Are you interested in becoming an expert flashcard student?
Here is your guide!
Our article will discuss what makes flashcards such an effective study tool, where you can create your flashcards, the best method for studying them and avoid common flashcard pitfalls.
What Makes Flashcards Effective for Learning?
Do you study?
Flashcards are one of the most effective ways to learn new information, and there are many reasons for this.
Making and studying flashcards requires active learning.
Rather than passively studying notes or watching a video, you must test your memory on every card before turning it over to see the answer.
Continually quizzing yourself is a form of active recall, and studies have shown that active recall strengthens neural connections in the brain, allowing you to improve your memory far more quickly than passive recall.
When you flip over a flashcard to see the answer, what is the first thing you do?
Compare the answer to the one you had in your mind.
Known as metacognition, this is an effective method of ingraining memories since it forces you to reflect on your thoughts and amend them to become more accurate.
Additionally, when you study with flashcard maker, you practice a 'confidence-based repetition' or 'spaced repetition' when you separate the cards into categories based on how well you know the answers.
As you struggle with an online flashcard maker, you return it to the stack so that you can see it enough times to remember it.
Research has shown that repetition is one of the most effective methods of learning and retaining information since your brain sees the information more than once but spaced out enough to increase its recall ability.
Though studying flashcards requires more effort than simply settling down with a stack of notes to browse, the active recall, metacognition, and confidence-based repetition techniques promote flashcard study, one of the most effective ways to learn.
Thus, the effort is worth it!