Maximize Your Learning: Revolutionize Your Use of Flashcards with These Expert Strategies

Flashcards have long been a staple in the toolkit of learners around the world. Whether you're a student navigating the complexities of medical school or a lifelong learner looking to pick up a new language, the chances are you've encountered, and likely used, flashcards in some capacity. However, according to Dr. Justin Sung, a learning coach, researcher, and former medical doctor with a decade of experience in teaching efficient learning strategies, there's a more advanced and effective way to utilize flashcards than what most of us are accustomed to. In this article, we will explore the strengths and limitations of flashcards and delve into Dr. Sung's innovative strategy for enhancing their effectiveness. By the end of this read, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to triple the effectiveness of your flashcard sessions, making them less overwhelming and more memorable.

The Good and The Bad of Flashcards

What Flashcards Excel At

Flashcards are celebrated for a variety of reasons:

• Active Retrieval: By encouraging the recall of knowledge from memory, flashcards leverage one of the most powerful mechanisms for enhancing memory and retention. While the science behind why this works is complex, the bottom line is that active retrieval is a crucial component of any efficient learning system.

• Spacing Repetitions: Flashcards, especially when used with apps like Anki, make it incredibly easy to space out repetitions, allowing learners to engage with material at a granular (fact or concept) level tailored to their recall ability. This digital legerdemain system is a genius invention that simplifies the otherwise daunting task of scheduling and tracking repetitions.

• Micro Learning: The practice of engaging in short, concentrated bursts of study has been shown to offer significant benefits for memory and attention. Flashcards are perfectly suited for micro learning, fitting seamlessly into brief moments of downtime throughout the day.

Where Flashcards Fall Short

Despite their utility, flashcards are not without their limitations:

• Lower Order Learning: Flashcards generally test knowledge on a one-to-one basis, which is great for direct recall and memorization but less so for higher order learning that requires drawing on multiple concepts and facts.

• Overwhelming Volume: Using flashcards to learn everything can quickly become overwhelming, leading to a scenario where learners have to manage hundreds of flashcards daily, which is neither time-efficient nor particularly effective.

• Repetitiveness Leads to Memorization of the Card, Not the Knowledge: Over-reliance on the repetitiveness of flashcards can lead to a situation where learners memorize the card itself rather than the underlying knowledge, which can be detrimental in assessments that require the application of knowledge in varied contexts.

A Strategy to Enhance Flashcard Effectiveness

Dr. Sung proposes a strategy that addresses these limitations while amplifying the benefits of flashcards. This strategy involves dividing dedicated long study sessions into three parts: Targeted Review, Consolidation and Preparation, and Preview.

During the 'Consolidation and Preparation' phase, learners review material learned since the previous session, filtering out information that is well understood from that which might require further reinforcement through flashcards. This selective approach ensures that only the most challenging or forgettable content makes it onto flashcards, reducing the overall volume and focusing effort where it's most needed.

Throughout the week, as these flashcards are engaged with, those that are consistently answered correctly or incorrectly are flagged for further action during the next long study session. Incorrectly flagged cards are reviewed in-depth to build a stronger knowledge network around them, while correctly flagged cards are merged and upgraded to challenge higher order thinking by combining related concepts into more complex questions.

This dynamic process not only reduces the number of flashcards in play but also ensures that the flashcards evolve with the learner's growing understanding, making them more engaging and effective at promoting comprehensive knowledge networks.

By following this structured approach, learners can make their flashcard sessions less overwhelming, more memorable, and significantly more effective, transforming a simple tool into a powerhouse of learning efficiency.

For more detailed insights on this transformative learning strategy, watch Dr. Justin Sung's full explanation here.