Re: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?

2008-09-27 Thread Bryan Llewellyn

In the three example cards they show there are errors.

In the first one it gives "liter" and "meter".  I know this spelling is 
common in the United States, but I believe the SI standard is "litre" and 
"metre".  In other words, include both.


In the middle one, about reticulin staining, I would dispute the dogmatic 
nature of the information.  Although this is a common explanation, it is not 
the modern one, which uses analogies to the photographic process.  It is 
presented as absolute fact when it is an unproven suggestion as to what may 
happen.


The final one, about dye structure, uses "chromogen" as a synonym for 
"chromophore", whereas it is a little used term for the dye+chromophore 
combination.  For that reason, the final use of "chromophore" should 
actually be "chromogen".  The word "auxophore" does not exist.  It should be 
auxochrome.


If you are going to use flash cards for improving rote learning of facts, 
make sure the facts being learned are correct.  I suggest that students 
should have the cards checked out by an experienced educator technologist 
before using them, as first-learned information stays with you for decades.


Bryan Llewellyn


- Original Message - 
From: "Lee & Peggy Wenk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'Kristen Yaros'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Histonet'" 


Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 8:28 AM
Subject: RE: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?



I had never heard of them, so I looked them up on the website. Morrison
Media www.mo-med.com

They sell all kinds of flashcards and study guides for lots of tests. 
Under

the E-H category, where the HT and HTL flashcards have a link, there are
also links to Electrician exam, Paramedic exam, First Responder test,
Funeral Service test, GED, GRE, GMAT - you get the idea.

According to their general blurb, they have experts in the field writing 
the

flashcards. Does anyone know any histotech involved in writing the
flashcards? I'd love for them to talk about this.

I think for some people, having flashcards would fit with their style of
learning - give them soundbites of information on topics, instead of 
having

them read entire books. Or use this as a supplement to studying. Or have
them in their purse/pocket where they can pull out a card and study on the
go, instead of a book.

But I do have some concerns about the flashcards and the test taking
information this company supplies. If there is someone out there who 
helped
write the cards, or someone who has bought the cards to respond, that 
would

be helpful.
- They have topics divided into 2 tests (have to pay separate for them) - 
HT

and HTL. But when I look at what's on the HT exam vs. what's on the HTL
exam, I have some concerns.
- HTL need to know chemical fixatives, HT are supposed to know chemical 
and

physical fixation.
- HTL need to know autolysis, HT are supposed to know autolysis and
putrefaction
- HTL need to know acid decalcification, HT are supposed to know
decalcification and chelation
- HT are supposed to know Immunofluorescence, Electron microscopy, 
Carbowax

and Celloidin, which are not listed on the HTL topics (yet ASCP HTL exam
would include these topics, but ASCP HT exam would not)
- The only stains listed for HT are H&E, Mucopolysaccharides, 
Hyaluronidase,

Gomori Trichrome.
- HTL stains include Connective tissue, PTAH, Bacteria, Fungus, Gram,
Auramine-Rhodamine, Exogenous pigments, Minerals. Yet on the ASCP HT exam,
all these stains are also required for the HT exam.
You get the idea.

Also, under the "Histotechnology Exam Secrets Study Guide", they are 
saying
that their histotechnology exam study guide will help people "beat the 
test
taking game", and that their research in the HT and HTL exam offered by 
ASCP

"reveals specific weaknesses that you can exploit".

Basically, what followed were test taking tips - how to guess to your
advantage, how to tell the difference between right answers and clever
sounding traps, how random bits of information often give away the right
answer, how to look for key words to identify the correct answer, etc.

Yet I know that the ASCP Board of Registry has (or at least did have) a
psychometrician on staff - someone with a PhD in test writing, who works
with the histotechs and pathologists writing the exam questions, to
eliminate all the above "clues".

Between this company's "tips" and the customer testimonials that they only
studied for 1 week (one case, 5 hours) and passed the exam - I'm worried
about people who aren't studying for the HT/HTL exam, and think these test
taking clues will help them pass. This isn't like taking the GRE, where 
you
can get by with some math and grammar background that can to be 
refreshed -

the HT and HTL exams are based on a LOT of infor

RE: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?

