Overview
This lecture provides an accessible introduction to using Anki, a popular flashcard app, covering setup, card creation, organization, tagging, and useful add-ons for students.
Anki Basics and Setup
- Anki is a flashcard application that uses spaced repetition and active recall for efficient study.
- Spaced repetition involves reviewing information at increasing intervals to enhance long-term retention.
- Active recall is recalling information from memory without looking at notes, strengthening memory.
- Download Anki from ankiweb.net, install, and create a user account for syncing across devices.
Navigating Anki's Interface
- The main buttons are Decks (manage decks), Add (create cards), Browse (card browser), Stats (study statistics), and Sync.
- Preferences menu allows customization like theme (e.g., dark mode) and scheduling settings.
- Various menus (File, Edit, View, Tools, Help) offer deeper customization and tools for advanced users.
Organizing with Decks and Subdecks
- Decks are collections of flashcards organized by topic or subject.
- Subdecks enable hierarchical organization (e.g., GI deck with Stomach and Pancreas as subdecks).
- Pre-made decks can be imported by downloading .apkg files and opening them in Anki.
Filtering and Studying Cards
- Filtered decks let you study specific subsets of cards based on criteria, such as due date or tags, without affecting main deck scheduling.
- Useful for focused review sessions or cramming.
Creating Flashcards
- Basic cards have a question (front) and answer (back).
- Cloze (deletion) cards hide parts of sentences for fill-in-the-blank style recall.
- Image occlusion cards conceal image labels for anatomy or diagram study, requiring an image occlusion add-on.
Tagging and Filtering Cards
- Tags label cards for easier thematic grouping, difficulty level, or study priority.
- Tags can be added during or after card creation and enable tag-based filtered study sessions.
Customizing Anki
- The Options menu adjusts learning steps and review intervals (e.g., how soon a card repeats after reviewing).
- Add-ons enhance appearance and functionality, such as custom backgrounds.
Recommended Add-Ons
- Heat Map add-on visualizes study progress and consistency using colored squares.
- Speed Focus Mode encourages faster reviewing by prompting or revealing answers if too slow.
- Habitica integration turns card review into a game, offering rewards and social motivation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Spaced Repetition — Reviewing information at growing intervals to improve retention.
- Active Recall — Trying to remember information from memory without hints or notes.
- Deck — A collection of related flashcards in Anki.
- Subdeck — A subgroup within a main deck for more detailed organization.
- Filtered Deck — Temporary deck created to review a targeted subset of cards.
- Tag — Custom label attached to cards for easier sorting and filtered study.
- Image Occlusion — Flashcard type hiding image parts to prompt recall of labeled structures.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Download and install Anki from ankiweb.net.
- Create and organize decks and subdecks by subject or topic.
- Experiment with creating basic, cloze, and image occlusion flashcards.
- Explore add-ons for customization and improved study experience.