Flashcard study has been shown many times to be one of the best ways of learning a subject fast. So I’m giving it a try as I have a lot to learn right now and not much time to do it. Rather than invent the wheel and retype good flashcard practise techniques here’s a blockquote from a sensible source:

So here’s my recipe for effective flashcards you can use for optimal learning…

1. Each card should only have 1 question and 1 answer – You aren’t copying down information verbatim when you make a flashcard. It should be quick (i.e. “Flash” card) not a synopsis or a bibliography. So 1 question and 1 answer.

* Right way: A flashcard that has “Who was the main actor in Mission Impossible” – answer on other side: Tom Cruise.
* Wrong way: Who was the main actor, supporting actor, key grip and set designer for the movie Mission Impossible? Answer: Who the hell knows?

– Notice how intimidating the second card is.

2. When studying or in class if there is a subject you don’t know make a flashcard. This is very important. Some students skip over complex subjects and think “I’ll just study that later.” Make sure you do study that later by making a flashcard really fast. Like I said above since each card has only one question and one answer it’s easy. You don’t have to put off the complex stuff anymore. Tip: If you are in training and have a question, write down the question, then ask the instructor. Write down his or her answer on the back..instant flashcard.

3. Keep your flashcards in your pocket or purse at all times. Since flashcard study is so fast and efficient, you can study at any time. Study while waiting in line at the bank. Study while waiting for someone to arrive at lunch. Heck, I’ve studied while riding elevators.

4. Set a goal to review each flashcard in your pack 3 times per day. Do you remember when I said you’ll learn some stuff automatically? I can’t quite explain why, but if you simply read through each card 3 times a day you will be amazed at what you pick up. Maybe it’s like how Tony Robbins says “repetition is the mother of skill.” Topics you formerly thought “I’ll never get this”, will begin to make sense very quickly.

5. Set aside the cards you know ONLY after you can answer them correctly after a night of sleep. Let me put this another way. If you work through your cards 3 times today and on the third try you answer a card correctly, do not set that card aside yet. Wait until the next day’s first rotation. If you get it right again the next day, then you can discard it – you’ve learned that topic.

If on the second day you get it wrong again, sorry, you have to wait another day to answer that one correctly. This ensures you aren’t accidentally answering cards correctly or guessing at the right answers.

The entire post can be seen in this link and it’s worth reading through the whole text.

If you’re more digital lifestyle oriented then it’s worth getting hold of some flashcard software for your computer. So I’ve trawled Google and Version Tracker and made a quick list of software; I’ll update this more as I use the software in more. A greater weight is placed on free software, especially OSS, and the list is very Apple OS X heavy. This is because I use my Apple PowerBook to do all my work on.

If anyone knows some good flashcard applications for other OS – Windows, Linux, BSD or whatever – then please leave a comment pointing me to it.

When I get time I’ll do a brief write up on each of these:

YAFCA – free OSS – yafca.sourceforge.net/
Flashcard Wizard – free – Win/OS X Soon – www.foolsworkshop.com/
iStudy Flashcards 2.2.1 – CM – www.macstudysoft.com/blog/category/Homepage/
Genius – free – web.mac.com/jrc/Genius/ – This is what I’m currently reccomending for use
StudyCard Studio – CM – www.digitalmeadow.com/ – Not yet tried
Kurisu 1.0.1 – free – www.frykholm.se/kurisu.html – Not yet tried
Flash Quiz 1.0.2 – CM – www.likelysoft.com/flashquiz/ – Not yet tried
Cerebral imprint – Free OSS – www.alexrose.net/software/ci/cerebralimprint.html – Not yet tried
Flashcard Pro – CM – www.cryptonictech.com/products.html – Not yet tried
Backpack – Free – www.mammoetsoftware.com/backpack/ – Not yet tried

Related Posts: