How to cram all night and not crash the next morning +LIFE & STYLE, page 4 University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Research finds popular study habits not beneficial By Sam Cusick The Daily Cardinal
From cramming the night before a big test to creating month-long study plans, students utilize different study tactics to succeed in classes. But a new research study released Jan. 10 found some of students’ favorite study tactics are not beneficial, and may even hinder their learning. University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor of Educational Psychology Mitchell Nathan helped conduct the study, which compiled existing research on study methods into one large research project to find which methods benefit students the most and which have a negative impact. The research focused on 10 commonly used study methods and tested the benefits of them on students of different ages and cognitive abilities. The study found some of the most popular study techniques, including underlining, highlighting and re-reading material, had little benefit to students and in some cases proved detrimental. “While [highlighting, underlining and re-reading] can achieve some advantages in some kinds of circumstances, it tends to focus the reader’s thinking on kind of isolated facts or phrases,” Nathan said. “But they do really badly if you ask ques-
tions that go much beyond recognizing phrases and fact retrieval.” Additionally, while cramming before a big test is second nature to many students, the research found that studying over a long period of time and practice testing are the most effective ways of learning material. Nathan said most students forget memory includes both storing and retrieving information and that if students do not store information properly it becomes challenging to retrieve it when needed. “You could store everything you encounter, but if you can’t retrieve it ever, you won’t look any more competent than someone next to you who didn’t remember it in the first place,” he said. UW-Madison sophomore Theodore Bakken said he was not surprised by the research findings, but said he engages in the recommended behavior by recopying his notes everyday after class to master the material. “I’ve had pretty good success with my study habits,” Bakken said. Nathan said he hopes the research will help students and teachers improve learning inside and outside the classroom. More information about the research’s findings can be found on the Association for Psychological Science’s website.
New Orpheum management hopes to build off recent concert’s success By Erik Thiel The Daily Cardinal
The Orpheum Theatre’s new management reports the venue is “doing great” since reopening this January, adding it aims to generate more success by tailoring entertainment toward students and by continuing to build off positive community feedback. Independent concert promoter Frank Productions began managing the Orpheum this month and will continue management while the Monona State Bank, which cur-
rently owns the Orpheum, undergoes the foreclosure process. Monona State Bank foreclosed on the Orpheum last September due to co-owners Henry Doane and Eric Fleming’s failure to pay back a $1.1 million loan. Additionally, Frank Production promoter Charlie Goldstone pointed to headliners like Big Gigantic and the theater’s large dance space as exemplary of Frank Productions’ effort to tailor the
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mark kauzlarich/cardinal file photo
A university-sponsored end-of-the-year event could be held May 4, the same day as the 2013 Mifflin Street Block Party, but is still in the planning stages.
Student leaders continue planning for year-end party By Abby Becker the daily cardinal
A student-led group will soon officially propose a university-sponsored end-of-the year event on May 4, the same day as the 2013 Mifflin Street Block Party. The event, which has been in its beginning stages since late November, would be a music and arts festival held near Randall Avenue in the Union South area, according to Associated Students of Madison Vice Chair Maria Giannopoulos. While all plans are tentative, Giannopoulos said there could be local entertainment from students, such as a cappella and dance groups, in addition to a headlining artist, which is still unknown. The cost of the event is “up in the air” and depends on how much support the
group receives from donors and how many people attend the event, according to Giannopoulos. Unlike the Mifflin Street Block Party, this university-sponsored event could have a designated party area for which students could have to pay to enter. Giannopolous said alcohol could be served at this event to students 21-yearsold and over, similar to how alcohol is served at Badger Bash. While the event would occur on the same day as Mifflin, Wisconsin Union Directorate President Sarah Mathews said the more structured end-of-the-year celebration was not planned as a block-party alternative. “We’re not trying to eradicate Mifflin by
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State committees set date to vote on mining bill
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The Orpheum, which reopened this month under the management of Frank Productions, has sold out future shows despite having had only one concert.
Committees in both houses of the state legislature are scheduled to vote Feb. 6 on the state’s controversial mining bill, which would alter some rules and regulations on iron mining in the state. The bill has already caused conflict in the legislature with Republican backers saying the mines that could result from the bill would bring jobs to the state, specifically in the north. Democrats and northern Chippewa tribal leaders, however, argue the jobs would come at the expense of Wisconsin’s environment. The legislation is designed to streamline the permitting process for companies interested in mining in the state. In the bill, Republicans said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had to make a decision on submitted permits within 420 days of receiving them. Republicans also gave the Wisconsin DNR power to exempt mining companies from
certain environmental standards governing wetlands and waterways. Both committees voting on the bill are chaired by a co-author of the legislation. The Senate Committee on Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining and Revenue is chaired by state Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, and the Assembly’s Committee on Jobs, Economy and Mining is chaired by state Rep. Mary Williams, R-Medford. Democratic legislators criticized both Tiffany and Williams for only holding one hearing on the bill, far from the areas that would be most affected by a mine, and for not adopting any Democratic proposals for the bill. However, Republicans continue to stress they are open to working with Democrats to pass the bill. If passed, the bill will likely move to the Joint Finance Committee. —Jack Casey
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”