Study Cards - The What, Why, and How - Part I

Study cards (or flash cards) are an effective and efficient way to study.  Here is the information you need:

WHAT ARE THEY?

THE CONSTRUCTION

Front: Write a word, phrase, name, date, topic, etc.

Back: Write the information you need to know

Size: Can be any size from 2 ½ “x 3” (half a 3x5 card) or up to 5x7 – the bigger the card the more information you can write.

Visual: If you like color or pictures, add these to your cards.

THE PROCEDURE

Effective use requires that you quiz yourself – read the front, think about the back, check yourself, make two piles (the ones you know and the ones you don’t know), go over the ones you don’t know until you know them, tomorrow add more cards and….. repeat the process!

WHY THEY WORK

Learning happens in several ways with study cards:

* You are thinking about the material during construction

* You are physically writing it down

* When you are using them you are practicing restating the information from memory (which you will do on the test)

* You are manipulating the cards – this is helpful if you like to learn with movement

* You can mix them up so you are learning the information in a different order

* You can carry them with you for a quick review when you have a few extra minutes – this is helpful if you have a very full schedule and not a lot of time to study

 

Next blog – HOW you can use the cards with different subjects and situations

First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is now available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.