go through each model and diagram, asking myself potential questions that my professor would ask. Even though I spent the same amount of time looking at the materials, I found a way to better enhance my memory along with visual cues specific to what my professor would ask.