Learning & Teaching News

An argument for using flashcards

Not too long ago you could look through the bag of a high school student and there would be a decent chance you would find a set of flashcards. To study for a test, exam or assignment, some students would be armed with a set of cards, with terminology or question on one side and a definition or answer on the other. A quick, simple and easy way to revise content learnt in class that was going to be assessed. However, while these flashcards still exist and there are some students who use them, the number of students seems to be growing fewer and fewer. I’m here to argue for a change in direction - flashcards for every student.

I can almost hear the groans of my current Year 12 students as I write this article.  I have been obsessed with getting my students to use flashcards this year. It’s been my mission in class, and now I’m opening up that mission to the whole school. Perhaps that is impossible. But while I don’t look like Tom Cruise - I’ve done some reading and come up with my top 3 reasons to use flashcards.

Reason 1 - Committing Knowledge to Long Term Memory

“Memory is the residue of thought.” American cognitive psychologist Daniel Willingham has in many articles and books explored the way we as humans remember things and use our knowledge. Essentially, we have two types of memory - working memory and long term memory. We can at any time keep about five to seven things in our working memory which means to be more efficient in our learning - we should try to get as many bits of knowledge as possible into our long term memory. This makes it easier to learn new knowledge and remember previously learnt knowledge. Therefore, the humble flashcard is a great way to get many bits of knowledge into our long term memory. A set of cards with the quotes from a novel in English, or the formulas from a unit of Mathematics or the vocabulary for a topic in a foreign language revised daily, will go a long way in having more working memory power to write that essay, or solve that Mathematics problem or help to have a conversation in that language.

Reason 2 - Spaced Repetition to Keep Knowledge in Long Term Memory

“Using our memory, shapes our memory.” Professor Robert Bjork from the University of California argues the most effective way to reinforce our long term memory is a spaced out system to remember knowledge. In other words, constantly revisiting and relearning knowledge learnt in class over days/weeks/months until it never leaves your memory. Flashcards and the Leitner system offer a great way to do this. Firstly, make your set of flashcards, then get a shoe box and separate into four sections. Put each card in the first section and study them. If you get the card correct, move it to the next section. If you get it wrong, keep it in the first section. The first section is studied daily, the next weekly, the next fortnightly and the next monthly. Your ultimate goal is to get all the cards to the last section and you have done it -  the knowledge is in your long term memory ready for access at any time.

Reason 3 - Digital Ways to Achieve to First Two Reasons

You may have been convinced by the first two reasons that flashcards are a great idea - but getting the cards, writing out the content, making the shoe box thing all sounds like a lot of work. Well, lucky for you there’s lots of great digital options these days. Firstly, there’s the famous flashcards option - Quizlet - a website with many pre-made decks of flashcards ready to go. Its most effective and useful function is called ‘Learn’ - in which it uses Spaced Repetition as discussed above to help you remember the knowledge on all the cards. Unfortunately - this function is locked behind a paywall and costs about $4 a month to access.

Another option is called Anki. This is a free program that can be downloaded on your computer or smartphone and also uses Spaced Repetition to help you remember a set of flashcards. However, it does require you to manually select if you got a card wrong or correct and so relies on the honour system. Still, a great option for those who want a digital flashcard application but don’t want to pay.

So Did I Convince You?

Hopefully I’ve said enough to make you think about picking up a set of cards next time you’re browsing around Officeworks. If you’re a student, go grab some, it may help you more than you think. If you’re a parent/guardian, have a chat with the young people in your home - it could be one way to level up at school.

Bradley Scammell                                             David Hansen

Middle Years Curriculum Leader              Deputy Principal - Learning & Teaching

Clyde North Campus                                       Cross Campus