2008-09-27 Thread joelle weaver

I was not involved in writing any questions/answers. However I am thinking of 
buying some of the cards just of out curiousity! I can understand the concern 
about the memorization aspect versus true understanding, application- a.k.a 
"knowledge". I definately think that this would be a drawback. I have worked 
with a number of folks who seemed to have memorized information for the test 
but either do not seem to have retained any of it, and/or unable to apply any 
of the details of that information when in a real laboratory situation. (and 
have apparantly also lost the ability to look up needed information).  I can 
also see that the HT versus HTL topic lists do not seem to coincide much with 
the topic and study lists published for registry exam preparation on the ASCP 
website? I know that the special stains list is most definately not a match. Go 
figure? 
It will be interesting to see what reply is posted.
Joelle> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; > Date: Sat, 27 Sep 
2008 11:28:56 -0400> Subject: RE: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?> CC: > > I had 
never heard of them, so I looked them up on the website. Morrison> Media 
www.mo-med.com> > They sell all kinds of flashcards and study guides for lots 
of tests. Under> the E-H category, where the HT and HTL flashcards have a link, 
there are> also links to Electrician exam, Paramedic exam, First Responder 
test,> Funeral Service test, GED, GRE, GMAT - you get the idea. > > According 
to their general blurb, they have experts in the field writing the> flashcards. 
Does anyone know any histotech involved in writing the> flashcards? I'd love 
for them to talk about this.> > I think for some people, having flashcards 
would fit with their style of> learning - give them soundbites of information 
on topics, instead of having> them read entire books. Or use this as a 
supplement to studying. Or have> them in their purse/pocket where they can pull 
out a card and study on the> go, instead of a book.> > But I do have some 
concerns about the flashcards and the test taking> information this company 
supplies. If there is someone out there who helped> write the cards, or someone 
who has bought the cards to respond, that would> be helpful.> - They have 
topics divided into 2 tests (have to pay separate for them) - HT> and HTL. But 
when I look at what's on the HT exam vs. what's on the HTL> exam, I have some 
concerns.> - HTL need to know chemical fixatives, HT are supposed to know 
chemical and> physical fixation.> - HTL need to know autolysis, HT are supposed 
to know autolysis and> putrefaction> - HTL need to know acid decalcification, 
HT are supposed to know> decalcification and chelation> - HT are supposed to 
know Immunofluorescence, Electron microscopy, Carbowax> and Celloidin, which 
are not listed on the HTL topics (yet ASCP HTL exam> would include these 
topics, but ASCP HT exam would not)> - The only stains listed for HT are H&E, 
Mucopolysaccharides, Hyaluronidase,> Gomori Trichrome. > - HTL stains include 
Connective tissue, PTAH, Bacteria, Fungus, Gram,> Auramine-Rhodamine, Exogenous 
pigments, Minerals. Yet on the ASCP HT exam,> all these stains are also 
required for the HT exam.> You get the idea.> > Also, under the 
"Histotechnology Exam Secrets Study Guide", they are saying> that their 
histotechnology exam study guide will help people "beat the test> taking game", 
and that their research in the HT and HTL exam offered by ASCP> "reveals 
specific weaknesses that you can exploit".> > Basically, what followed were 
test taking tips - how to guess to your> advantage, how to tell the difference 
between right answers and clever> sounding traps, how random bits of 
information often give away the right> answer, how to look for key words to 
identify the correct answer, etc.> > Yet I know that the ASCP Board of Registry 
has (or at least did have) a> psychometrician on staff - someone with a PhD in 
test writing, who works> with the histotechs and pathologists writing the exam 
questions, to> eliminate all the above "clues".> > Between this company's 
"tips" and the customer testimonials that they only> studied for 1 week (one 
case, 5 hours) and passed the exam - I'm worried> about people who aren't 
studying for the HT/HTL exam, and think these test> taking clues will help them 
pass. This isn't like taking the GRE, where you> can get by with some math and 
grammar background that can to be refreshed -> the HT and HTL exams are based 
on a LOT of information that has to be> LEARNED and APPLIED.> > The other 
concern I have is that the 3 flashcards they show as examples are> still 
MEMORIZED information. What test takers have p

RE: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?

2008-09-27 Thread Lee & Peggy Wenk
I had never heard of them, so I looked them up on the website. Morrison
Media www.mo-med.com

They sell all kinds of flashcards and study guides for lots of tests. Under
the E-H category, where the HT and HTL flashcards have a link, there are
also links to Electrician exam, Paramedic exam, First Responder test,
Funeral Service test, GED, GRE, GMAT - you get the idea. 

According to their general blurb, they have experts in the field writing the
flashcards. Does anyone know any histotech involved in writing the
flashcards? I'd love for them to talk about this.

I think for some people, having flashcards would fit with their style of
learning - give them soundbites of information on topics, instead of having
them read entire books. Or use this as a supplement to studying. Or have
them in their purse/pocket where they can pull out a card and study on the
go, instead of a book.

