Spaced Repetition: Unlocking its Power

A common struggle amongst students is coping with the huge amount of time spent studying every day — this prevents them from being able to have any time for self care, going out with friends or family, and doing hobbies. 😫 Imagine if you could do all of these things (self care, etc) but also excel in your studies! Imagine a way of studying that allows you to learn more, but in a lot less time. This sounds like a dream, right? Well, it is a reality with spaced repetition. 😍

Spaced repetition is a huge game-changer for students! It helps you retain information more effectively, even long term, by spacing out your study sessions.

Now, let’s dive into the world of spaced repetition and furthermore, see how Voovo flashcard app can transform your study journey.
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Spaced repetition: what is it?

Spaced repetition is a powerful study technique in which you learn and review information at increasing time intervals, as opposed to intense last minute cramming study sessions.

Cramming is something I'm sure all of you have done before a big assignment or exam, and I'm sure that your performance would've been better if you had had more time to prepare! Learning information in a short time period can be ineffective, unnecessarily stressful, and result in short term retention. 😫

The reason you forget things after cramming them is because you don’t allow enough time for your brain to form new connections and pathways to remember the new information. 🧠 Neural connections need to be formed and solidified before you memorize another piece of new information, or else the “newer” information will replace the “semi-new” information which makes you forget it.

Long term retention: an universal struggle amongst students

One of the biggest struggles a student faces is how to retain information over a long period of time. I’m sure we have all struggled with forgetting things almost as quickly as learning them! Long term retention is important for big exams, learning new languages, and preparing for graduation. Spaced repetition is an evidence based technique that can help you!

How does spaced repetition work?

Spaced repetition is the opposite of cramming because it focuses on long term retention of information - in this method, you review new information at systematic intervals. When you are studying a new piece of information, the intervals are spaced closely together (minutes, hours, a day) and as you get better at recalling this new piece of information, the intervals become systematically lengthened to days or weeks. This systematic way of studying a piece of information always makes sure you review material before it is forgotten, so that eventually you will retain it in your long term memory. 🤓📖🚀

Active recall: why it is magic

Active recall is the backbone of spaced repetition. This is where you force your brain to remember the right answer to a question (flashcards are a vital tool for active recall) instead of passively reviewing it. Unlike passive review methods that many people use — reading a textbook again and again, skimming through notes, listening to a lecture — active recall truly helps cement information into your long term memory. 😍

Passive review methods are essential, but to excel in your studies, active recall truly helps you to put information in your long term memory! 🎉💪

A brief history of spaced repetition

The history of spaced repetition started in the 1880s with a German scientist named Enbinghaus who came up with the “forgetting curve”. He proposed that reviewing information at intervals helps put the information in one’s long term memory. Every since then, several scientists have done experiments and studies on the world of spaced repetition, finding compelling evidence that it is indeed the best way to study.
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In 2008, a study found that students using active recall remembered 80% of new words after a week as compared to just 34% in students who studied with only passive review. Nowadays, spaced repetition apps like Voovo utilizes this study technique to help maximize your learning potential. 🤓🤖

How to use spaced repetition with Voovo: a step by step guide.

Voovo flashcard app uses a system in which you can rate your confidence from a scale of 1-4 (no idea - guess so - so close - too easy).

First study session: this is when you study a flashcard for the first time! You will have to rate your confidence, which will be most likely a 1-2 if it is your first time ever seeing the card. 🤓
Review: you will review the flashcard and then rate your knowledge on a scale of 1-4. You will have to do this rating after each flashcard, this is also great for self assessment — to see which cards/topics need more focusing on.
Based off of your rating, the spaced repetition algorithm will determine how soon in the future you should review the flashcards. If you had no idea then you will review the flashcard very soon. The opposite is the case if you selected “too easy”.
With each successful review, and higher score you give, the intervals between review sessions of a flashcard will gradually increase. This way, the algorithm will optimize the rate and time at which you study each flashcard so that you will have the highest level of memory retention! Voovo utilizes the Anki-Dolphin algorithm.

Spaced repetition is a tool that you can harness to change your study life for the better. We believe that studying should be something that is easy, efficient, and effortless. 🎉

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Why Voovo?
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At Voovo, we believe that studying should be easy, efficient and enjoyable. We are here so make your study sessions more effective and less stressful so that you can have both a fulfilling personal and study life. 💪 are you ready to transform your learning experience? Download the Voovo app for free from the App Store orGoogle Play!