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Composite E-learning Flash Cards: a New System for Teaching, Study, and Self-testing

W. R. KlemmSenior Professor of NeuroscienceTexas A&M University

Web: WRKlemm.comE-mal: wklemm@cvm.tamu.edu

“Dr. Bill, Memory Medic” has a prescription for your

memory.

WARNING: This prescription may be hazardous to your

cherished beliefs and practices for learning.

The Self-defeating NEGATIVE

Learning Cycle

“This is boring”“Why do we have to learn that?”“I hate this book (teacher, course, etc.)”

“I forgot it was due.”“I’ll cram just before the exam.”“I don’t have enough time.”

“Where did I put the notes?”“The dog ate my homework.”“My notes are confusing.”

“This doesn’t relate to anything?”“So what does this mean?”

“How can I learn all this stuff?”“This is too much to read?”“Can Google save me?”

“This song is great!”“I need to check my mail.”“She’s so hot (he’s a cool dude).”“Quick, where’s the remote?”“I wonder who is calling?”

“It’s time for the bell to ring.”“How about that game?”“Will they invite me to the party?”“What will my friends think?”“I’m too busy to think about this now.”

“All this thinking makes my brain hurt.”“I’m too tired to think.”“I’ve more important things to think about.”“This is too hard!”

“I’ve looked over these notes (text …)“How many times should I go over this?”“She won’t ask about this on the test.”“Will this be on the test?”

“I’m not good at math (science, etc.)”“This is too much. Why should I try?”“I’m a C student.”“I’m as smart as I’m going to get.”“I got cheated when the genes were passed out.”

Top Students Do Three Things

Have the right attitude about learning

Develop learning strategies

Execute!

The Composite Flash Card

In show mode, next slide opens as a blank blue screen. Click to start launch of animated objects.

• Be motivated• Play your A

game• Make it

interesting• Fight boredom

• Set aside the time• 10-min rule• Don’t procrastinate• Space the learning

• Organize your time• Organize your life• Organize learning

material

• Learn in small chunks

• Don’t overload working memory

• Make associations• Use robust visual

images

• Reduce interference

• Protect window of consolidation

• Don’t multi-task• Reduce

distractions

• Think hard • Examine meaning,

usefulness, implications

• Think about what can be figured out

• What’s missing?

• Self-test often• Don’t just look at

material over and over

• Apply info. In another way

… and most important, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

The +Learning

Cycle

Advantages of Composite Flash Cards

Multiple uses: organized data base or slide show (used for study and self-

testing)

Examine one at a time or all at once

Cards easy to produce

Uses the power of images

Uses the power of spatial location