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[Kevin[Loves Jayneeee]]

Hello to all students and those who've recently graduated!  I come to this forum for your help.  I've had my massage license for about a year now and have been working in the field since I found out I passed my medical boards.  I've recently started teaching an anatomy class at a community college for their massage therapy program.  I only teach muscles....not too difficult for me, since I've been working with them everyday.  However, I've never taught before, I was hired because I'm an LMT with a bachelor's of science in biology.  Totora is our main book and we've covered everything up to the muscles that move the radius and ulna. Besides the few students that have had continuous trouble in the class since the begining, now most of the class is struggling.  I'm not sure what to do anymore.....it's like they're not going to do well on the test unless I tell them what the answers are.  I've went in circles trying to figure out how to approach different muscles and doing extra reviews on things that they need extra practice on.  If there was anything that helped any of you, please let me know!  To give you an idea, my students range in ages from 25 - 40 and 3 of the 10 students that are in my class are taking it for the 2nd or 3rd time.   Thanks!

 

[Ree]

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How about drawing the muscles on each other? (There are special markers for that.)I, personally, learned most of the muscles coloring The Anatomy Coloring Book while sitting on a bench, with a friend, at a lake.There are also the LLW (corpse) videos showing the actual muscles and how they move.I also used flash cards and memory cues.

 

[Vannah R]

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I had a FABULOUS anatomy teacher. He made it so fun to learn . We played lots of games, 2 sides of the room competing against eachother, etc. We also drew muscles on eachother and made models of organs out of clay. One day we went outside and did some activities, like swinging a golf club and riding a bike and then had to figure out what muscles we used the most during those activities. My best advice is to tell you to try and make it fun

 

[Sex.See .]

Are you actually teaching AP, or just the muscular system?  Or is this more like a kinesiology course (OIA etc)?

 

[No.]

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The way they have it set up at my school: as they teach about the muscles in an area of the body (i.e., back: ES group and transversospinalis group), they also show us how to palpate it and the types of strokes to use when massaging. All of this (hopefully) cements in the person's mind. As I understand it, kinesthiology has a moderate pass/fail ratio. Although I would continue in your caring and effort, it is not just 'your' responsibility to teach but 'their' responsibility to learn.

 

[Ethel!]

Thanks to all the responses thus far....yes it is for a massage therapy program.  The way the school divides up their quarters allows for the 3rd quarter to just be for CH.11 The Muscular System.  So that's all I teach.  They have a different teacher each quarter, so I'm assuming that doesn't help since I'm sure most of us had one teacher for anatomy and maybe another for massage.  I'm only required to teach from the book...origins, insertions, actions and nerve innervations.  However, I believe the reason they wanted an LMT teaching the course was so they could incorporate palpation of muscles and techniques and field experience in the class, which I offer a lot of.  In fact sometimes I think...I should teach the massage class because that's the only time the class really responds or seems like they understand.  I've used the fun review games and have had some extra inclass projects to learn the eye muscles and facial muscles.  It wasn't until the matching section on the test started appearing that most of the class started doing poorly.  Unfortunately, the director of the program provides the quizes and tests.  However, I think the matching portion only makes the student understand the muscles out of context better. All the students care about is, "if it's not on state boards, then why should it be on our tests?"  I keep telling them that if they can get through the matching portion that they'll have no problem with the multiple choice.  I went through a matching with them that I made up the other day just to give them an idea of how to do it and think through it...I also sent them home with one for extra practice before their next quiz. They seemed to appreciate that. In the end, I agree...they need to study more.  I just want to make sure I'm covering all bases in class.  Thanks for the support.  It's so different being on the other side of the desk.  

 

[lovejudy76]

origins, insertions, actions and Need Feedback

Just a couple of thoughts from a former high school educator....1. Some students are not going to do well no matter what you do so don't stress over them.  They are old enough to take responsiblity for the effort they do or do not put into learning something. 2. Don't be afraid to ask your students for feedback on what works and what doesn't. 3. If almost an entire class does poorly on a particular section test then chances are good that you probably did screw up somewhere along the line in teaching it. It happens. Just own up to it and go back and reteach it better the second time. 4. Quote: "All the students care about is, "if it's not on state boards, then why should it be on our tests?" Tell them that it is their future clients and their effectiveness as a therapist that they should be concerned about and not a test.......Basically, STOP WHINING!!!5. Finally, like some of the other posters have brought up, "origins, insertions, actions and nerve innervations" are a bit difficult to learn when separated from the practical hands-on application of their work. Keep making palpation and hands on techniques as much a part of your class as you can!  

 

[TomIsMe]

hi,sorry i dont have the source for this:"Learner's Ability to Retain Information Studied"Learner's will usually retain:10%  of what they read20%  of what they hear30%  of what they see50%  of what they see and hear70%  of what they say as they talk90%  of what they say as they do a thing!

 

[sarah_venice]

People also learn differently depending on whether they are kinesthetic, audio and/or visual.  My anatomy instructor tried to teach things on all levels in order to reach everyone.I am highly visual and kinesthetic.  What helped me the most was the Anatomy Coloring Book as well as drawing out each individual muscle with O/I and function.  (These had to be turned in as part of the grade.)He had quick quizzes (not graded) where we had to demonstrate in class on the skeleton where the various mucles attached to the bony structure.He had a list of the 25 major muscles we had to learn.  Every day in class we had to recite the 25 major muscles with their O/I's.  Just a few things that I remember from his class.Best of luck to you.

 

[Bozema]

Thanks again for all the new feed back.  Things are getting better.  My class has a big test on tuesday of next week that we've been reviewing in class alot for.  In parts of the review I had them demonstrate the action of the muscle, identify the muscle from a picture, I had them point out O,Is on the skeleton and also simply anwer questions.  The ones that obviously study at home did well with the review and had fun.  The ones that didn't refused to participate and/or complained about questions that they couldn't answer.  So..I know for sure it is likely to be a study thing....they're just not doing it.  I'm trying my best to live up to my mistakes also....and that's one thing that is hard to do   Anyway, you're support has helped!  Thanks so much....i've also been asked to continue teaching next quarter, so I know the director thinks I'm doing alright....  

 

[H.D.]

In the OR we have a saying, "see one, do one, teach one".  That goes for we techs as well as residents.In MT school we had to tell our client(students) what muscle we were on.....and why we were working on it.We never did the games in class but I think that would be fun...and they would remember more.Robyn

 

[Naguru]

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You can also have your students check this site out (I found it in this forum).

http://www.msjensen.gen.umn.edu/webanatomy/GAME/default.html

There are matching games for muscles, bones & all sorts of body parts that may help them learn & remember. It's a great way to study on their own. There are no O's & I's,,, but it's a start.

Hope it helps!