To be aware of the best study methods or study techniques for students is good information for instructors to know, because in a way it would make things easier for them (instructors), how to teach the subjects. I am surprised that for students, highlighting and underlining were found to be one of the worst study techniques. But then it may be a student's preference not to mark or write in their books when they study. Students often ask what they need to know for a test, and highlighting or underlining the sentence in the book would emphasize that for them, specifically, if they had not written any notes down. Summarizing as one of the worst study techniques also surprises me, as it is a way to make sure with oneself, that one is able to tell the subject back in a more condensed tell-tale story. But then I wonder again, does the student only wants to be involved in specific type of career such as assisting or serving, and not the depth of the specific know-how. For example: "If I only watch, I will know. I do not need to go through the specific skill step-by-step." This may be good for specific career fields. I am thinking of assisting careers in the health field or reception career filed areas.
Rereading might be non-effective if the student is just reading without understanding, or grasping, or following the subject. I often tell my students to visualize when they study, to study with pictures, and not to only memorize. In doing so, they bring the subject to 'life" and more interesting to them, which then in turn becomes easier to understand.
I myself do not consider highlighting a form of teaching, or just studying. It is a form of making a point of what is to be known for a test for example. Highlighting helps the instructor only talk about the subjects of relevance for students to know, specifically for their tests; it does not help make the point to understand the subject, merely makes the student aware the highlighted subject is of importance to upcoming tests and for their career field. The same it is with underlining. Only the subject of importance to know for the test is brought to the student's attention.
I think anyway a student can retain information to do well on an exam they should use to succeed. Some students do even study with music in order to do well, and they do.
One of the ideas I use to help students succeed is to give homework quizzes, which I correct and grade. The student is then encouraged to read the subject and be questioned with the quizzes. It is a way to help the student become familiar with the subject. Specifically in the accelerated course programs this method has been a tool for me to help students succeed with their courses, and prepare them for their upcoming big exams. Another method I use to test students' understanding and knowledge of the subject is to give clinical mock lab tests to test students’ skills in a real clinical environment.
Still in the end, whatever way a student may use to help him/her succeed in class, I think the student should use, so that he/she becomes successful in their profession.
