Flashcards have acquired the reputation of being a very boring way to study. On the contrary, there is a reason why flashcards have been the preferred method of learning for over centuries because it WORKS! While flashcards don’t necessarily install focus and motivation otherwise helpless students, flashcards are hands-down the most effective way for motivated learners to study and retain factual knowledge, especially when they are used smartly. As a matter of interest, you actually improve learner engagement by using flashcards.
Let’s look at 3 ways why flashcards are so effective.
Flashcards trigger “active recall”
When you are staring at the front side of a flashcard and then think of the answer, you are triggering a mental faculty known as active recall. This means you are trying to remember a concept from scratch rather than simply staring at a passage in your textbook or recognising it on a multiple-choice quiz. It’s been proven that active recall creates stronger neuron connections for the memory trace. Flashcards easily facilitate repetition, thus they are the best way to create multiple memory-enhancing recall events.
Flashcards use your metacognitive power
When looking at the answer side of a flashcard to compare your answer to see if you are in fact correct, you are essentially asking yourself “Did I have the correct answer and how did it compare” or “Did I know the answer (or not)”.This act of self-reflection is known as metacognition. Science has proven that applying metacognition tends to ingrain memories deeper into your knowledge.
Confidence-based repetition using flashcards
The fact that flashcards are fitted into a deck and are loose, rather than fixed to a book or a document, you are able to split them into piles based on whether (or how often) you need to study these again. Decades of research have proven that the most scientifically optimized way to improve memory performance is through the practice of confidence-based repetition. Then again, where possible, you should apply new concepts using project-based learning or by asking your own questions. When it comes to studying different ideas in the most effective way possible, nothing will compare to flashcards, especially adaptive learning flashcards.
For further information on how SucZeZZ can help find the flashcards that are best suited for your needs, please do not hesitate to contact one of our stores near you for professional advice on what to purchase for which age group.