Anki Tutorial - YouTube Video
https://youtu.be/yh3IUmc5RrY
What is Anki?
Anki is a free computer software available for Mac and PC that makes making and studying online flashcards easy.
The Common Battle with Studying
Typically after studying for my own AP biology tests, I’d learn the material well a few days prior so I could apply what I had memorized/studied on the exam. But, when cumulative midterm and AP exams came around I had forgotten what I had studied for all the past tests I had taken.
What had happened was that my memory of that information decayed because as soon as I finished taking the test the information was out my sight and soon after that out of my mind.
If you want to learn more about the forgetting curve here is a good article: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/forgetting-curve.htm
What makes Anki worth your time?
- Our brains tend to forget information if we don’t review it again. Research tells us that we can remember the information for longer periods of time if we review right before we forget it.
- Thankfully, we don’t have to painstakingly schedule our reviews based on this curve thanks to Anki! Think of it as your personal round the clock tutor who just knows what topics you should be reviewing more or less.
- Flashcards are a great form of active recall that beats passive forms of studying that many, myself included, are guilty of like rereading notes or PowerPoints.
Okay so if I want to study the most effectively, and ultimately for less time, using the forgetting curve, how does Anki fit in?
- Anki unlike Quizlet or traditional handmade flashcards has an algorithm based on the forgetting curve.
- Anki will assign you cards to review on certain days based on the forgetting curve algorithm!
How do I get Anki?