Monday, November 22, 2010

Flash Cards for Learning

Who doesn't like flashcards? Flash cards can be used by all ages to learn letters, facts, concepts. Flashcards can aid in memorization through the spaced repetition of information. According to Kornell (2009), it is better to space the cards out and do large groups at a time than it is to cram them in and do all your studying in a short period before an assessment.

There are many online sites to access FREE Flash cards and the tools to make your own.
Here are few links:

http://www.myfreeflashcards.com/
-These cards will work for multiple age groups. There are cards on fruit, occupations, words in other languages, math, time, and a variety of subject areas. There are even sets for road signs, which would be great for helping someone working on the driver's license.

http://www.suite101.com/content/make-your-own-flash-cards-a42861
-This site offers tips on how to make your own flash cards. They give examples of what are good questions and how to isolate information in a way that will help someone prepare for a test. They also have links to templates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gCZhYZoS24&feature=related
- You can even find PowerPoint presentations that is just like going through a set of flash cards. This link takes you to one that goes through sight words. There are a few linked to this page that are specifically for early learning and Kindergarten.

Of course, there are also quite a few options for purchasing flash cards and related software. I will leave it to you to explore those options. Please post any suggestions or comments on how you use flash cards.