Evaluation of Electronic Flashcards as a Tool to Improve
Exam Readiness
Dr. Susan MurrayEMSE Department
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 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
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%)
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 Time 2 Times 3 Times 4 Times 5 Times
2 7 8 2 3
Would this change how they study in the future?
How often do you use paper flashcards to study for an exam?
Never Rarely Depend on Class
Often Almost Always
6 8 5 2 1How likely are you to make electronic flashcards
for another class?Will Not Not Likely Don’t Know Somewhat
LikelyVery Likely
0 3 2 11 6
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…