But I do have some concerns about the flashcards and the test taking
information this company supplies. If there is someone out there who helped
write the cards, or someone who has bought the cards to respond, that would
be helpful.
- They have topics divided into 2 tests (have to pay separate for them) - HT
and HTL. But when I look at what's on the HT exam vs. what's on the HTL
exam, I have some concerns.
- HTL need to know chemical fixatives, HT are supposed to know chemical and
physical fixation.
- HTL need to know autolysis, HT are supposed to know autolysis and
putrefaction
- HTL need to know acid decalcification, HT are supposed to know
decalcification and chelation
- HT are supposed to know Immunofluorescence, Electron microscopy, Carbowax
and Celloidin, which are not listed on the HTL topics (yet ASCP HTL exam
would include these topics, but ASCP HT exam would not)
- The only stains listed for HT are H&E, Mucopolysaccharides, Hyaluronidase,
Gomori Trichrome. 
- HTL stains include Connective tissue, PTAH, Bacteria, Fungus, Gram,
Auramine-Rhodamine, Exogenous pigments, Minerals. Yet on the ASCP HT exam,
all these stains are also required for the HT exam.
You get the idea.

Also, under the "Histotechnology Exam Secrets Study Guide", they are saying
that their histotechnology exam study guide will help people "beat the test
taking game", and that their research in the HT and HTL exam offered by ASCP
"reveals specific weaknesses that you can exploit".

Basically, what followed were test taking tips - how to guess to your
advantage, how to tell the difference between right answers and clever
sounding traps, how random bits of information often give away the right
answer, how to look for key words to identify the correct answer, etc.

Yet I know that the ASCP Board of Registry has (or at least did have) a
psychometrician on staff - someone with a PhD in test writing, who works
with the histotechs and pathologists writing the exam questions, to
eliminate all the above "clues".

Between this company's "tips" and the customer testimonials that they only
studied for 1 week (one case, 5 hours) and passed the exam - I'm worried
about people who aren't studying for the HT/HTL exam, and think these test
taking clues will help them pass. This isn't like taking the GRE, where you
can get by with some math and grammar background that can to be refreshed -
the HT and HTL exams are based on a LOT of information that has to be
LEARNED and APPLIED.

The other concern I have is that the 3 flashcards they show as examples are
still MEMORIZED information. What test takers have problems with are the
PROBLEM-SOLVING and TROUBLESHOOTING aspects of the HT and HTL exams. Yes,
they need to know what the oxidizer in the retic stain is, but they also
need to know how to tell if it isn't working, or what to do if they run out,
etc.

So I'd love to hear from someone involved with writing these
flashcards/study guides, and would love to hear from someone who actually
bought them and used them.
 
Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kristen
Yaros
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 4:12 PM
To: Histonet
Subject: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?

Has anyone heard of these? I just came across this site and was wondering if
anyone has used these pre-made flash cards.

http://www.flashcardsecrets.com/histotech/

--
Kristen Yaros, HT (ASCP)CM
Histotechnology Society of Delaware
Correspondence Secretary
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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RE: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?

2008-09-24 Thread joelle weaver

Hi Kristen
Thanks for sharing this interesting site. I think that it might be useful now 
that exam is a computer-adapted test model. I think that these could be helpful 
for review. The topic list seemed fairly complete. I have never personally used 
them. I just studied from my own notes and reference texts, but I think that I 
will keep these in mind if any students in our local histotechnology program 
asks about study materials.
Regards-
Joelle Weaver HTL(ASCP)> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:11:46 -0400> From: [EMAIL 
PROTECTED]> To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu> Subject: [Histonet] HTL 
Flash Cards?> > Has anyone heard of these? I just came across this site and was 
wondering if> anyone has used these pre-made flash cards.> > 
http://www.flashcardsecrets.com/histotech/> > -- > Kristen Yaros, HT (ASCP)CM> 
Histotechnology Society of Delaware> Correspondence Secretary> [EMAIL 
PROTECTED]> ___> Histonet mailing 
list> Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu> 
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
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Histonet mailing list
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[Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?

2008-09-24 Thread Kristen Yaros
Has anyone heard of these? I just came across this site and was wondering if
anyone has used these pre-made flash cards.

http://www.flashcardsecrets.com/histotech/

-- 
Kristen Yaros, HT (ASCP)CM
Histotechnology Society of Delaware
Correspondence Secretary
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
___
Histonet mailing list
Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet