Student text-time a low priority for some

Professor's poll finds students rarely read book for his class

By Kristen Hoverman
The Collegian

Last semester Fresno State chemistry professor David Frank polled 36 students from his general chemistry class to find out how many hours per week his students read their textbooks.

Half of the students responded they used the text for one hour or less per week.

“The response floored me,” Frank said. “The course is way too dense to be informed without engaging in the act of reading the textbook. I can’t imagine doing well in the course without it.”

Joua Vang is starting her first year toward her master’s degree in social work after a 10-year break from college.

“There is so much reading and so many assignments,” Vang said. “I’m behind right now. My first semester back is overwhelming.”

Vang said she is going to school full time and spends about an hour and a half studying per class per week.

“The more a student studies, the better his or her grades,” said Bruce Hildebrand, executive director for higher education at the Association of American Publishers. “However, some students spend more time talking on their cell phones in one day than they do reading their textbooks in a week.”

In January, Zogby International, a polling and public opinion research firm, did a study polling instructors about textbook use and found some interesting data, said David Hakensen from Pearson Education.

“Eighty-four percent of those polled agreed that students absolutely need a textbook, and 76 percent tell students they need to use the textbook to get a better grade,” Hakensen said. “Fifty-seven percent felt that students cannot pass the test without reading the text and only relying on the lecture. Only 28 percent thought they could.”

Hakensen believes the bigger issue is whether graduating high school students are ready for college reading when they get there.

“That’s part of the debate going on now in education circles related to the issue of high school reform,” Hakensen said. “There is a growing number of college students who drop out after their freshman year. [Lack of] readiness for college is one of the reasons.”

In high school, students turned in worksheets based on lectures and “they haven’t prepared students very well,” Frank said. “A lot of students come to university with very poor study skills.”

Chemistry major Robert Salazar is starting his freshman year at Fresno State.

“In high school they baby you and here you’re on your own,” Salazar said. “There are some classes that swamp you. It opens your eyes. You have to give it all to get a good grade.”
Undeclared sophomore Sarita Field agreed.

“My first semester I didn’t know what the requirements were for reading or the amount. They don’t tell you what to do,” Field said. “I probably spend about eight or 10 hours a week as far as reading. I guess it’s a matter of how much you value your education.”

Criminology major Daniel Garcia took college preparation courses to get ready for the university.
“I was mainly focused on note-taking and reading,” Garcia said. “My note-taking was pretty awful.”
Garcia says time and laziness factor into his study habits.

“I spend three to four hours studying, combined with reading and note-taking,” Garcia said. “With going to school full-time and working 30 hours a week, it is hard to find time.”

Chemistry professor David Frank agreed many students are simply too busy to spend quality time studying.

“There’s lots of activities that draw students away from reading,” Frank said. “A lot of students just don’t like to read. Studying is hard.”