Quizlet is a really cool flashcard app which, in its basic mode, completely eliminates the need for paper flashcards. But it is actually so much more than that. It is an unbelievable catalog of user created flashcards in its database -- over 2 million!!
Quizlet starts by asking you to create a set of terms along with definitions. You can easily tweak Quizlet to work with math by inputting a number sentence and an answer. Once your list is created, a stack of flashcards appears. You can choose to have your flashcards appear in order or at random. With this mode, you simply flip through the digital cards as if the were paper. You can also choose to have the word and definition appear together or one after another (like front and back).
Scores are kept within Quizlet so you can keep track of your progress. Areas where more attention is needed is very noticeable because struggles are red and everything else is green. You can choose to have Quizlet display flashcards of trouble terms more often than the easier terms until you master all terms.
In addition to keeping your own score, you can share your score and test with your classmates and offer a “challenge” to them. This way, competition breeds desire to study more and more. Not only that, but a group of overachievers might even form a group to create cards for each subject. I envision a group of 10 students sharing the flashcard-making responsibilities so nobody has to create all the lessons.
Quizlet also has a test feature which creates multiple guess tests based on your terms and definitions. Again, scores can be shared and competition can ensue.
Finally, the makers of Quizlet realize the importance of fun and games. So they created a “game mode” for Quizlet. The games are very basic, yet very addictive. One forces you to quickly type the word or definition before it zips across the screen. Another is matching game that records the time it takes you to match all your words and definitions.
Quizlet is definitely a site worth checking out! Here’s a video about Quizlet:
Tour of Quizlet.com from Phil Freo on Vimeo.
Where in the world was this app when I was in high school or even undergrad when I had to memorize tons of terms each week? Everyone always called me the queen of flashcards becuase that was the way I always choose to study, it was just the easiest approach to make thinks make sense to me (obviously being a visual learner). I think this is great, you can literally type in all the information you need and they do all the work for you, there is no need to buy index cards and create flash cards to study and you don’t even have to obtain a study parter :) This is absolutely awesome for teachers to introduce to their class as an option they can use to increase their study skills.
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