Evaluation of Electronic Flashcards as a Tool to Improve Exam Readiness

1
Evaluation of Electronic Flashcards as a Tool to
Improve Exam Readiness

• Dr. Susan Murray
• EMSE Department

2
How Do Students Study?
Study Method Typical Class This Specific Class
Read textbook 12 (52) 12 (52)
Make sample questions 1 (4) 1 (4)
Make your own notes/flashcards 12 (52) 9 (39)
Review homework assignments 21 (91) 17 (74)
Review PPT slides or class notes 23 (100) 21 (91)
Study with classmates 12 (52) 7 (30)
Other (old exams) 3 (13) 0 (0)
Survey of 23 undergraduate students in a Fall
2013 Operations Management class at Missouri ST
3
Electronic Flashcards

• Students were given the option of developing
  flashcards for extra credit
• They were available for the students to study for
  the comprehensive final exam
• 21 of 23 chosen to create a set of cards for a
  book chapter
• For a prior class an Ed Tech student work who was
  a class member created a set

4
Flashcards

• The cards were made in Quizlet.com

5
Sample Card
6
Viewing the Flashcards

• Quizlet website
• Blackboard
• iphone or Android

7
Student Feedback
Response Making the Cards Reviewing the Cards
1 Not at all 0 (0) 0 (0)
2 Somewhat helpful 1 (5) 2 (9)
3 Neutral 2 (10) 2 (9)
4 Helpful 13 (62) 14 (61)
5 Very helpful 5 (24) 5 (22)
8
How Easy Was It to Access and Use The Flashcards?

• 17 said easy
• 4 said somewhat easy
• 1 said somewhat difficult
• hard to change sets, would like if they were
  compiled into one set

9
How Did You View the Flashcards?

• 35 on Blackboard
• 74 on Quizlet website
• 26 on iPhone
• Several students used more than one method

10
Technical Problems
NONE
11
How Many Times Did You Review the Flashcard Sets?
1 Time 2 Times 3 Times 4 Times 5 Times
2 7 8 2 3
12
Would this change how they study in the future?
13
How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam? How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam? How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam? How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam? How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam? How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam?
Never Rarely Depend on Class Often Almost Always Almost Always
6 8 5 2 1 1
How likely are you to make electronic flashcards for another class? How likely are you to make electronic flashcards for another class? How likely are you to make electronic flashcards for another class? How likely are you to make electronic flashcards for another class? How likely are you to make electronic flashcards for another class? How likely are you to make electronic flashcards for another class?
Will Not Not Likely Dont Know Somewhat Likely Somewhat Likely Very Likely
0 3 2 11 11 6
14
Why Dont You Make Flashcards?

• A common response as to why the student did not
  make traditional flashcards was takes time to
  make them.
• I cant find the paper cards to make them.

15
Open Ended Comments

• I found it very helpful as a review tool for the
  exam and wish I knew about it sooner much easier
  than handwriting flashcards.
• There was one student who preferred the
  traditional paper format, I like to use paper
  instead of reading off a screen.

16
Conclusions

• The set prepared by a single student with the
  instructor were better, more consistent cards.
• There were some concepts selected by the student
  that the instructor deemed not significant enough
  to warrant inclusion and a few overlooked by the
  student.

17
Conclusions

• The cards created by an entire class, varied in
  quality and format.
• Some students put an excessive amount of wording
  on the cards.
• The instructor had to review and edit them.
• Even with shortcomings, the electronic flashcards
  were well received by the students.

18
There is a better use for technology than