RE: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?
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 HE, 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
Re: [Histonet] HTL Flash Cards?
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' histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 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 HE, 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
