Flashcard

A set of flashcards demonstrating the Leitner system. Cards that the learner knows are promoted to a box for less frequent review (indicated by green arrows); cards for which the learner has forgotten the meaning are demoted to be studied more frequently (indicated by red arrows).

A flashcard or flash card is a card bearing information on both sides, which is intended to be used as an aid in memorization. Each flashcard typically bears a question or definition on one side and an answer or target term on the other. Flashcards are often used to memorize vocabulary, historical dates, formulae or any subject matter that can be learned via a question-and-answer format. Flashcards can be virtual (part of a flashcard software), or physical.

Flashcards are an application of the testing effect − the finding that long-term memory is increased when some of the learning period is devoted to retrieving the information through testing with proper feedback. Study habits affect the rate at which a flashcard-user learns, and proper spacing of flashcards has been proven to accelerate learning.[1]

  1. ^ Endres, Tino; Renkl, Alexander (2015-07-24). "Mechanisms behind the testing effect: an empirical investigation of retrieval practice in meaningful learning". Frontiers in Psychology. 6: 1054. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01054. ISSN 1664-1078. PMC 4513285. PMID 26257696.