In this weeks blog post, we look to Flash Card Apps which students can use in their learning. Last week, we looked at Anatomy Apps.
This week, we look at what Flash Cards are, where they might be used in education and make some suggestions of Flash Card Apps that students can use.
What are Flash Cards?
At the most basic level, Flash Cards are double-sided cards where both sides of the card have information. For example, one side could be a question and the other side the answer.
There’s no need for Flash Cards to be 100% text, the ‘question’ side might be an image and the answer to the image on the other side, i.e., cards of animals, fruit or shapes for children in primary school.
Education and Flash Cards
Flash Cards can be used in education to test a learners memory via rehearsed and practiced information retrieval. At the basic level, this is rote memorization and at primary school level, this is a great method for younger learners to grasp colours, shapes and everyday items.
In a work context, Flash Cards can be used to as prompts to retrieve information on legislation, GDPR, policies, etc.
Within a medical context and using visuals, Flash Cards can be used to recognize and remember conditions, for example, images of particular dermatology condition could be shown on one side of the card and the condition on the other.
In higher levels of education, Flash Cards can be used for revision and testing. Teachers or learners can create their own Flash Cards for revision purposes.
Let’s take a look at two Flash Card Apps.
Flash Card Apps
In this section, we look at Apps for Flash Cards:
- Brainscape
- Quizlet
Brainscape
Starting off with Brainscape, this is an across-platform App where teachers and students can collaborate, create and share their Flash Card creations.
When you visit this website, there is an existing array of Flash Cards available, from Science, Language, Medical, Fine Art and more (go and explore). The Flash Cards from Brainscape are aimed at different levels of learning and there’s bound to be something to suit everyone.
When we chose the Body Systems category, it further broke down to Cardio, Ears/Nose/Throat, Digestive, Endocrine, etc. It’s well worth a view.
However, if you don’t by chance find what you’re looking for, why not create your own Flash Cards? Brainscape does allow you access via Google or Apple OR you can create an account to use their Flash Cards.
Quizlet
Quizlet is a free to use web site were teachers and students can use or create Flash Cards on any subject. There are a number of categories available and teachers and/or students can still make and share their own Flash Cards.
Again, there are sections for Biology and Medicine (which is quite fortuitous for the students in our medical school) and these Flash Cards can be accessed via the web site without having to sign in.
The video below demonstrates how you can create your own Quizlet Flash Cards.
Another benefit of Quizlet Flash Cards for languages, there is pronunciation of words and English to other language suggestions when creating a set of cards.
It might be learners have trouble with particular concepts, Flash Cards can be ‘starred’ and reviewed again later. The Quizlet site is packed with other test features and we would advise you go and explore your study subject to become familiar with it.
Benefits of using Flash Cards
The major benefit of using Flash Cards in education is that it aids active memory recall. Using Flash Card Apps can help learners remember new concepts in their chosen area of study.
Many of the Apps have testing areas and other learning aids to help the recall of information. They’re interactive and use a level of gamification. You might be able to pit your wits against other users, not necessarily fellow-students.
Teachers. Why not task your students to create Flash Cards and share them with their fellow-students? This is a good way to build up learning resources for future students and current students are contributing.
Traditionally, it used to be Flash Cards were expensive to buy or create, however in today’s digital age, Flash Cards can be created and shared more easily so cost isn’t a factor.
Traditional Flash Cards were portable, digital Flash Cards are available with an internet connection. There’s more choice of subject as well.
And finally, Flash Cards are considered versatile. For example, a Flash Card can be a written concept or a visual on one side, and the answer on the other.
Summary
With such a wealth of cards across many subjects already available on the Internet, it just takes a Google search to find Flash Cards you can use in your learning.
Flash Cards have been used in education since 1908 (when the first copyright for Flash Cards was filed) and became popular in the 1920s.
Not only are they fun to make, they can assist in learning and revision when it comes to those high-pressure times – Exams! Do consider the humble Flash Card and any App or online web site that makes your learning easier.
Next week
Our blog post next Monday will be look at Office Lens. Remember, the DigiKnow blog posts are now released at noon on a Monday.
Please do join us then to learn more and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter: @MDBSelearn.
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