Evaluation of Electronic Flashcards as a Tool to Improve Exam Readiness Dr. Susan Murray EMSE Department

How Do Students Study? Study MethodTypical ClassThis Specific Class Read textbook12 (52%) Make sample questions1 (4%) Make your own notes/flashcards12 (52%)9 (39%) Review homework assignments21 (91%)17 (74%) Review PPT slides or class notes23 (100%)21 (91%) Study with classmates12 (52%)7 (30%) Other (old exams)3 (13%)0 (0%) Survey of 23 undergraduate students in a Fall 2013 Operations Management class at Missouri S&T

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

Flashcards The cards were made in Quizlet.com

Sample Card

Viewing the Flashcards Quizlet website Blackboard iphone or Android

Student Feedback ResponseMaking the CardsReviewing the Cards 1 – Not at all0 (0%) 2 – Somewhat helpful 1 (5%)2 (9%) 3 – Neutral2 (10%)2 (9%) 4 – Helpful13 (62%)14 (61%) 5 – Very helpful5 (24%)5 (22%)

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”

How Did You View the Flashcards? 35% on Blackboard 74% on Quizlet website 26% on iPhone Several students used more than one method

Technical Problems NONE

How Many Times Did You Review the Flashcard Sets? 1 Time2 Times3 Times4 Times5 Times 27823

Would this change how they study in the future?

How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam? NeverRarely Depend on Class Often Almost Always How likely are you to make electronic flashcards for another class? Will NotNot LikelyDon’t Know Somewhat Likely Very Likely

Why Don’t You Make Flashcards? A common response as to why the student did not make traditional flashcards was “takes time to make them”. “I can’t find the paper cards to make them.”

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.”

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.

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.

There is a better use for technology than…