Finals are quickly approaching whether we want to believe it or not. In three short weeks students will fill the library, stock up on caffeine and cram a semester’s worth of information into their brains. There isn’t one specific way to perfect the task of studying, but with this web, tablet, and phone study tool, Brainscape, studying is definitely a tolerable task.
Brainscape is revolutionizing the way we study. As it says on their website, it is like flashcards on steroids. It is an easy way to create and share your flashcards with fellow students and teachers, and is more efficient than using hand written cards, or even the ever-coveted Studyblue.com. You can create the notecard on your computer and then use them on your phone, or even on your tablet.
Why is Brainscape effective? It uses something called Confidence Based Recognition (CBR). Unlike a regular deck of flashcards or other online flash card makers, Brainscape asks you after the answer is revealed to rate the card on how likely you are able to remember the next time and how confident you are that you will remember it on a scale of one to five, one being no confidence, five being perfect confidence. There is also a color-coding system, red to blue, which changes the color of the card to the corresponding confidence level.
As you proceed through the cards again, Brainscape will determine which cards to show and how often based on your previous rating of them. 1s and 2s will be shown very frequently, and higher confidence ones appear less frequently with their corresponding confidence coded colors.
Brainscape is extremely easy to use. Either download the app on any iOS device or launch Brainscape.com on your web browser, create a username or sign in with Facebook, and start studying.
You can create your own deck of flashcards or study a subject Brainscape provides. Some are free, but as it states on the website, “Brainscape offers many subjects in a variety of categories, and is continuously expanding its breadth.” You can discover all the subjects offered by either visiting the online marketplace or browsing the Brainscape apps in the iTunes App Store. The subjects they offer are divided into test prep, foreign language, and knowledge junkie. They range from MCAT prep, AP test, Italian verbs to ESL, and sport trivia to mythology.
If you created your own deck, you can share your deck with other users by simply going to your library page, select the deck you wish to share, and select “share” under the gearbox that appears to the right of the Subject Title.
Brainscape is simplifying and enhancing the learning process all while making the study process faster. Its accessibility and research in the CBR proves that this is something that can completely change the way students learn and study. Get the app now and see for yourself, you won’t be disappointed—I know I wasn’t.