TEACHING STUDY SKILL

How to Study Biology: 5 Study Techniques to Master Biology

We continue our “How to study …” series with this biology study guide. Biology  is a fascinating subject but can often cause problems for students. If this is the case for you, then read on and discover the best techniques to improve your exam results. Other subjects available in this series: “How to Study Maths” and “How to Study History“.

Biology is the study of life and teaches us about ourselves and the natural world around us. A good starting point when studying biology is to admire the perfection of nature and the principles of life.

With this mindset, you’re ready to implement the study techniques outlined below.

How to Study Biology: Top 5 Study Techniques

1 Learn the Terminology

One of the hardest parts of studying biology is remembering the many different terms. If you want to understand what you are studying, then you need to familiarize yourself with all these terms first.  A good method for this is to try and break down complex words to identify their root.

It is highly recommended that whenever you encounter unfamiliar words while studying biology you should take note of them, find it’s definition and then take the time to understand its roots.

2 From the General to the Specific

To follow a process of effective learning of biology, you must master the general concepts before being able to tackle specific ones. For example, you need to understand what factors identify a mammal before starting the factors that identify primates.

In this sense, it is also advisable to study the processes thoroughly before advancing to the next level. To speed up the memorization of the different processes and their relationship, Mind Maps are an effective educational resource for students as they help organize information in a very easy and visual way.

 

3 Embrace the Laboratory

Put biology theory into practice by using the laboratory whenever possible to explore your curiosity. Once in the laboratory you can test your hypothesis and prove your theories. In terms of learning, the act of doing will stay with you a lot longer than the act of reading.

4 Use Drawings

Drawings can help you understand a concept and remember information that would be difficult to define in words.  You should get used to drawing diagrams such as the human heart as you can be asked to produce and label such a drawing in your biology exam.

5 Past Exam Questions

Practice sample answers to past exam questions; past papers which should be available from your teacher. Biology tests can vary widely so it is important to know how you will be evaluated to study accordingly. Are you going to have a multiple choice test or have essay questions on lab work? Leave nothing to chance. Practice, practice and practice!

VRISHAPOOJA AT S.S.P.B.H.S 

Kadakkavoor

KERALA, sunny, lush, green State lies between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghat mountains in southern peninsular India. It is nourished by 44 rivers and a chain of backwaters. Its physiography and its culture are unique. The verdant forests, prestine rivulets and golden beaches are nature's priceless gifts to Kerala. The State, to a great extent, is still free from the scourges of industrialisation. The people of Kerala are highly consious of the need to protect the environment. Kerala is one of the 12 States of India whose legislatures passed resolutions requested to make laws to prevent and control water pollution

Air pollution

Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into Earth's atmosphere, causing disease, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or built environment. Air pollution may come from anthropogenic or natural sources.

AIR POLLUTION

KOCHI: There is a rise in air pollution, especially in the respirable supended particulate matter (RSPM) and subsequent fall in oxygen content, in some parts of the state, says a report by the state pollution control board (PCB). A trend analysis of 30 stations in the past four years (2009-12) by the PCB shows that RSPM levels are above 60 microgram per cubic meter (ug/m3), which is the upper limit as per the national ambient air quality monitoring programme (NAMP) standards. 

While the report attributes the rise in the RSPM levels to the construction industry, rather than industrial or automobile pollution, PCB chairman K Sajeevan says that the board will take a second look at the data to see whether it is related to construction. "As per my assessment, it could be more to do with the state of roads and vehicles which generate too much dust," says he. 

Dr George Mothi, a senior pulmonologist at Medical Trust hospital, Kochi says that there has been a rise in the number of patients reporting with respiratory diseases. 

While noting down the lifestyle of the patient to make an assessment of the cause of his ill-health, he finds that patients with such condition are living close to roads and construction sites or they are regular road travellers. 

The PCB report says that the annual average values of RSPM was found to be more than the permissible limit at seven stations in 2012. 

Irumpanam, a suburb in Kochi, recorded 664 ug/m3 in May 2012. The high value was due to particulates from earth excavation works done for cable laying in the road near the sampling site and the same reason was attributed for the higher annual average of 113.55 ug/m3 there, according to the study. 

The ambient air monitoring is done 24 hours a day for two days a week at each station. Apart from RSPM, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (S02) are monitored at four hour intervals. The permissible limit for NO2 and SO2 is 40 ug/m3 and 50 ug/m3 respectively.