If you are trying to learn something new, you probably have a pretty good idea of how you learn best. Most of us have studying tactics that have passed the test of time and that we use over and over to promote memorization and comprehension of concepts. Perhaps you took a quiz about what kind of "learner" you are when you were in school and have stuck to the visual/audio/tactile learner trope. Or maybe you have discovered a way to combine learning styles to optimize retention and comprehension.
However you learn best, having tools to improve your study habits can make the process far more efficient. When I am learning a new subject, I like to immerse myself in as many ways possible to cover all of my bases. I listen to Podcasts, talk to experts, read about the subject, rewrite ideas in my own words, use mobile apps if available, and of course, make flashcards!
Flashcards are a tried and true method of memorizing concepts which is often an important foundational piece of understanding broader concepts. Without the basic knowledge of a subject and its basic terms, it is difficult to attain a deeper understanding of more complicated ideas. I couldn't even tell you the first time I used flashcards, it was so long ago. In early school years, I used them to memorize multiplication tables, capitals of states, and genus classifications. Later I used flashcards to learn driving laws, the artists of Renaissance masterpieces, and every name of every American MLB team. The beauty of flashcards lies in their simplicity and their ability to transcend learning barriers... you can use them to memorize anything, and they are appropriate for every age.
Flippity is the tool I chose to learn more about. Prior to Flippity, I was a proponent of buying index cards and spending (a lot of) time writing, cutting, pasting, and drawing terms or pictures on them to make my flashcards. I did not occur to me that there might be a technological tool to do that. Flippity is the answer to all my flashcard prayers. Simply enter your data in to a Google spreadsheet and convert it to flashcards. Done.
Check out detailed step by step direction to using Flippity here. And while you're at it, check out the other tools you might find useful on the Technology Tool eBook.
However you learn best, having tools to improve your study habits can make the process far more efficient. When I am learning a new subject, I like to immerse myself in as many ways possible to cover all of my bases. I listen to Podcasts, talk to experts, read about the subject, rewrite ideas in my own words, use mobile apps if available, and of course, make flashcards!
Flashcards are a tried and true method of memorizing concepts which is often an important foundational piece of understanding broader concepts. Without the basic knowledge of a subject and its basic terms, it is difficult to attain a deeper understanding of more complicated ideas. I couldn't even tell you the first time I used flashcards, it was so long ago. In early school years, I used them to memorize multiplication tables, capitals of states, and genus classifications. Later I used flashcards to learn driving laws, the artists of Renaissance masterpieces, and every name of every American MLB team. The beauty of flashcards lies in their simplicity and their ability to transcend learning barriers... you can use them to memorize anything, and they are appropriate for every age.
Flippity is the tool I chose to learn more about. Prior to Flippity, I was a proponent of buying index cards and spending (a lot of) time writing, cutting, pasting, and drawing terms or pictures on them to make my flashcards. I did not occur to me that there might be a technological tool to do that. Flippity is the answer to all my flashcard prayers. Simply enter your data in to a Google spreadsheet and convert it to flashcards. Done.
Check out detailed step by step direction to using Flippity here. And while you're at it, check out the other tools you might find useful on the Technology Tool eBook.
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