Highlighting, re-reading not as effective, according to psychology researchers PODNAR CHIEF REPORTER | RACHEL rmpodnar@bsu.edu
H
igh school teachers have instructed students how to pass standardized tests throughout the years, but study methods they often use aren’t as effective as they may think, according to a new study.
A 2012 study published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest, “Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques,” reviewed studies on 10 techniques based on cognitive and educational psychology research, and found that some study skills such as highlighting or re-reading are not as effective as they are widely-used. The researchers found common study techniques like summarizing, highlighting and rereading were rated as having low utility, less
than self-explanation and in-depth questioning. Practice testing and distributing practice sessions over time are the most effective techniques, according to the study. Kent State associate professor of psychology Katherine Rawson said the team had a good idea as to what the findings would be because of prior research, but the results may surprise students and educators. “We already knew which strategies were the winners and which ones weren’t,” she said. “The
surprise is on the user-end of the strategies. Students regularly report using highlighting and re-reading when the literature suggests they are not particularly effective strategies.” Kent State professor and director of experimental training John Dunlosky, who worked on the team of researchers with Rawson, said methods like highlighting can be useful, but they cannot stand alone. “Highlighting is just the beginning,” he said via email. “Students can begin by highlighting the most important information, but then they should review that information from time to time until they have learned it well. And, when students reread, they often do so passively, so they need to use other strategies [such as self testing] as they are reviewing their notes to learn them best.”
WHAT WORKS WHAT
Here are the most effective and least effective study habits according to a psychological report. LOW • Summarization
• Highlighting • The keyword mnemonic • Imagery use for text learning • Re-reading MODERATE • Elaborative interrogation
• Self-explanation • Alternating problem type HIGH • Practice testing
• Distributed practice
See STUDY, page 3
DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION EMILY THEIS AND COREY OHLENKAMP
Ind. plan could require armed officials at schools
DN| BRIEF
New proposal would allow employees to carry firearms during regular school hours | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DN FILE PHOTO BOBBY ELLIS
Bill Scholl said he is nearly finished with the second interviews for a replacement for Billy Taylor. Scholl is confident a new coach will be in place soon after Saturday’s games.
SCHOLL OPTIMISTIC COACH VACANCY WILL BE FILLED BY END OF FINAL FOUR Ball State athletic director Bill Scholl has been reluctant to release names or say how big the candidate pool is for the vacant men’s basketball coaching position, but it’s clear the search is starting to take on a new tone. Scholl is on the road again this week and said he’s nearing the phase of second interviews with potential replacements for Billy Taylor. “Clearly there are some candidates that separated themselves, and we want to have another conversation with them,” Scholl said. Since Taylor was fired on March 14, Scholl has named the Final Four as a tentative ending point for the search. Scholl said he’s optimistic a coach will be in place soon after the games are completed Saturday. “I didn’t really specify an end or beginning of [the search], but I pretty much feel like we’re on track to hit that target,” Scholl said. Scholl will be in Atlanta for this weekend’s games, but said it’s commonplace for the industry to gather there. He didn’t specify whether he’s going to interview any staff on the competing teams or whether there’s a favorite for the job at this point. “There was a lot of interest in the job and we really went out of our way to turn over a lot of stones,” Scholl said. “I don’t want to quantify it but a lot of talented people expressed interest and we talked to an awful lot of them.”
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s public and charter schools would be required to have an employee carry a loaded gun during school in order to respond quickly to attacks under a proposal an Indiana House committee approved Tuesday. Supporters said the proposal could help prevent tragedies such as the December elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in which 20 students and six teachers died. Opponents said they’re concerned that the proposal was rushed and that it’s unnecessary and could force schools to hire people who are willing to carry guns.
Schools would be required to always have someone carrying a gun on duty during school hours. People filling the role could be police officers or other non-educators but also could be teachers or principals. Regardless, the protection officers would have to meet training standards set by a new statewide school safety board, said the provision’s sponsor, Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour. “I’ve been approached by several teachers that would love the ability to have their natural right to self-defense recognized and would gladly do this without being paid,” Lucas said. The House Education Committee voted 9-3 to approve the bill, advancing it to the Ways and Means Committee for financial review. It would still need approval from the full House and Senate, which are both dominated by Republicans. A National Rifle Association-sponsored study released Tuesday recom-
GUN PROPOSAL WHAT
The House Education Committee voted 9-3 to approve a bill that would require at least one person at an Indiana public or charter school to carry a gun. SO WHAT?
The proposal comes months after the elementary school shooting in Newton, Conn., which killed 20 children and six adults. Opponents say they’re concerned that the proposal was rushed and could force school to hire people who are willing to carry gun’s. mended schools across the nation each train and arm at least one staff member. South Dakota’s governor last month signed into law a measure allowing the state’s school districts to arm teachers and other personnel with guns, but no
SECONDARY GETS LIFT FROM NEW COACH Morrison’s first spring practice at Ball State shows his personality will help defense
See GUNS, page 3
CALL THE FASHION POLICE... or not! Find out what rules were meant to be broken SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 4
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