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For each essay exam, multistate exam, and
performance exam,
 | develop a key word/ list of essential critical terms
or phrase you must know for the bar. |
| keep the list to 50 to 100 keyword
or phrases. |
| Define the key terms. |
| Put your key terms on flash cards
which will make it easier for you to practice them at odd times and
places. |
| Consider using memorylifter (http://www.memorylifter.com).
It is an excellent flashcard tool for helping to memorize
information. It is easy to use; and best of all, its free. |
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The
need for drill & practice software
excerpted
Wrom: CONEUQZAAFXISHJEXXIMQZUIVOTQNQEMSFDULHPQQWO
Software Reviewed http://learn.how.to/ |
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| 1.
The need for repetition |
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There
is a lot of evidence supporting the notion that
repetition is necessary to prevent the effects
of forgetting. This can be exemplified by
so-called "forgetting curves", like
the ones you can see in the picture.
In our example, only one day after learning new
material, up to 50% of that material is
virtually forgotten (red curve), i.e. it cannot
be brought to mind without help.
But if you review the same material one day
later, your memory trace will deepen, and hence
the new forgetting curve will be less steep
(green curve, first from the left). Additional
repetitions may be spaced more and more, since
the forgetting curve gets flatter with every
session.
Of course, the slope of a forgetting curve
depends on many variables, but if you want to
beat it, it is clear that you will have to schedule
periodical reviews.
Now, when trying to achieve this goal, you will
be confronted with one obstacle: you cannot
review all
of your materials again and again. See the next
section for a solution. |
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| 2.
The need for flashcards |
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In certain English-speaking countries, so-called flash
cards
made of paper or cardboard are used in schools as a
learning aid. Although flashcards are used mostly for
reference purposes, you can think of a more
sophisticated application than this: you can make each
card bear a question and an answer (the latter should be
written overleaf) and use them to test
yourself
by trying to recall the answers. Paper flashcards are
often been used in this manner for learning vocabulary,
historical dates, and mathematical formulas.
But even further, since flashcards present the
information fragmented, they give you a chance to establish
priorities
by gradually setting aside the flashcards you already
know. That would prevent you from wasting
time
with long-known material. Let us explain a smart but
simple procedure for this purpose.
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You know the right answer
You
can't recall the answer |
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In
the early 1970s, the German psychologist
Sebastian Leitner
described a 'learning machine' (Lernmaschine,
Lernkartei, Karteikasten) in a book he wrote for
young students.
Leitner's machine consists of five or more
compartments (slots, pigeonholes). It works as
follows: the user tests theirself on a flashcard
contained in one of the pigeonholes. The
flashcard is promoted to the next compartment if
the question on it is answered correctly by the
user, and, on the contrary, it is put back into
the first
compartment in case of failure. |
Thus, this "learning cardfile" gives positive feedback
about the present state of the user's knowledge at any
time: the lowest pigeonholes contain the hardest stuff,
and the highest pigeonholes contain items that have been
reviewed successfully several times.
This overall view allows the user to set their
own priorities
without any major planning or scheduling efforts --
simply by choosing the appropriate pigeonhole.
Another advantages of this method are that it is incorruptible
and that learning is fairly stress-free.
Now, you may argue that it is
very awkward to cut out and label paper flashcards.
You are absolutely right. That is why many developers
have implemented this principle into computer programs.
This website contains a collection of reviews of more
than 200 "flashcard
programs",
most of which you can download from the Internet... |
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